Plans for the demolition of a 19th-century pub in a village near Andover have split opinion.

The Grade II listed Cross Keys Inn in Upper Chute may be demolished to make way for a new home.

The Cross Keys Inn has been closed since 2017 and the plans say it has been vacant ever since.

The proposal adds: “It benefits from an extant planning permission to convert it to a single residential dwelling, but it is in a poor state of repair and has been the subject of vandalism and break-ins in recent years.

“The wider site is characterised by large areas of hardstanding, overgrowth and has suffered from fly tipping on a number of occasions.”

The new house will be built where the pub is and will have a front and back garden.

However, some in the village are shocked the historic building might be destroyed.

One comment on the application says: “With the local historical significance of the original Cross Keys building, I am dismayed that more is not being done to retain the existing building.”

The local walking group, the Swindon and North East Wiltshire Ramblers are also worried and commented: “We note that the applicants propose to retain public footpath CHUT18 on its existing alignment.

“However, the footprint of that part of the new dwelling closest to the footpath reaches further forward than the existing building and it appears to us that it may obstruct part of the legal line of the footpath.”

Wiltshire Council’s conservation team objected to the application too and said: “There is significant public interest in historic buildings in villages, especially those that have or have had community functions; all the residents will know where those buildings are, and that awareness lasts long beyond their change of use.”

However, not everyone is opposed.

One of the neighbours to the site said: “As near neighbours of this application we are generally in favour of the proposed new designs for the Cross Keys development.

“As a historic community reference point we feel it is important to honour the building's significance as a past meeting point and an ancient way marker.

“The new south elevation goes someway to reflect the Cross Keys as it was, while blending with its new purpose as a family home.”

Chute Parish Council has also lent support on the condition that the public right of way in front of the building is preserved.

The applicants were approached for comment.