HUNDREDS of people have signed a petition calling for an historic York pub to be saved.

City of York Council's planning committee voted by a narrow margin to demolish the Carlton Tavern in Acomb in October, but following public objections and a campaign to save the pub, announced the plans would have to go through the committee again, with fresh debate and a second vote.

Developers Crown Care wanted to demolish the Victorian villa, which dates back to the 1880s, and build a new 79-bed care home in its place, but campaigners said the pub was a valued community asset.

This week, The Victorian Society set up an online petition to save the pub, and more than 700 people have already signed up.

Petition founder Anna Shelley wrote on the petition website that the pub was "a non-designated heritage asset of strong architectural and historic interest to the city", and said a new proposal to create a community interest company in the building would also be a benefit to the area.

She said: "It is also a much-valued community asset in Acomb and Holgate. The Victorian Tudor-style landmark sits in landscaped grounds surrounded by mature trees, and adds greatly to the character of the area.

"A purchase proposal has been put forward to refurbish the pub and provide holiday accommodation for race goers and visitors to York, as well as a community pub, restaurant and deli. The community interest company would run a training and support programme for local young people, the long-term unemployed and start-up businesses that would invest profits back into the surrounding area. Despite all of this, the demolition of the Carlton Tavern is now proposed as part of a luxury residential care-home scheme, without proper consideration of options that would enable the building to be kept."

The vote to approve demolition of the pub was a tie of six to six, with committee leader Cllr Nigel Ayre casting the deciding vote, but the Victorian Society said the "unprecedented re-vote" - to take place on December 13 - was a big step forward.

Anna said: "This means that we have just a small window now to make sure that Councillors know how much we value the Carlton Tavern as both a historic building and as an Asset of Community Value, listed by your Committee earlier this year. City of York Councillors, please don't approve the unjustified demolition of the Carlton Tavern again."

The petition is online at https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-the-carlton-tavern-pub-acomb