A BID to stop a former town hall being turned into a pub was defeated after councillors were warned they could face being surcharged.

West Craven councillor David Whipp's motion to withdraw the "for sale" notice on Barnoldswick Town Hall and draw up a new development blueprint for the building excluding leisure use was turned down by a meeting of the full Pendle Council.

Several planning applications by Preston-based pubs company Inns & Leisure to convert the former council offices into a pub and restaurant have so far been refused by councillors who backed residents' opposition to the schemes.

The town hall is owned by the council which is under statutory duty to get the best possible price for the building. Inns & Leisure's bid for the building was well ahead of the alternative of turning the town hall into flats.

Council officers are currently looking into the sell-off and the implications of agreeing a lower offer for the property.

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