CAMPAIGNERS have lost their battle to save a traditional Yorkshire Dales cottage from demolition.

In a final bid to save the building, at Grantley, near Ripon, councillors asked the Department of Culture if the property, known as Ashville, was worthy of listed status.

But in a response to members of a Harrogate Borough Council area planning committee, the department said that while it was of local interest, it was not of national architectural merit.

At a previous meeting, councillors defied planners' advice by voting against demolition and replacing the cottage with a new home until they heard the department's view.

But at the latest meeting councillors voted to demolish the cottage and replace it with another property. There was one vote against and two abstentions.

Planning officer Jill North said loss of the stone built cottage was regrettable but could not be resisted under council policies.

The application for the plan came from Mr and Mrs S Lippell. Grantley and Sawley Parish Council objected to the scheme, and a 32-name petition and eight letters of objection were received.