Old Leigh will lose its character if more eateries open on the cobbled streets.

That is the verdict of residents and visitors reacting to news the old fishermen’s chapel could be turned into a 45-seater restaurant.

The chapel, next to the Crooked Billet Pub, in High Street, is owned by Southend West Scouts and has been used as a community hall for decades.

But councillors must decide on April 4 whether to approve a restaurant employing ten people. Opening hours will be from 9am to midnight from May to September, and noon to midnight October to April.

Lesley Sach, who went to school at West Leigh and Belfairs, but now lives in Great Dunmow, said: “I still like to come down here. But it becoming more and more a place for tourists, rather than for the community. It’s a shame the old hall can’t be kept.”

Rachel Davis, who lives in Billericay, added: “All they seem to think about is restaurants. Old Leigh is losing all its atmosphere.”

Lib Dem councillor Peter Wexham, for Leigh Ward, described the hall’s demise as “bad news”. He said it should be kept for local groups or fishermen.

“We’ve got enough food places in Old Leigh.” he said. “It should be kept as a community facility, but no one has asked the community.

“Why can’t it be kept as place for young people, rather than seeing them on the streets.”

The old chapel – built in the early twentieth century – is currently vacant and not used, according to a Southend Council report.

The council has received 11 comments with fears about noise, smells, lack of parking and loss of leisure/ community use.

A report to the council’s development control committee described the wooden building as “under used” and in need of renovation.

The report read: “As part of the conversion it is proposed to reinstate a number of historic features which have been lost including the roof materials, dormer windows and railings. This would be of significant benefit to the conservation area and the details of these reinstatement works and other alterations are discussed in more detail below. It is also noted that these works will also help secure the future of the building.”

The scout group will remain landlord of the site, but said it supported its change of use to “provide a steady and constant income”.

The report to councillors acknowledged the concerns but said the restaurant would serve the community too.

It read: “The loss of the community facility needs to be weighed against the benefits of the proposal in relation to the provision of additional tourist and leisure facilities and any benefits for the conservation area.”

Southend West Scouts described the building as “surplus to their requirements and is no longer used by the group”.

District commissioner, Dan Parsons, said the hall was running at a loss. He explained that scouts owned two other buildings in Old Leigh, and would remain landlord of the old chapel. All cash raised will go towards facilities for 1,200 scouts in Southend West.

“We don’t need this hall,” he said. “We have a responsibly as charity trustees to do what’s best with the money and assets we have.

“We provide significant facilities for young people in Old Leigh and will continue to do so. It’s right for us to do what’s right for our young members and grow scouting locally.”

“Morally, I’m quite satisfied we are doing the right thing.”