A FORMER village pub is set to be demolished amid safety fears, to make way for new housing.

The Queen’s Arms pub and the Victoria Hall, on Main Street, Distington, are set to be torn down after becoming derelict and arousing safety concerns from nearby residents.

A planning application has gone in to Copeland Borough Council to transform the site into two sets of semi-detached houses.

And the news was welcomed by the village’s parish council, who are eager to see the site be put to use.

“There was no objection at all from any member,” said a spokesman for the council, who reached a unanimous verdict to back the plans.

“It’s what they have wanted for a long time. It’s going to fall down otherwise.”

The pub was well-known in the village and was also a takeaway in more recent years. But after it fell into disuse, worried residents feared for the safety of the derelict building.

Agent Calva Design Studio will deal with the build of the houses with parking spaces and gardens attached.

A representative of Copeland Borough Council added that the plan will no go into consultation.

They said: “We are consulting with statutory bodies and would make a decision within an eight week timescale.”

The council are set to consult residents of Distington who live nearby, however, they said: “We would expect that the parish council would speak on behalf of the village.”

In a post to the Distington Old and New Facebook page, a resident said: “I’m sure a lot of people have fond memories of both buildings but surely they are beyond repair now.”