CONTROVERSIAL plans to convert a pub into offices have been put forward.

The Bird and Hand, on Coggeshall Road in Earls Colne, could be demolished to make way for a new office building with car parking.

The pub has been on the market since 2017, but has failed to find a buyer.

The planning application says: “The loss of a pub would ordinarily be considered a loss of a community facility, however this pub is not in a village and does not provide any realistic benefit to the rural community due to its location.”

But some locals disagree, saying office space is not the right use for the site. Barnaby Stinton, who lives on Coggeshall Road, is one of the objectors to the application.

He said: “Although there are industrial and commercial premises on the Coggeshall road, I do not agree with the demolition of a historic building to make way for more.

“The Bird in Hand is linked to the history of the the area, in particular the Second World War base which was home to the 9th Air Force.

“The building itself is synonymous with war stories from locals and airmen who have written about serving at RAF Earls Colne. It is a nice looking building and should not be demolished for offices.

“There is already a very well thought out application for office space on the Earls Colne business park which makes much more sense than putting offices right on such a fast and dangerous section of that main road.

“Surely what’s left of the beauty and heritage of the Coggeshall road should be protected.”

Braintree Council will rule on the application.