PLANS to turn a village's only pub into a home have brought protests from the parish council.

Six letters of support for the conversion of The Countryman Inn, at Winksley, near Ripon, have been submitted by villagers, caravan owners and Winksley Cricket Club. But Azerley and Winksley Parish Council object to the planning application being considered tomorrow by the Ripon area planning committee of Harrogate Borough Council.

The parish council says it considers the loss of the pub will harm the community, which has 100 people on the electoral roll.

Chairman Reg Merrin says the parish council wants to retain the pub for the area. Members also want to protect tourism as "an essential element of our local economy".

He said: "Winksley has few facilities. There is the church, meeting room and pub, each of which complement rather than compete with the others.

"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."

Supporters of the scheme to convert the pub say that trade has been declining for a number of years.

Harrogate council planning officer Jill North is recommending that the conversion is approved, saying it complies with a conversion-only policy.

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