ANGRY villagers are stepping up their fight to save a landmark pub and stop nine new homes from being built on its historic site.

More than 100 letters of objection to the proposed development at the Headless Woman pub in Duddon will be handed to Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) today.

About 50 residents turned out for an exceptional planning meeting called by the parish council on Tuesday where a large number of issues were raised in opposition to the controversial plans.

During the meeting, held at Duddon St Peter’s Primary School, lead campaigner Tom Melody-Rupnik said it would be a ‘crime’ if the pub – dating back to the 1600s – was lost.

He added: “I’ve only come across two people [not against the development] – one who is for it and one who is indifferent – everyone else is completely against it one way or another.”

Mr Melody-Rupnik explained that many residents would be happy to see ‘a couple of houses’ built on part of the site as long as the pub remained open or, at least, was used in another way such as a shop.

“It’s part of our culture and part of our history in Duddon, and we’d like to protect that,” he said.

A footpath crossing the site of the pub, which is used as a safe route to the primary school as well as the high school bus stop, could impact on the plans.

Parish council clerk Helen Connolly said an application would be made to formally adopt the path if enough residents came forward proving its use over the last 20 years.

She also confirmed the parish council, who are opposed to the development, would be writing to CWaC ward councillor John Leather asking him to call the application in so it is decided in public by the planning committee.

When asked by residents if he would agree to this, Cllr Leather told the meeting: “If I can find sufficient justification I will call it in.”

Chester-based developers McClements and McClements have submitted the plans to convert the historic pub into a home and also build eight houses on the rest of the site.

Four of those would be affordable two-bedroom, semi-detached properties provided by Chester and District Housing Trust.

CWaC expects to make a decision on the plans next month.