WHARFEDALE residents can have their say next month on proposals to restore a historic hunting lodge.

The 17th Century Dob Park Lodge at Dob Park, near Lindley Wood Reservoir, is currently a ruin and listed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Built in the early 1600s by the Vavasour family, the property is described by Historic England as 'the only surviving evidence for the medieval Dob Park'.

From 10am to 1pm on Saturday, December 9 Clifton Village Hall - just north of Otley - will host a public exhibition of plans to repair the lodge for residential use.

Members of the design team for the scheme, led by Overton Architects of Ilkley, will be available to answer any questions and the event is open to all.

A spokesman for planning consultants Peacock and Smith said: "The lodge was constructed in the 1600s within a deer park that has been in continuous ownership by the same family since 1352.

"The applicant, a direct descendant of the family, wishes to rescue the lodge from ruin and live in the restored building.

"A detailed planning application has recently been submitted to Harrogate Borough Council following extensive discussions with Historic England, the Government’s advisor on historic buildings, who support the reuse of the structure as the only viable and sustainable solution to save the lodge.

"If approved, the lodge would be secured for future generations and a new interpretation board explaining the history of the building and the deer park would be erected near the property."

The application can be viewed at harrogate.gov.uk/planning by searching for reference number 17/04907/FUL.