A WELL-known grade II listed building is the centre of a row over plans to demolish its late eighteenth century timber screens.

Both the Ancient Monuments Society and English Heritage have objected to the plans to replace the timber at Sunnyfield House in Guisborough with metal fencing.

Planners agree that permission should be refused but applicant Guisborough Town Council, which maintains the building, argued that the screens had become a magnet for vandals and should be torn down. The town council has won some support on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's planning committee, which eventually agreed to defer the decision.

Keith Pudney, both a town and borough councillor, addressed the committee. He said: "I'm extremely in favour of conservation but we have to accept that it is extremely easy for the local yobs to inflict damage. Modern metal fencing can look just as good and would protect the building itself better."

But a report to the committee recommended the application be refused. It said: "This is one of the better preserved historic buildings in Guisborough conservation area.

"It is quite rare for decorative timber features such as these to have survived from the late-1700s and is unique in this part of the country. They are therefore very special."

Coun Joyce Benbow added that if the timber was lost, the building's status as grade II listed could also be rescinded. She said the district did not have many listed buildings as it was.

Some councillors suggested removing nearby public seating in an effort to deter local teenagers, who it was thought were causing the vandalism, from congregating in the area.

Coun Arthur Dobson was concerned that vandals should not be allowed to influence planning policy. He said: "It will be a sad day when planning decisions are controlled by yobs."

The committee agreed last week to have a site visit. A date had not been set for the visit by yesterday