THE fate of a disused pub on the Dengie will be decided by councillors next week.

The Sun and Anchor pub, in Steeple, has been earmarked for demolition to make way for six houses.

The decision came after the pub shut in 2017 following the landlord’s death.

Owner Gray and Sons, which owns 20 pubs in the district, now wants to redevelop the property, which has stood in The Street since 1940.

The final decision comes down to Maldon district councillors at a meeting next Monday, February 10.

The plans are recommended for refusal.

Planning officers claim the development would harm the area’s character and lead to the “unjustified loss” of a community facility.

There are also concerns about there not being enough off-street parking.

The report says: “In the absence of any benefits such as affordable housing, and given that the housing mix does not meet the council’s aims for smaller units, it is not considered that there are benefits that would weigh in favour of the development.”

Members of the public are free to attend the South Eastern Area Planning Committee meeting at the council offices from 7.30pm.