Dozens of people have signed a petition against plans to transform Sittingbourne’s former Magistrates Court into a pub.

J D Wetherspoon wants to spend £1.5 million converting the site in Park Road, if permission is granted by Swale council.

Consent is being sought for internal alterations to create an ‘eating and drinking establishment’, with a kitchen, cellar, staff room, office, a customer area, disabled toilet and WCs plus bedrooms for use by staff.

Other works include repairs, improvements and replacements. An outdoor area will be created for customers.

Once open it will feature historic artwork based on the premises.

It is also applying for the following operating hours 7am to 12.30am Sunday to Wednesday; 7am to 1.30am Thursday to Saturday; an additional hour for Christmas Eve/Boxing Day/Maundy Thursday/Sundays proceeding Bank Holidays plus New Year’s Eve to New Year’s Day 7am to 7am.

But Ypres Tavern landlords Darren and Deborah Rousell, who took over Last December, say it is ‘not the best use of the site’ and that it could have been put to better use as some sort of community facility.

They have started a campaign calling on the local authority not to allow the proposal to go ahead.

Fifty people have signed the petition, which states the new watering-hole would have a ‘serious detrimental effect’ on their boozer and surrounding homes and businesses and may result in the closure of the venue and others in the area.

An accompanying letter says: “We have worked hard to turn the pub around and make it an inviting place to go.

“We also have one of the last remaining function halls in Sittingbourne and actively support local groups and charities who use the hall.

“Whilst we appreciate that we own the Ypres Tavern and operate as a public house we also live above the Ypres and it is our home as well as our business, therefore from both a personal and business perspective we wish to oppose the application.”

Concerns about anti-social behaviour, deliveries, noise, smells, parking, their accommodation being overlooked and a potential increase in litter in the area are also raised.

The matter is set to be discussed by Swale council’s planning committee in the New Year.