Plans to shut down a village's lone pub and turn it into a house has brought backing for the scheme, and protests led by the local parish council.

Six letters of support for the project at The Countryman Inn, Winksley, near Ripon, have come from residents and caravan owners.

But Azerley and Winksley Parish Council objects to the planning application, being considered tomorrow by Ripon area planning committee of Harrogate Borough Council.

The parish council says it consider loss of the pub will harm the community, which has only 100 adults on the electoral roll. Chairman Reg Merrin says the parish council wants to retain the pub for the village and surrounding area. He said: "A local pub of character and with a range of facilities away from a caravan site is seen as augmenting facilities for tourism in our area."

The cricket club says the pub has always supported them, allowing The Countryman to be used for meetings and after-match meals.

But six Winksley residents object along with Dale Valley Holiday Parks at nearby Galphay.

Planning officer Jill North is recommending councillors to approve the conversion, saying it complies with a conversion-only policy.

Miss North says because there is no Local Plan policy for retention of existing community facilities there was no policy objections to the pub's shutdown.

Because of its poor access and competition from other pubs, as well as no realistic prospect of operating on a viable basis, she recommends the scheme by landlord Mark James and his wife, Linda, is approved.

Updated: 11:22 Monday, June 11, 2001