PLANS to demolish a 150-year-old former pub and build a new house in its place are facing fierce opposition from villagers.

The John Barleycorn in East Grimstead is not listed or in a conservation area, meaning that developer Schemp Ltd is legally entitled to pull the building down.

But residents are angry that one of the oldest buildings in the centre of their village will be gone forever.

In a letter to Wiltshire Council, Mrs Patricia Samanta passionately argued for the its restoration.

She said: "Once this piece of heritage is gone, it will be gone forever and the character and heritage of the village will be completely changed.

"East Grimstead is a small village of only about 20 properties, so to completely demolish a building in a small community will have a noticeable impact."

Salisbury Civic Society agreed and said that the demolition of the pub was quite unnecessary and would have a damaging impact on the village.

It called for the application to be refused.

Grimstead Parish Council has also objected to the application, saying there there would be no public benefit to pulling down the pub.

It said: "The locality will be harmed by the removal of an aesthetically pleasing building in a prominent part of the village.

"It is an undesignated heritage asset and therefore historically significant."

The John Barleycorn was built in 1857, and served East Grimstead as a public house until 1973 when it was converted into a private house.

Chartered town planner Paul Dance, who was hired by Schemp to investigate the feasibility of the project, argued that the building's history as a village pub was insignificant.

He also said that there was little historical or architectural value remaining in the property, with all original features having been removed or replaced over time.

But the proposed new building would, according to one neighbour, "forever change the feel and character of our special village".

To see the plans visit wiltshire.gov.uk/planninganddevelopment and enter 16/10222/FUL