A PUBLICAN has criticised a local authority after he was refused permission to build a micro-brewery and holiday accommodation.

Marcus Lund, who owns the Arden Arms at Atley Hill, near South Cowton, between Darlington and Northallerton, wanted to build three octagonal timber holiday cabins and a two-storey brewery on land at the back of the pub.

Planning officers at Hambleton District Council said the development would be an intrusive feature in what is an area of special landscape value and members of the development control committee refused to grant planning permission on Thursday.

Mr Lund, who also owns a pub in Shipley, West Yorkshire, said he was extremely disappointed by the decision.

"I have done a lot of research into the history of the pub," he said. "Going back to the 70s and 80s it has been bankrupt twice, closed for two or three years and had a serious fire.

"It also had an application for a change of use into a private dwelling refused, so these councillors want it to be a pub, but they don't want it to get better and grow.

"If the pub is bankrupt again and closes for two years, will they still say these plans would have a visual impact, or the surrounding land is too flat?"

Ward councillor Caroline Nixon spoke out in support of the plans, calling for the committee to give some weight to the need to support rural businesses.

She said: "A lack of jobs in the rural economy leads to people leaving the area, which leads to businesses closing.

"I have already lost one pub from my ward due to a lack of trade. Another pub in my ward which started bed and breakfast facilities has had 107 bookings already.

"The plans submitted are overzealous in terms of reducing the impact on the surroundings."

But Councillor David Smith said: "This is a site of special landscape value and our policies are crystal clear in terms of what we can and cannot do, no matter how sympathetic we may be towards an entrepreneur who is trying to maintain and enhance his business.

"We have to be consistent."