A DECISION on whether to allow a former city pub to be converted into flats will have to wait after plans were deferred by councillors over parking problems.

The Garibaldi Inn off Bromyard Road St John's would be converted into six flats under the plans but Worcester City Council's planning committee agreed to defer a decision.

St John's councillor Richard Udall, who had ensured that councillors decided on the plan rather than council officers, said he would prefer to see the pub turned into fewer flats.

Cllr Udall said he, and most residents, had accepted that the building would most likely never be a pub again but felt six flats was too many and would add to parking problems in the area.

He said six flats was "considerable over-occupation" of the site and four would be more suitable.

"Three car parking spaces for six flats is totally insufficient," he told councillors at a planning meeting on Thursday (December 17).

"The development would have a serious impact on local amenity but I do believe there can be a compromise."

City council planning officers had recommended the plan should be approved by councillors but highways officers at Worcestershire County Council had said it should be refused because not enough parking spaces would be provided.

Planning officers rejected the application by Mohammed Abyadul Hoque to convert the former pub, which has closed and reopened numerous times in the last few years, into seven new flats and a ground floor shop in July for several reasons including traffic and parking concerns.

Bedwardine councillor Bill Amos said he would prefer to see a decision deferred so something would happen to the building rather than rejecting it and allowing the former pub to become derelict and an eyesore.

Cllr Roger Berry had called for the plan to be approved and was backed by planning chairman Cllr Chris Mitchell but the committee voted in favour of deferring which means a decision will be made by the planning committee next year.