More than 100 residents object to controversial plans to develop around a village pub near Oswestry.

West Felton Parish Council has joined residents in opposing plans to develop six properties to the rear of the village’s only pub, The Punch Bowl.

The council said it was a “speculative" application submitted by the owners of the pub’s owners Trust Inns.

In a statement the council said: “The application does not meet required criteria as set out in a range of international, national, and local documents, nor does it comply with biodiversity and villager well-being expectations.

“The Punch Bowl provides a valuable amenity with a large car park for about 40 vehicles which the plan proposes to reduce to eight spaces. 

“Until the recent managers, who live in the village, took over Trust Inns made no attempt to develop The Punch Bowl or its amenities.”

There have been a number of concerns raised by both the local football team and organisers of the village’s popular annual carnival who said the proposal may put the event's future in jeopardy.

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West Felton Parish Council also has concerns that it could lead to the long-term closure of the pub.

Council Chairman John Thornhill added: “A major concern is that if Shropshire Council supported the plan, it would become an attractive purchase for a bigger residential development with agreed outline planning permission already in place and lead to the closure and loss of a main village asset – the only pub in the village – the Punch Bowl.”

The council have objected on the grounds it would “devalue the sustainability of West Felton and harm its function as a community hub, “impact adversely on the viability of the Village pub, Village Hall, and shop” and that it was “contrary to all planning principles for a village hub in a conservation area.”

They added: “In the Shropshire Local Development Framework - Adopted Core Strategy document (2011) at CS4 it states with reference to Community Hubs that: ‘Development proposals that do not make sufficient contribution to improving the sustainability of the community WILL BE REFUSED as unsustainable development.’

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“The Parish Council expects Shropshire Council to follow its own strong directive and refuse this application.  “

Trust Inns claimed in their application “the public house itself falls outside of the application site and is unaffected by these proposals” and that “the principle of development of the site for residential use is wholly acceptable”.

A spokesperson for Trust Inns said: “We are looking to develop the area to enable us to invest in the pub and barn to make it a better asset for the village.

“We will be happy to engage with the local community and we believe all the problems can be overcome.”