A ONCE-thriving community pub could be demolished and replaced with houses if new plans are given the green light.

Developers want to knock down the former Lane Ends Inn, on the corner of Halifax Road and Higher Reedley Road, Brierfield, and build two detached houses on the site.

The former pub is currently in use as a single residential property.

The agent behind the plans says there is a demand for housing in the area.

But critics say the demolition of the pub would mark the “end of an era” and be another blow to the town’s heritage.

Mike Sutcliffe, of Brierfield Town Council, said: “I wouldn’t say I was a regular, but I used to go in there from time to time.

“It was a decent pub, which was well run, and there was never any trouble there.

“I was actually a bit surprised when it closed because it seemed to attract a reasonable number of people.”

The pub is just one of more than 20 to have closed in Pendle in the last three years.

In Brierfield there is now just one pub — the Feathers Inn — open for business, although there are plans to re-open the Marsden Cross Inn.

Mr Sutcliffe said he was sad to see so many pubs being closed and knocked down in the area, and that he would prefer to see them re-open.

He said: “The Lane Ends is in a great spot and it is a decent-looking building.

“If you’re asking me if I’m in favour of it being knocked down, then no I certainly am not.”