A community in Willesden Green is appealing to developers to keep the wrecking ball away from a popular pub.

A consultation event at St Gabriel’s Church Hall is taking place today (Thu) between 4pm and 8pm over plans to demolish The Queensbury Pub and build a five-storey block.

Redbourne (Willesden) Ltd has appealed to the Planning Inspectorate for the second time after Brent Council kicked out its bid in May.

Campaign group Save the Queensbury is calling the event a “Nightmare on Walm Lane”. Supporters want to see developers build around the pub, not reduce it to rubble.

Ian Elliot said: “We are facing a nightmare scenario of a new planning application but also an appeal to the government’s Planning Inspectorate, which would appeal the decision taken by Brent Council earlier this year which saved the pub for the second time.

Brent & Kilburn Times: The Queensbury in Walm Lane, Willesden Green (Picture: Google)The Queensbury in Walm Lane, Willesden Green (Picture: Google) (Image: Archant)

“We want the developer to stop wasting time and money on appeals and listen to the community. The building has to stay, in a development that fits the conservation area.

“People of Willesden are tired of unsympathetic developments and Brent has used its powers of conservation to resist in this case which is precisely what locals want.”

He said the plans for 48 flats and a replacement pub with a function room are “an ugly eyesore” and “a nightmare for conservation”.

There is no provision within the plans for baby and toddler group Busy Rascals, which operates from The Queensbury at present.

In 2015 developer Fairview Homes lost its appeal to build a 10-storey tower with 56 flats.

The council said the application was refused because of its size, its poor design and how it failed to “preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Mapesbury Conservation Area”.

Mr Elliot added: “What we want is for the building to be retained and developed around it and on the car park at the rear.

“The historic building at the Willesden Library was saved. There are plans to retain the Willesden police station building in a wider development. The Queensbury is the same style and design as these and adds to conservation which these plans would very much detract.”