BRIDPORT'S long established West Dorset Club has been given a stay of execution.

Brewers JC and RH Palmer, who own the Grade II listed building, has withdrawn plans for major alterations which would have forced its closure.

But any reprieve for the South Street club could be short-lived, their agents warned this week.

Palmers has already been granted listed building consent to carry out changes to the building which include removal of the snooker hall roof, making its closure inevitable.

Now they are bidding for full planning permission to go ahead with the work.

The application was unanimously opposed by Bridport Town Council's plans committee who said they deplored the loss of a valuable town centre amenity.

The club's 120 members have urged Palmers not to call time on "a unique facility" which has been there for 83 years.

This week Palmers' agent Nigel Jones, of Humberts Commercial, said they have withdrawn their planning application after planning officers had said they would recommend refusal to the district council's development control west committee.

But Mr Jones said the club would still be advised to look for a new home.

He said: "The district council said they wanted more information on a number of matters so we have withdrawn the application and will resubmit another one."

Mr Jones said the club's lease had expired.

"The application we put in for the demolition of the roof is the first part of a redevelopment proposal in line with the district council's Local Plan for the regeneration of Rope Walks car park," he said.

"It is a significant commercial redevelopment scheme with accesses linked to South and West streets."

Mr Jones said the alterations to the club would enable them to use the building as part of an overall scheme for a much larger area, although he would not say what the building might become.

Club president Roy Pawley said the withdrawal of the application meant they had won a battle - but the war was far from over.