Dozens of objections have been lodged against plans to turn a historic former pub into a house.

An application to change the Saracens Head in Alfred Square, Deal, into a four-bed home comes before councillors this week.

But 44 people have written to Dover District Council (DDC) expressing their opposition, with one describing the proposals as “cultural vandalism”.

However, some neighbours say the 19th century pub – where previous owners have found it “impossible to make a profit” – has never been successful and would be better off as a house.

The bulk of those writing to DDC are concerned the change would mean the loss of a community and heritage asset in a conservation area.

They say it will mean there are only two pubs left in that part of Deal, when historically there were 35.

The Saracens Head closed last March but objectors said it should be turned back into a pub or even changed to a microbrewery as it would be needed for new and existing residents.

One neighbour, Mr S Blower, wrote on the council’s planning portal: “Stripping a heritage asset is cultural vandalism. This end of Deal has a strong community that needs this hub.”

Another resident, Graham Moore, said: ”Pubs are an important part of our cultural heritage and vital amenities so should always be protected at all costs.”

Mrs Lesley Jarman wrote: “We are losing so much trade in the town, Deal needs to remain as a social outlet and I would like to see this public house reopen as a freehold gastro pub.”

A pressure organisation called Save the Saracens Group has been set up to fight the application.

Its letter to the council said the pub had a catchment area of more than 1,000 households and until the Covid lockdowns had been busy and popular.

The group added: “Small businesses such as this give a sense of purpose and life to an area and contribute significantly to the local economy.”

Despite the pub originally thriving, its last tenants, Matthew and Martine Brett, left last March after 13 months saying it had been “impossible to make a profit”.

The premises had been owned by the brewery Shepherd Neame, which last June sold it. The applicant is East Kent Developments of Orpington and the agent is Peter Hadley of the company Robinson Escott Planning of the same area.

The council received six letters of support for the conversion, saying the pub lacked community support and because of past noise and disturbance, it was better as a home.

Neighbour Gillian Young said on the planning portal: “Deal has enough pubs to support the town, including the Prince Albert on the other corner of Alfred Square.”

Megan Davies, who also lives nearby, said: “The property is better suited to be converted to a residential status. All public houses encourage anti-social behaviour (noise, fighting, urinating in the street) and the Saracens was never a successful business even before Covid. There are plenty of pubs in Deal.”

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Council officers recommend approval of the development, saying there are other pubs and bars nearby and the proposed new house would preserve the character and appearance of the conservation area.

The Saracens Head building is thought to date back as far as 1806, when it housed a carpenter’s shop and several apartments.

About 15 years later, the premises were first referred to as the “Saracen’s Head beer house”.

The application will be discussed at Dover District Council’s planning committee meeting from 6pm on Thursday at the authority’s headquarters at the White Cliffs Business Park, Whitfield.