AN amateur operatic group must wait until next month to discover the future of its headquarters and rehearsal rooms.

Ripon Amateur Operatic Society applied for outline planning permission to convert its hall at Water Skellgate into housing.

Planning officer Andy Hough recommended that members of Harrogate Borough Council's Ripon area planning committee refused the application, but councillors voted in favour.

Because the councillors went against planners' advice, they must look at the application again next month.

The society wants to move to a former Methodist chapel, at Coltsgate Hill, off North Street.

In his report Mr Hough said: "Clearly, there is some merit in such a proposal, however, the applicants state the move would only be possible if consent could be obtained on the existing site."

Ripon City Council did not object but expressed concern about the lack of detail provided.

Mr Hough said the application should be refused because it would mean the loss of a community facility.