The pub, on Northwich Road, has been threatened with closure after a planning application was submitted by the owners for one and two-bedroomed apartments.
But members of the development control committee at Halton Borough Council put back making a decision on the future of Dutton’s only pub – despite the application being recommended for approval – and asked for further clarification on planning policies.
Campaigner Tony Lynas, who spoke against the application at the planning meeting, said the outcome was ‘far from a bad result’.
“It is a victory in so much as we live to fight another day,” he said.
“We had about 20 people there in support.”
Talking of the campaign, he added: “I think it is a bit like stopping a juggernaut – I feel we have got a real chance now. The big positive is they (the council committee) have not voted to accept the application.
“I have been keen all along to have a purely positive campaign and not attack the proposals, so at the meeting I spoke about the value of the pub to the community and I feel the council did take that on board.”
“I did refer to a couple of policy points and maybe that helped them in their thinking a little.
“The closure would be damaging to the last community facility in Dutton and it would reduce the village to a dormitory status – there would be no facilities there to do anything else.”
He added that it was important to maintain the level of opposition against the plans in preparation for the application to be heard at the next meeting of the development control committee, believed to be held on December 6.
Weaver Vale MP Graham Evans has strongly supported the residents in their campaign.
After attending the pub’s Bonfire Night celebrations, Mr Evans said “It is the hub of the community and if that disappears there is no real pub knocking around.”