The developers wanted to demolish the pub and build 54 flats with underground car parking. The Council received 497 petition signatures and individual letters from local residents objecting to the proposals. Many of those objectors attended the planning committee meeting at the Town Hall on Thursday to hear the decision.

Whitefoot Lib Dem councillor, Dan Houghton, spoke at the meeting against the plans. He said afterwards, "I am delighted at the decision taken by the planning committee to refuse permission for this development. It is clear that the proposed block of flats was too large for the site and completely out of character with the local area".

The planning committee decided that the proposed development was too dense, not an appropriate design for the location and would cause potential problems with traffic turning out of the site.

Cllr Houghton continued, "It's a great pity that the pub has closed and that a community facility has been lost. But if the site is to be used for housing, I hope that the developers will go away and think again, and come back with proposals that take account of residents' concerns".