TWO pubs in Taunton look set to be given the green light to be turned into housing at a Taunton Deane Borough Council planning meeting on Wednesday.

The pubs - the Alma Inn on Silver Street and the Denmark Inn on Cheddon Road - have both been put forward to councillors as potential housing locations.

Planning officers had recommended the thumbs up for the proposals.

One of the plans would see the Alma Inn - which has been vacant for over seven months - demolished so that nine one-bedroom flats could be built on the site.

Four letters of objection had been received by the council about the proposal; regarding lack of parking, visibility at the junction with Silver Street, and not being in keeping with the housing on Alma Street.

However, the council report said: "The developer has undertaken a consultation with local residents as required by the Statement of Community Involvement and found general support for the scheme."

It added that the inn has been in a poor state of repair and is no longer considered viable as a public house having no off-street parking and with restrictions on adjacent roads.

Consideration was also paid to the design and impact on neighbouring properties due to the height of the inn at the end of the road.

The Denmark Inn proposal involves converting the inn into two residential units, building three homes between the inn and the neighbouring terrace and the construction of a block of four three-bedroom dwellings on garden land between the inn and homes on Denmark Lane.

Planning officers received 14 letters of objection from the public, saying that the inn is a landmark building and a valued amenity for locals, there would be insufficient parking spaces, and access would be dangerous.

One letter also said no formal notification had been posted to all properties.

While some locals may miss the pub, one letter of support was received saying that the immediate area would benefit form the removal of the pub, because it has become noisy with "undesirables" hanging around.