Villagers have hit out after plans that would help reopen their only pub were thrown out.

A vital proposal to expand The Wheel Inn in Westwell, near Ashford, has been turned down by a council planning officer.

The move has sparked backlash from the shocked owners, locals and their MP, who gathered together outside the 17th century inn, which overlooks the village green.

The Wheel initially closed in January, with the windows and doors quickly boarded up, and concrete barriers blocking off the car park.

Worried residents likened the sealed-up pub to Fort Knox, however new owners John Forge and Mandy Keefe soon removed all of the barriers and unblocked the windows and doors.

The pair also announced plans to rejuvenate the former Shepherd Neame pub, including redecorating and adding a restaurant-cum-tea room that would link into the bar area.

To allow this to take place, Mr Forge submitted a planning application for a short extension to the rear of the building to allow for the kitchen to be moved.

The extension would be clad in black weatherboard rather than brick, similarly to several other houses near the building.

However, a planning officer torpedoed the plans, saying the weatherboard "does not respond to the character" of the historic pub.

"As such, it would detract from the character and appearance of the property and the wider Conservation Area," he added in a report.

The decision has incensed and confused residents, all of whom are in favour of the works, which have also been supported by the parish council.

"It is such an inconsequential piece of work, but it will make all the difference for the long-term future of the pub," Mr Forge said.

"It's simply three walls and a roof, and it will barely be noticeable.

"When you boil it down to those facts it seems incredible that the officer has taken this decision, especially when you look at the buildings surrounding the pub and see that so many of them have identical black weatherboarding.

"We will obviously go back and resubmit the plans, but it took them four months to get back to us on this. If it takes that long again, and the work takes four months, we're already looking at finally being ready to open more than a year since submitting the plans."

Village resident Kevin Williams says the decision is "unfair" and that a council officer needed to visit the village to talk to the owners and residents.

"John has been at the site everyday working on restoring the property and giving it some TLC," he added.

"At a time when so many pubs are facing difficulties with bills and recovering from the pandemic, this seems like the exact opposite to what the council should be doing."

Ashford MP Damian Green visited the pub on Thursday to talk to Mr Forge and Ms Keefe and to get the residents' views on the matter.

He told KentOnline: "I am very keen to help village pubs survive in this climate.

"I am hoping to see a quick solution to this situation so that the people of Westwell can get back to enjoying their local."

A council spokesperson said: “The application was refused because of concerns about the form of the extension and the selection of materials.

"This is a sensitive heritage location but the decision made does not rule out a possible alternative proposal.

"We know that the pub is important to the local community and are willing to work with the applicant to find a mutually acceptable solution."