OWNERS of an award-winning Otley pub have dismissed a move to protect local inns as a 'publicity stunt'.

Linda Exley and Lee Pullan, co-owners of the Old Cock, lodged an unsuccessful appeal against their property being listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) last year.

The couple are angry that, at least for the next three-and-a-half years, a 'restrictive covenant' has been placed on their title deeds, which could hamper their ability to sell.

Otley Pub Club made a multiple application to get nearly every local inn listed as an ACV – ensuring the community must be consulted before demolition or change-of-use – last year.

They and their president, MP Greg Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West), hailed the move as "great news for the pubs and the town".

But Mr Pullan and Ms Exley, who spent two years and £120,000 creating their pub, believe ACV status goes "against free trade".

Mr Pullan said: "We wonder who Otley Pub Club is trying to protect the Old Cock from?

"We are the two people who created it from nothing; it is our passion and a huge investment for us.

"The restrictive covenant on our title deeds limits future lending against our property. Banks are reluctant to lend against a building that actually cannot be sold for six months [the time required should a community group express interest in buying a pub not being sold as a going concern].

"Getting ACV status has cost a lot of money for what is really just a publicity stunt.

"We don't want to be involved – and do they really need to be nominating every pub when only a small proportion are actually 'community assets'?"

Mr Pullan claims the motive behind the ACV move was to generate publicity in support of in "Mr Mulholland's well documented battle against the big pub companies".

He added: "It is wrong that we, as small freeholders, have become an ‘unfortunate casualty’."

Otley Pub Club insists, however, that ACVs works well.

Chairman, Andy Fitzgerald, said: "The main effect is there is a pause in the sale process only if a change of use is intended.

"Since the granting of ACV status, two of Otley’s pubs have changed hands. There were no delays in the commercial process as both were to remain trading as pubs.

"The Old Cock is more valuable being sold as a going concern, so there would be no delay in its sale due to ACV status."

Mr Mulholland said: "If a pub has ACV status it can be sold as a pub and there is no restriction at all on that.

"ACV status only comes into play if the pub is to be closed and turned into something else.

"Currently, ACV status is the only thing that stops pubs being turned into supermarkets without the local community having a say.

"I understand and have discussed Lee's concerns and will continue to campaign for changes to planning law so that ACV status wouldn't be necessary to stop pub conversions happening behind the backs of residents."

*Otley Pub Club says, due to the "unique position" the pub is in, that it will not be seeking to renew The Old Cock's ACV status when it expires in 2020.