The former captain of a pub darts team has rued the loss of the 'local estate pub' that was at the 'heart of the community'.
A plan for a 'rough' pub to be demolished and replaced with council houses has split opinion.
There are plans for the Inham Nook pub, in Inham Road in Chilwell, to be knocked down and replaced with so-called affordable homes.
The future of the council-owned site will be decided at a Broxtowe Borough Council planning committee on Wednesday, March 9.
Locals said that the pub, despite its 'rough' reputation, was the "heart of the community".
Steven Bushel, 45, who works as a salesman, was formerly captain of the pub's darts team.
He used to be a regular and was opposed to the plans.
"It is a really bad thing in my eyes, I used to be the captain of the darts team there," he said.
"It had a bad reputation but that was from years ago, not recently.
"It's such a part of the estate, people say that the pub was built before the houses around here.
"It is the local estate pub, it's the only one we had around here - it was the heart of the community.
"I'm not against council houses in general but they are really taking away something here."
NottinghamshireLive was previously told that around 17 homes could replace the large 1950s building.
Steve Castledon, 44, who is a carer and lives on the Inham estate, said: "I did not really go there when it was open.
"It must have opened up three times in the past six years that I have been here.
"It was always said to have been a bit rough, but I'm not sure.
"I think the best thing would be to make it into council houses, they're always needed and the building looks ugly and untidy.
"Some green spaces would also be nice."
Others said that locals had lots of memories in the pub.
"Ten or 15 years ago you could spend a whole weekend in there. It was the centre of the community," a resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, said.
"I went here quite a lot and I never had any issues, if you were part of the estate you would
"It is sad to see it closed but it couldn't stay open and we need more housing."
Pub historian Nick Molyneux, who is part of the Nottingham branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), said: "It is one of those estate pubs that was built immediately post war with the rest of the estate.
"It has had its ups and downs and what some would say were 'behaviour problems' but it doesn't seem that anyone has been consulted on what they would like to happen to the pub."
A council document suggested that due to other pubs being close to the site, as well as the nearby library and community centre, the demolition would not impact on the amenities of locals.
"One of the problems with this plan is that the building itself is very good, it's a 1950s pub and there are only a few surviving in the borough of Broxtowe," Mr Molyneux added.
"It was built to be part of the community, I would much rather it be reused which would seem to be more sustainable.
"The demolition would take away amenity so where would these people at the new homes go for their amenity?
"If it can't work as a pub it could serve the community in other ways."
A spokesperson for Broxtowe Borough Council said: "Broxtowe Borough Council own the site of the Inham Nook public house and are currently proposing to redevelop the site principally for affordable housing.
"A full planning application is due to be submitted in the spring following a consultation event which is currently being held with local residents."
Planning officers have recommended the proposals for the demolition be approved.
But the plans will be voted on by the borough council's planning committee at its next meeting on March 9.
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