Residents of Sherston have expressed their anger this morning as they woke up to the news that the Carpenter Arms had been slapped with a council order.

The Carpenter's Arms has notoriously changed hands a number of times in the last decade but Peter Brock has taken on the challenge to get it back in shape.

Last week, Peter added insulation and coated the external wall with a recognised weather system and was slapped with a 28 day order by the council to rip it off.

Peter Brock said: "They came last Thursday and Friday and I was slapped with a 28 day notice for the work I had done to the external wall. All I had done was put on a special recognised system which insulates the property and reduces the carbon footprint by half.

"Not so long back, the government themselves were paying properties to have it done!

"I was sent an email by the council and my architect went to speak to them who said we had to comply - no ifs or buts."

The Carpenter Arms is located in a conservation area but Mr Brock insists he has done nothing wrong.

"The only thing I have done is covered up the naked stone. The council don't know what system I have used yet so I am waiting on the manufacturer to send me the details then I can pass that onto them."

People have shared their anger on Facebook groups for the area and Mark Andrews, 53, started a petition to get the order cancelled which now has over 150 signatures.

He said: "I was born in Sherston and remember the Carpenters before it even had a bar and the beer was served straight out of the barrels. It's part of the village's heritage and if the council go ahead with this then there is every chance Pete will get up and walk away."

A spokesman from Wiltshire Council said: “The cladding of a building in a conservation area requires planning permission particularly where it alters the appearance of the building.

No permission has been applied for in this case, however the owner can still apply retrospectively and any such application will be considered on its planning merits.”