THE owners of Grappenhall's historic Rockfield Hotel say that a new scheme for its development could mean the end of a two-year planning nightmare.

Tom and Esther Zuger have been running the hotel, in Alexandra Road, for the past seven years, but two years ago they agreed to sell the site to property developer Antler Homes, subject to it being able to get permission to build flats on the site.

Since then two planning applications have been withdrawn, and now another application has been submitted to the borough council, which would see the existing property being redeveloped rather than demolished, with two annexes also being built on the site to provide for executive-style flats.

And the Zugers hope that this time they will be told, one way or another, if the work can go ahead.

Mr Zuger said: "Since the first application, I would have to say that trade has dropped off by 70 or 80 per cent.

"After all the publicity over the previous applications, people assumed we had closed already and obviously we had to let people who had booked weddings know the situation as well.

"With the move to cheaper, chain hotels, it has really affected us and we just want to say to people that we are still open. The problem is that we can't plan for anything."

Wife Esther added: "What has upset us is that there seems to be only minimal opposition to the plans. There have been no petitions and most of the neighbours are happy because it would reduce the traffic and noise that a hotel or restaurant might have.

"The problem now is that it is down to subjective arguments on whether it is passed or not."

Damian Boddy, clerk of Grappenhall and Thelwall Parish Council, said that it had objected to the plans in the past because of the potential loss of such an historic building in the Grappenhall conservation area.

However he added that the parish council would look forward to any new plans which would involve keeping the present building in place.