A CONTROVERSIAL scheme to demolish a Worcester pub has been formally lodged with planners.

Further details of the proposal to bulldoze the Coppertops in Oldbury Road, St John's, Worcester have now been submitted to the planning department at Worcester City Council and are available for the public to see on the planning website.

Highways at Worcestershire County Council has registered no objections to the scheme which has caused some anger among local people who are concerned they will lose the last pub in the area following the closure of the Drakes Drum and the Mayflower.

A bat survey report must be carried out before the pub is demolished.

The application for prior notification of proposed development says there is 'significant concern that the closure of the premises may lead to unlawful occupation'.

Information on the document sates that 'redevelopment or rebuilding' was proposed at a later date.

The agent for Westbourne Leisure has declined to give details of this to the Worcester News.

A document reads: "Considering that the site is pending redevelopment in any case, it is preferred to demolish the existing building.

"The proposed demolition will be one of the following two options. All suitable material (concrete, brick and stone) shall be crushed on site."

Rumours have been circulating in the community that the site had been bought by the university to provide student accommodation but a spokesman for the University of Worcester denied this was the case.

She added: "The university has not purchased the Coppertops site.

"It is the case that the University of Worcester has rented the Coppertops car park during the day, Monday to Friday, for several years now.

"This is an arrangement which has benefited the University’s staff while boosting the income made by the pub in a way which did not inconvenience the pub’s patrons.

"Unfortunately, this arrangement is to come to an end by decision of the new owners."