PLANS to demolish Warminster’s disused scout hut and replace it with five houses have been given unanimous approval by town council planners at the town council’s planning committee.

An application proposal for two one-bedroom houses and three two-bedroom houses has been put forward to replace the scout hut on Station Road, which has been disused for almost 10 years.

But Mary Joscelyne, who lives in Homeminster House next door, said: “The proposed houses would be at least two-and-a-half metres taller than the scout hut and would be very close to my flat.

“All my main windows – living room and two bedrooms – face the proposed houses so I’m sure that the council will understand my concern at the loss of daylight and the loss of privacy if this proposal were to go ahead.”

At Warminster’s planning advisory committee meeting on Monday, Councillor George Jolley put forward the amended application but did highlight concerns about potential parking problems.

The application will next go before Wiltshire Council later this year.

Fred Locke, who has lived down the road from the scout hut for 21 years on Four Flats, said: “It’s been an eyesore for so long and I’m happy to see it used for housing.

“Every time you go past it you think something needs doing to it.

“I know it’s a spot for young kids to hang out and smoke some weed or take legal highs so anything that stops that is a good idea.”

Dave Horder, also of Four Flats, said: believes the scout hut should be removed but not replaced with houses.

He said: “I think it’s a ridiculous idea to put houses there because as I understand it the road is owned by Network Rail and there are no places for parking – the access is at fault.

“I think it’s a good idea that they get rid of the scout hut as it no longer serves the its purpose for what it was built for, but I don’t think they should be building houses there.”