A POPULAR social club with more than 100 members will be demolished and replaced by terraced homes if a planning application is successful.

Blueprints to replace the Winslade Central Club – founded nearly seven decades ago - with six, single bedroom dwellings have been submitted to the district council.

Proposals describe how research of the local market pinpointed one-bedroom homes as suitable for first-time buyers, second home owners and those looking to downsize.

The Winslade Club was founded on April 10, 1945. Prior to this, it was a school, and later, the Sidmouth and District Trades Council and Sidmouth Labour Party HQ.

The social, ‘working men’s’, club is open six days a week from 7.30pm to 12.30am.

At present, there are 113 members and in previous years the membership reached 250. On average, each week there are up to 50 non-members using the club at any one time – including visiting teams and occasional parties and wedding receptions.

“Over the years the number of members has declined, now being predominantly of the middle to senior age group,” say plans.

“With a lack of younger members being enrolled and the associated costs and burden of running such an establishment the decision has been made to ‘wind down’ the activities of the club with a view to finding an alternative use for the land.”

The building is also sub-let to the Buffaloes and a builder for health and safety meetings. The proposal is to construct six, one-bedroom houses in a terrace of two blocks with associated car parking, external works and landscaping.

The proposed development occupies a smaller footprint than the existing buildings on the site.

The number of cars typically on site is expected to rise from around eight to 15.

The application had this week received two letters of objection from members of the public.