STOCKBRIDGE residents could face losing a High Street shop if planning permission is granted to redevelop the building.

John Sykes, the owner of J and S Sykes, may have to leave his shop next March if his landlord Enterprise Inns gets planning permission.

Enterprise Inns owns The Vine Inn and is intending to extend the pub into the shop and neighbouring outbuildings.

Mr Sykes said: "It has been a shop for over 100 years. It has been a greengrocers for 30 years and I have been here for 14 years."

"It has a high turnover for this size which shows it is needed."

Three petitions are already circulating in Stockbridge in an attempt to stop the plan from going ahead.

The shop is a listed building and according to Mr Sykes it is one of the oldest buildings in the village.

Brian Baseley, chairman of Stockbridge Parish Council, said that Enterprise Inns had submitted a proposal to convert the outbuildings into five bedrooms and the shop into an office.

Mr Baseley said: "We have a policy where we don't want any shop to be converted into offices.

"The change of use from a shop that is well used and a focal point of the village is a tragedy."

Mr Sykes has one full-time employee and three part-timer workers who would have to find other jobs.

He said: "We still have to discuss it in the parish council but we will oppose it strongly because of the change of use and because it is a shop that is well used."

Spokeswoman for Enter-prise Inns said: "Enterprise Inns is working in partnership with the licencees to redevelop the site."