A BID to redevelop and reopen the Notley Arms pub in Monksilver has put the new owner on a collision course with officers at Exmoor National Park Authority.

Developer Colin Wilkins of Bishops Lydeard wants to remove some internal walls and the lower part of a Victorian staircase to make a larger bar and restaurant area.

But while Mr Wilkins argues the changes are vital to ensure the financial viability of the pub, the national park's historic buildings officer believes the proposals would cause significant harm to the fabric of the property.

The officer will ask members of the authority's planning committee to refuse permission for listed building consent to carry out the proposed alterations when they meet next Tuesday.

In a report to the committee, the officer says: "I fully support the reopening of this public house but the harm to the significance of the listed building is not justified in the application.

"A more imaginative scheme incorporating, not discarding, the original elements of the building could surely be achieved here without compromising the commercial viability of the scheme."

The committee will be told the Notley was grade two listed in 1984 but prior to that a number of internal walls were removed to form a large bar area, effectively turning three rooms into one.

Mr Wilkins wants to remove much of what is left of the original internal walls and lower staircase to further open up the downstairs area of the pub.

In a report officers said some internal work had already been carried out, although work had now stopped while the listed building consent was being considered.

Members will also be told Mr Wilkins had provided "little evidence" to justify why the staircase, in particular, must be removed.

"The applicant has explained that he wishes to maximise the ground floor area of the public house to maximise the number of covers and hence insure that the premises are viable.

"However, this justification has not been expanded upon or explained why the retention of the stair area and the arrangement of the bar to accommodate the stairs would so undermine the viability as to make the continuation of the commercial use unprofitable," the report says.

Officers describe the application as a "difficult balance" between safeguarding the historic building and the need to provide Monksilver with a viable village pub.

But Mr Wilkins has won the support of local parish councillors and residents who believe the staircase should be removed if it ensures the success of the venture.

In a letter to the park authority on behalf of both the parish council and "virtually all residents in Monksilver and outlying villages", parish councillors said they could understand the dilemma facing the planning committee.

However, they were concerned by the "apparent impasse" over the application.

"We have had a recent conversation with the applicant and it is clear he is prepared to walk away from the project if the views of the heritage officer are upheld by the planning officer.

"While it is unfortunate he is taking this stance, we strongly feel that it would be a disastrous outcome for the village if this opportunity to reopen the pub and provide significant economic and social benefits were lost.

"The prospect of these buildings remaining empty and neglected for many years is an appalling prospect in the centre of this small, compact village.

"Monksilver seems to have lost its heart and soul over the past 15 months since the closure of the pub," the parish council said.

But despite the heartfelt plea and seven individual letters backing the application, officers have recommended the application is refused, claiming the harm caused to the building by the loss of the features would outweigh the public benefit of allowing the work to be carried out.