PLANS to expand a popular village inn with a 10-room hotel extension have been refused.

Bosses at the Spread Eagle Inn, Sawley, had applied to build a first floor extension on the Grade-II listed building. But Ribble Valley councillors rejected the move, saying it would be harmful to the building’s appearance.

The Spread Eagle was taken over by new owners a year ago and management believe they need to expand into the hotel business to secure the firm’s long-term future.

Duncan Isherwood, speaking on behalf of the inn’s owners, said: “The restaurant and hotel business needs constant invest-ment.”

In a statement to councillors on the planning committee, the owners said the expansion was “key to the medium-term security of the inn as a viable and sustain-able business and 35 full and part-time jobs.”

They said the proposed investment in the hotel would secure the future of those currently working at the Spread Eagle, as well as providing for between five and 10 additional full and part-time jobs over two years. Bosses at the inn say the hotel side of the site would aid the further development of wedding bookings, together with tourist and commercial trade.

Coun Stephen Sutcliffe said: “I see the economic benefits of creating jobs in the area, but the plans are not in keeping with the site at the moment.”

Coun Jim Rogerson said: “I sympathise with the application, but we have to be firm with them to try and get it right.”