A change of use bid for a popular village pub which has resulted in nearly 100 objections goes to a planning committee this week.

North Herts planning control committee meets on Thursday to consider an application to change the Grade II White Horse pub in Kimpton into residential use.

Objectors are hoping that the application will be adjourned while they seek to get the pub listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) but as things stands at the moment, it will go before councillors on Thursday.

Hundreds of pubs across the country have been listed as ACVs because they offer additional protection against development. If protected land or buildings are put up for sale, residents are given a moratorium of six months to get the money together to purchase them although the owner does not have to accept their offer.

A Save Our White Horse campaign has been set up in Kimpton in a bid to get the pub retained to serve community needs.

Spokesman Doug Jenner said: “We, as a village, did not know that there was a change of use afoot until we saw the application posted.

“We had, up till that time, been assured there would be no change of use hence the frenzy of activity so late in the day.”