PLANS to demolish a former local pub and build 12 houses in a York suburb look set to get the go-ahead.

The Tang Hall pub, in Fourth Avenue, Tang Hall, closed its doors to customers earlier this year. Now builders Caplin Developments want to put up 12 three-storey town houses with parking and gardens.

Currently, the old pub is boarded-up and the land around it is derelict.

As part of the plans submitted to City of York Council, there will be eight semi-detached houses facing on to Fourth Avenue and the other four homes at the rear of the plot accessed by a road through the middle.

James Gabbatiss, 20, who lives opposite the pub, said the pub suffered because people living close by preferred to go elsewhere to drink.

He said: "That said, it will be a shame that it could be knocked down for housing, because they always used to have bouncy castles in there in the summer for the kids. It was a proper family pub."

Gerry Thornton, 48, of Asquith Avenue, said: "It's not my local, but it will be a shame to see it gone as there's been a pub on that site for a lot of years."

But 73-year-old Jean Marshall, who lives three doors down from the pub, said: "At one time it was a thriving community pub, but not any more and it hasn't been like that for a number of years.

"At one time I used to see crowds of people going past my window to go in there, but they got less and less.

"I certainly don't think it should stay as a pub - I've said to plenty of people, I'd give them a hand knocking it down."

Her neighbour, Rose Watkins, 72, said: "We've been down to the council to see the plans and we are very happy with them. It was a really good pub at one time, but as the older generation has died out the young ones didn't seem to go there as much.

"I'd rather see houses there than a pub now."

In a report, City of York Council's development control officer Andrew Graham said major concerns were raised by officers regarding the proposed felling of birch trees at the front of the site.

The applicant said the trees would be felled, but vowed to replace them and keep part of an existing beech and Ash hedge to help compensate for the loss of wildlife habitat.

Mr Graham has recommended councillors approve the scheme when it goes before the planning and transport east area sub committee in the Guildhall on Thursday.

Updated: 09:51 Monday, October 10, 2005