A POPULAR music venue has been granted a ‘stay of execution’ after councillors deferred an application to replace the building with flats.

West Oxfordshire District Council’s planning committee was expected to approve plans to demolish The Rock Barn in Witney Market Square and build six apartments in its place at a meeting on Monday.

But the committee instead voted to visit the site next month – a minor victory for The Rock Barn’s supporters.

The building is leased to MuzoAkademy, which teaches music to more than 100 people of all ages and abilities, by town and district councillor David Harvey.

Earlier on Monday, around 25 campaigners from the #SaveTheRockBarn group marched through Witney town centre to show their opposition to the plans.

They walked from the Market Square to the district council offices at Woodgreen and were joined by a further 35 supporters in a packed meeting room.

MuzoAkademy is part of the 7 C’s foundation and its chairman Jon Berry, who is spearheading the fight to save the venue, believes the turnout sent a message to councillors.

He said: “We were delighted with the level of public support at the meeting.

“There was a real energy in the room.

“As we walked through town, people were waving and beeping their horns and some properties had self-made posters of support in the windows.

“Around 60 members of the community managed to find the time to squeeze into the the back of the chambers.

“It undoubtedly showed the council the strength of feeling.”

The meeting was standing room only and there were murmurs of discontent as planning officer Phil Shaw presented the case for The Rock Barn’s demolition.

A three-minute slot was designated for Andrew Hobson to speak on behalf of MuzoAkademy, but fears abounded that the committee would listen to Mr Shaw’s recommendation to approve the application.

The planning officer repeatedly stated the need for councillors to approach the application solely on planning grounds, claiming MuzoAkademy could relocate elsewhere.

He said: “As far as officers can see this has clearly got value as a space for people to come and play music together.

“This has been a weight as part of our assessment, but were it closed today it would appear there are other venues that would provide the same degree of benefit.

“We need to be careful we are not swayed by emotion.”

The committee echoed the need to approach the application solely on planning grounds and Witney East councillor Duncan Enright proposed the site visit, which will take place on September 6.

But several councillors addressed The Rock Barn’s supporters directly before voicing their opinions and Mr Berry believes this influenced their decision.

He said: “I guess that might not have been the case if we weren’t there - we were convinced we were told it was going to be demolished.

“The meeting was frustrating and left us disappointed that despite our clear arguments that the application could be soundly rejected on planning grounds, the council seemed inclined to insist development proceed at any cost.

“We remain confident we can still demonstrate to the council that the Rock Barn is a valuable community hub that should be allowed and supported to continue to operate on our present site.”

Mr Harvey would have the option to sell the site if the application is approved by West Oxfordshire District Council following the site visit.

But on Friday, the #SaveTheRockBarn group submitted an application to make the building an asset of community value.

Campaigners presented the application while at the council offices, alongside a copy of their petition containing more than 3,200 signatures.

If #SaveTheRockBarn succeeds, they will get six months to raise the funds before Mr Harvey can sell.

The town and district councillor has always said the barn would make way for housing and repeated his plea for campaigners to focus their efforts on searching for a new site.

He said: “Nobody’s trying to do down MuzoAkademy, all we’re saying is they’ve got to move.

“It’s what I’ve been trying to persuade them to do for five years.

“Either buy the place or move, because they’re going to have to go eventually.

“The campaign should be focused on finding them new premises.”