PLANS to build a house in the grounds of a Lyonshall pub have been withdrawn after more than 150 letters of objections were received.

Herefordshire Council's planning committee was due to debate the proposal yesterday (Wednesday).

Punch Partnerships Ltd wanted to build the home on land near the Royal George Inn - the only pub in the village.

If the plans went ahead, the pub's car park and beer garden would have been severely affected.

Concerns raised in written submissions to Herefordshire Council included the impact on the viability of the pub and the impact of the proposed development on surrounding public highways.

"In over 20 years of dealing with pub planning matters, we have never before come across an application so bereft of any merit," said Mark Haslam, from the Herefordshire Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

"The proposal expected the local community to subsidise the losses of owners Punch Taverns by seeing the pub diminished to such a state that, in our view, it would be rendered uneconomic."

In a statement, Punch Taverns confirmed that the company had withdrawn the application, stating that its planning consultants were considering comments from the local authority.