A DEVELOPER who has been accused of spoiling Knutsford's heritage said this week: I'm doing as I am told.

Philip Hughes said experts had advised him to remove cobbles from outside the Royal George and rip out the hotel's ballroom floor.

"We would save a small fortune if we could leave things as they are," he said.

"To suggest it is us wanting to do these things is a nonsense."

Last week Roger Birchall, of St John's Road, said the ballroom and cobbles should have been salvaged.

In a letter to the Knutsford Guardian he claimed residents were concerned about the damage being done to the grade II listed building.

But yesterday (Tuesday) Mr Hughes said landscape architects had told him the cobbles had to go.

English Heritage agreed and the proposal was part of the original plan, which was approved by Macclesfield Borough Council.

"The landscaping scheme has been in place for four years," he said.

"There was a concern for anyone wearing high heels and for small children because it was a complete trip hazard."

Cobbles have now been removed and Mr Hughes said a quality paving stone would replace them.

Yesterday, though, it emerged that the borough council had rejected his proposal to rip up the dance floor.

Mr Hughes said he would not submit another application because he did want to risk delaying the scheme.

He said his experts had advised him that the floor was not strong enough to support a room fullof diners.

Timber specialists are now being called in to see whether the woodwork can be strengthened.

But Mr Hughes criticised officers' handling of the application.

"They have not listened to our arguments," he said.

Mr Hughes' company, Gaskell Estates, is building a £10million development of shops, offices, apartments and two restaurants. He said the sprung ballroom floor - believed to be the only one in the North West - was little older than 40 years.

"It is not the original that was in the room when it was built 300 years ago," he said.

"There are pieces of steel girders and modern timber in there.

"We would be absolutely delighted to retain it in its current form, but we have been advised that we can't."