Plans to turn a historic pub into a house have caused uproar in an Oxfordshire village and led to a calls for parish councillors to step down.

Punch Taverns has put the Bell Inn, in Hook Norton’s High Street, on the market for £325,000 but its value would jump if an application to convert it into a house is approved.

A pub has been on the site for about three centuries.

At a meeting in June, Hook Norton Parish Council’s planning committee voted by four to two not to oppose the application, which will be decided by Cherwell District Council.

The decision enraged regulars at the pub, who said the decision effectively paved the way for its closure.

Bell regular Nick Casson said: “Rather than raise an objection, they just decided to let it close.”

Council chairman David Shepley-Cuthbert said he did not want to see any business close, but the fate of the pub was in the hands of Punch Taverns.

The pub was shut for a period earlier this year but new tenants have since reopened it.

About 60 residents turned out for a subsequent council meeting earlier this month demanding the issue be reopened, but they were told council rules did not allow for it.

Mr Casson said: “The chairman decided to close the meeting after 10 minutes. We were refused permission to participate in any official debate as to the future of our pub. It’s a big failure of democracy at a local level.

“We want the council to step down and an election to be held.”

Mr Casson co-ordinated a protest letter to the Oxford Mail signed by 120 residents, including the licensees of two of the village’s other pubs and parish councillors Peter Millar and Jem Hayward.

Mr Millar said: “I’m horrified by the whole episode. It’s allowing something that’s been there for 300 years to close.

Mr Shepley-Cuthbert, who said he would not be resigning, added: “I had to close the meeting because it was so unruly. I’ve never chaired a meeting like it.

“The council’s standing orders say you cannot revisit a decision for six months. There was uproar at the meeting when I said it was the wrong forum. It’s unfortunate but those are the rules.

“We understand that a lot of people are very keen on keeping the pub open.

“We listened and have asked Cherwell to have the decision moved to the full planning committee, rather than an officer deciding. Those people can to the meeting and say their piece.

“We don’t want to lose a business but Punch Taverns will decide what happens.

They may decide to sell to someone who wants to run a pub.”

A Punch Taverns spokesman said: “We are currently talking to interested parties about different options for its future.”