The Ribble Valley Borough Council (United Kingdom) rejected a proposal to convert the land where a Grade II-listed pub once was into a holiday park.
As per a report, the council launched an investigation into the illegal demolishment of The Punch Bowl Inn on Longridge Road in Hurst Green.
Allegedly, the landowners, Donelan Trading Ltd, destroyed the listed building in June without permission and left villagers stunned and angry.
While legal actions against the company remain in the process, it was decided to reject the request to alter the site’s use into a 15-pitch static camping holiday park at a planning meeting last week.
Donelan was granted permission in 2018 to transform the pub into a holiday park following previous applications that had been denied or withdrawn. In December, an amended application was submitted to the city council.
But, after the shocking demolition, protests have been raised by the Parish Council, on the argument that the plan would cause over-development of the property, highway security, the destruction of the Punch Bowl as a grade two listed building, and visual amenity (no screening; obtrusive design; design of static caravans) and damage for the AONB.
The Parish Council also said the applicant could no longer be able to piggy-back a holiday park on the back of an existing hospitality venue.
While Highways made no objections, 11 complaints were filed by residents, who pointed to the demolishment of a listed building; not in keeping with the re-built Punch Bowl Inn, highway safety, and visual amenities as their main concerns.
The pub has a rich and symbolic past visited by highwaymen Dick Turpin and Ned King in the late 1730s, and the ghost of Old Ned is believed to still roam in the pub.
Situated in Longridge Road since the 1720s, the Grade II listed building was put up for sale in 2013 for £375,000.
This story originally appeared on Lancashire Telegraph.