Part of a 1930's wall in Maldon town centre has become a rather controversial planning issue.

An application has been made to remove a round brick pillar to the east boundary wall of The Waffle Bar in the High Street, after it was damaged during some building work that was being carried out to the rear of the property.

The Waffle Bar itself occupies a Grade II listed medieval building and is in a Conservation Area. Access to the buildings at the rear of the property runs down the side of the 1930's red brick wall.

The application to remove the pillar - otherwise known as a pier - will be discussed and decided on by Maldon District Council's Central Area Planning Committee next Wednesday, 24 February.

Maldon Town Council has recommended refusal of the proposal as "it is in keeping with the setting of the listed building, is in the Maldon Conservation Area and should be preserved due to its historic value".

A letter of objection to the pillar's removal has also been received from The Maldon Society, which lists reasons why it should be kept, including:

-piers are necessary to ensure the stability of this brickwork wall and their

circular design is an "unusual and very attractive solution" to a necessary structural function

-the upkeep of the wall "is being neglected by the owners" and the society "fears the aim is to remove it altogether"

-the 20th century architectural style "is not widely represented within the Conservation Area and is worthy of retention".

However, Maldon District Council's Conservation Officer disagrees and in the report to council members says: "The removal of this pier will not, in my judgement, harm the character of the Conservation Area or the setting of the listed building. I raise no objection to the approval of this application, subject to the recommended condition."

The condition recommended is that any bricks in the wall damaged by the removal of the pillar are replaced with "undamaged soft red bricks to match the existing".