An application which is seriously delaying the refurbishment project of a hotel in Royston has been given the thumbs up by the town council.

Members of Royston Town Council unanimously gave their backing for owners of The Banyers Hotel to build panel doors between the planned orangery and function room as they agreed it would be an ‘asset’ to the town.

The councillors asked district councillor Ben Lewis to take the matter to committee for review.

The application is currently under consultation, and a decision date has not yet been set. It could be approved or rejected anytime between now and July 15 – when the application expires.

A separate application made by the owners of the hotel, to introduce three garden rooms will be decided at a planning meeting on Thursday.

Owner Martin Jackson previously told The Crow he cannot continue with major work on the project until he has permission for these applications.

He currently has no idea when the hotel will be ready to open, and said he will be lucky if it is back in business by the autumn.

He is inundated with requests for bookings, but is unable to move forward without permission.