Plans have been submitted to bulldoze a former landmark Widnes sports and social club to make way for a major new housing development.

Bellway Homes has issued a notification to Halton Council stating that it intends to flatten Moorfield Sports And Social Club. If given the green light, the work would start on November 3 and take up to three weeks to complete.

Once demolished, the company plans to move forward with one of two options for the site. Either build 119 new properties, or 75 new properties and retain an sports field with fencing and car-parking.

The club on Moorfield Road closed last August and was bought by the developer two months later. At its peak, it hosted a variety of sports clubs ranging from football, rugby league and crown green bowls. It had also been a well-known venue on the town's social scene for more than 50 years.

Following its closure, a petition was launched calling for it to be reopened which attracted more than 500 signatures.

But a report submitted to the council by Bellway said the derelict site had since been ‘ransacked’ and become a magnet for vandalism and anti-social behaviour. It said the club was in a state of ‘broken window syndrome’.

It said: “In criminology,  the broken windows theory states that visible signs of crime, anti-social behaviour and civil disorder creates an urban environment that encourages further crime and disorder.

“In other words, because the club has been damaged, broken into and ransacked and, as far as is know, no offenders have been brought to justice, they feel it is acceptable to keep returning and causing more and more damage.”

The club was also the scene of a fire in July, prompting an arson investigation.

A separate demolition report said 'vandals and opportunists' had removed metals from the site.  It said the demolition work would require gates to be put on the entry to the site with full time security also needed.

The report said: “The first structure to be demolished mechanically will be the main club house building with a smaller machine commencing demolition in tandem at the western gable of the changing room/showers building.”

It added Moorfield Primary School should be asked to inform parents that the social club carpark would not be available once construction activities commence.