Two chimney stacks on a Biddulph High Street building will have to be returned to their original height after they were lowered without planning permission.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council has refused a retrospective planning application to cut down on the height of two chimney stacks atop the Biddulph Conservative Club building.

We reported previously how a retrospective application was submitted after the chimney stacks were lowered without planning permission, with the applicant saying they "posed a danger to the public".

The chimneys, which are located at the north and south ends of the building, were made around 50cm shorter each.

The plans stated that the pair of chimney stacks were "in a dangerous state of repair".

The proposal, submitted by a Mr Mike Robinson, asked permission for: "The Reduction in height (approx. 500mm) of two chimney stacks to the north and south ends of the building.

It adds: "The reason for this change is to make safe and secure the same, because they were in a dangerous state of repair and a danger to the public."

However, the district council have this week refused the application, meaning the chimneys will now have to be returned to the state they were in before the work was carried out.

A report by the council's planning officers concluded that the work was detrimental to the character and appearance of the Edwardian building.

It concluded: "The lowering of the original chimneys fundamentally changes the character and appearance of the Edwardian building to being detrimental to the style of this historic building.

"In addition, insufficient information has been submitted to determine the safety issue for the loss of the two original chimneys.

"Should later evidence be submitted, it does not outweigh the loss of the chimney features that adds to the charm of this building within a prominent location in the market town of Biddulph and therefore, should be reinstated."