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A Controversial businessman has vowed to board up a pub he owns in the centre of Trowbridge and leave it empty until he is given full planning permission to refurbish it.

Thomas Rothschild’s plans for the Grade II listed Rose and Crown pub in Stallard Street include demolishing a two-storey former stable and garage block at the rear of the building.

At a meeting on Tuesday evening, Trowbridge Town Council’s planning committee gave the thumbs down to the plan saying because the stable/garage was within the curtiledge of the listed building it would not support its demolition.

Former mayor cllr John Knight said: “I’m very concerned about this. The present developers working on The Gateway have taken the trouble to underpin the building at the back.

“It’s fairly substantial. One could argue that it’s not of much aesthetic interest but the fact is that it’s there, it is part of the curtiledge and it’s a Grade II listed pub and I think it’s worthy of being kept.

“I’m sure the conservation officer would back this too.”

The committee recommended the plans be refused when they come before Wiltshire Council.

But this week Mr Rothschild, who now divides his time between Sweden and Hungary, remained defiant saying if the plans were not permitted he would simply board up the pub until such time as the councillors changed their minds.

Speaking from Hungary he said: “There’s only one word for it: sad.

“It’s not a problem for me financially, the building can stay there for 20 years as far as I’m concerned.

“I have given them the opportunity to redevelop the site, if they don’t want it then that’s their decision.

“I will just board up the place and leave it and if in ten to 15 years’ time if they want it redeveloped they can come back to me.”

Mr Rothschild, who bought the pub from Enterprise Inns, plans to fully refurbishing the main pub and demolish the garage/stable block and build a three-storey building with eight bed and breakfast rooms in its place.

He said he would not alter his plans to win planning permission, and said: “Those are the plans and if they don’t like them then I’ll leave the Rose and Crown as it is.

“They can’t force me to do anything with it.”

Mr Rothschild is a well-known businessman in the Trowbridge area, having built the famous Pumpkin’s Tower in Bythesea Road, named after his daughter, just around the corner from the Rose and Crown, which has distinctive pink outside walls.

He has built a number of properties in the area before gaining planning permission.