RESIDENTS are up in arms after plans were revealed to demolish a historic pub to make way for a block of flats.

D G Rose Limited has applied for permission to pull down The Flag, in Colchester Road, an 18th century Local Listed Building, and replace it with two offices at ground floor level and eight one-bed properties, over two further stories, above.

Since the plans were revealed, residents have taken to social media to express their concern over the proposals for the iconic building, which was bought by the building firm in December.

Wivenhoe Town Councillor Asa Aldis said he had been slightly surprised by the reaction online.

"To be honest when I first saw them I was partly sad and partly resigned to the fact it was going to happen," he said.

"But the building is well loved, it is the entrance to Wivenhoe and it has been for hundreds of years.

"We know people have been interested in running it again, but for whatever reason it has not happened.

"Landlords have been very successful there in the past. We are not sure why the last people did not work but up until around five years ago it was very successful."

In November 2016 the premises was put up for sale after the existing tenant got into financial difficulties.

The property was marketed to new landlords, with nine interested parties viewing the premises, however no takers for the pub could be found and it closed for good in June last year.

A planning statement prepared by D G Rose reads: "It is clear that this scheme and application is likely to be quite controversial given that it will result in the loss of a public house and a locally listed building, however it is a business that has been in decline for a number of years and it is clear that previous freeholders have not able to operate and establish a viable business from the site.

"Furthermore, given the lack of any offers for the premises for well in excess of a year, it is clear that nobody else felt that it would be possible for a public house to become viable on the site or that there was any need or requirement for any other community use."

Wivenhoe Town Council said the application would be discussed at its next planning meeting on July 2.

Colchester Council will have the final say on the proposals.