VILLAGERS are fighting plans to convert a redundant post office into rented apartments.

An application has been submitted to South Lakeland District Council to convert the existing Moorland Cottage in Kirkby-in-Furness into five apartments and for a change of use of the post office to residential, plus a two storey extension to create a three bed semi-detached house.

The application has been submitted by Walsall based Kirkby Platinum Ltd.

At a meeting of Kirkby Ireleth Parish Council councillors heard representation from concerned residents as well as from the applicant.

Following debate, the parish Council has voted to object in full to the planning application.

The council said: "The application is felt to be overbearing in size, added onto an already substantial sized property in a prominent central village location.

"The application for not only the size of the development but its intended use is in no way in keeping with the village setting and surrounds.

"The applicant stated the intention of the application is to create several rentable apartments which will be marketed towards to contractors of BAE Systems.

"This serves no purpose in supporting the local village and infrastructure – the village is in desperate need of affordable housing, both purchasable and rentable for its residents and young families."

The council added: "It is the fear and concern of the Parish Council and many residents that this application, having failed to materialise into short term rental, can be easily repurposed on to short term self-catering holiday lets."

The application provides for seven car parking spaces; two more than current but will result in a significantly high number of vehicles requiring parking, said the council.

"The Parish Council acknowledges and welcomes the proposed retention of the shop element of the application; however, it has failed to see a firm business proposal for this," it said.

"It is feared that failure for the shop to materialise will result in the area the shop occupies being amalgamated in to the wider providing of accommodation."

We have attempted to contact Kirkby Platinum Ltd but received no reply by the time we went to press.