A last-ditch bid has been launched to change a historic pub into a family home.

Dawn Brailsford is appealing against Braintree Council’s decision to refuse her application to change the use of the Kings Head pub in Ridgewell from a public house to a house.

Ms Brailsford, who lives in the building with her husband and two children, has been trying to get the go-ahead ever since she was forced to close the pub to customers in 2016 due to a decline in trade.

A change of use application was refused by Braintree Council’s planning officers back in June, who argued there was not enough evidence to back up the applicant’s claim that the pub was no longer viable as a business.

An appeal has now been launched against the decision however, with Ms Brailsford rubbishing suggestions the pub could reopen.

A document outlining Ms Brailsford’s grounds for appeal says: “It is a matter of fact, and indeed common sense, that the former Kings Head public house will never re-open as a pub because it is simply not viable and there is insufficient patronage within Ridgewell to support two pubs.

“Despite the property being listed as an asset of community value, there is absolutely no prospect of the local community raising any significant funds to make any reasonable offer to purchase. The extremely poor fundraising for the village hall project clearly demonstrates this.”

It is also argued that failure to change the use of the Kings Head could leave the Brailsford family homeless.

The appeal adds: “If this appeal fails and Braintree Council decided to take enforcement action for a breach of planning control, then the family will be forced to move out of the premises without the funds to acquire an alternative home. Without any prospect of reinstatement, this would leave the premises vacant and at risk of vandalism and falling into disrepair. This would be a worst case scenario that benefits no-one.”

Plans to change the use of the pub have been unpopular with a number of villagers, as well as Ridgewell Parish Council and the Campaign for Real Ale which both raised objections.

A planning inspector will decide the outcome of the appeal.