PLANS for a new pub in Amersham have been shelved on a technicality - but the company behind the proposals say that doesn't mean the project is dead in the water.

Last month plans were submitted to Chiltern District Council to convert the former Entertainer shop in Hill Avenue into a pub/restaurant.

The authority was broadly in favour of the theory of redevelopment and the plans won the approval of the Amersham Action Group and the Amersham Society.

But concerns were raised over the extraction of waste from the kitchen, with council planning officers saying they may have to refuse the application on those grounds.

Little Chalfont-based Dove Properties, which submitted the application, has decided to withdraw the proposals for now.

But Dove's Consultant Property and Development Manager Tim Warrell said new proposals will be submitted once the company has gone back to the drawing board.

He told the Bucks Free Press: "The planning authority are broadly supportive of the application but there was what I can only describe as a technicality raised by environmental health in relation to the need for a flue to the building. They said it would interrupt the street scene.

"We are going to submit another application for the redevelopment of the building and putting residential units into the upper part - we will press on with that. It's all positive but unfortunately there was a technicality.

"Our plans have fallen slightly foul of where we wanted to be but not in any way that's damaging."

Mr Warrell added: "We want to promote a cafe/bar for the town. We have one party particularly interested in taking on a lease and we are in talks with them."

The application submitted last month sought permission for a change of use from a retail outlet to a drinking establishment and/or cafe/restaurant. If the change of use had been given approval, more detailed plans on how the pub would look would then have been made at a later date.

The original application said ten new full time and ten part time jobs would be created by the new business.