A longstanding pub has been in the limelight since January when it was revealed it had been snapped up by a local Hindu group who had plans to change the drinking establishment into a place for prayer.

Following hundreds expressing their views on the plans, on May 10, the current owners, GB Shri Raghavendra Swami Brundavan, withdrew their planning application for the site.

The group had wanted to make alterations to the inside of the Jolly Woodman pub, build a meditation room and add additional parking spaces to the rear of the property.

It formed plans for the charity to have a permanent home after being situated in a rented space on White Hard Road in Slough since 2017.

However over 200 objections were made to the plans, including a letter written by Beaconsfield MP Joy Morrissey.

Ms Morrissey wrote: "My concerns are the increase in traffic and parking that the change of use will generate.

"The proximity of the Jolly Woodman to Dropmore School must be considered as well.

"Currently this is a busy area at the start of the school day and pick-up times in the afternoon.

"Any extra vehicles using the Jolly Woodman would increase the risk to parents and children who navigate the narrow route to the school from the car park".

She also raised concern over the lack of public transport in the area and parking on roads causing issues with visibility.

The car park opposite the Jolly Woodman is not a part of the property and is owned by the council for public use.

The area of Special Scientific Interest was also not accounted for in the plans, with more consideration requested by the council regarding the direct environment.

Buckinghamshire Council officers documented elements of the plan as being "very concerning".

They added: "The application contains some inaccuracies and general assumptions without any real attempt to offer suggestions which might go to mitigate the impact.

"This conveys a lack of understanding as to the importance of the adjoining common land and the potential impact of the application on it."

Despite this, over 100 people wrote in support of the plans.

The Jolly Woodman has been acting as a public house since the 1830's and was officially given a licence in 1832 under the 1830 Beer Act which introduced the concept of the beer house.

READ MORE: A look at the history of the Jolly Woodman as Heritage weigh in on plan

The Council's heritage statement reads: "The proposal would cause harm to the significance of a non-designated heritage asset.

"The application does not comply with the relevant heritage policy and therefore unless there are sufficient planning reasons, it should be refused for this reason."

A large amount of the concern has centred around disturbance to the local area, including noise and movement of people.

Previously the Hindu group's trustees Srihari Gubbi and Prahlad Purohit, said: "We are a very small community. We want to work with the community and give back.

"Although we are from a Hindu sector we do not restrict anyone coming into the centre. We want to work as a community."

On approaching Buckinghamshire Council on the withdrawal of the application, they confirmed that GB Shri Raghavendra Swami Brundavan withdrew the application following a discussion with Council Officers.

GB Shri Raghavendra Swami Brundavan has been approached for comment. It is currently unclear whether an amended application will be resubmitted.