OBJECTORS have won the first round in their fight to halt demolition of a traditional Dales cottage in a Ripon village and replace it with a four-bedroomed property.

Councillors voted six votes to two against bulldozing the cottage, known as Ashville, in the tiny village of Grantley.

Planning officer Jill North had recommended approval of the scheme. And because councillors went against officer advice, they must reconsider the application at a future meeting under new planning rules.

The application by Mr and Mrs S Lippell had attracted objections from Grantley and Sawley Parish Council, and a petition from villagers as well as protest letters.

Miss North said there were no policies in the Local Plan resisting demolition of existing homes and their replacements with a new one.

She said: "It is most regrettable that the applicants cannot find a way to retain the existing cottage and there is great sympathy with the feelings of the residents of Grantley over its loss. However, the application cannot be resisted on these grounds and, therefore, must be determined on the merits of what is being proposed instead."

The protest petition contained 32 names and there were eight individual letters of objection.