A RUNDOWN garage court in Droitwich will be knocked down to make way for six houses and a bungalow.

The plan for six two-bedroom homes and a one-bedroom bungalow was given the go-ahead by Wychavon District Councillors despite objections from people living nearby.

The application, by Spa Housing Association, asked for permission to demolish 42 garages and six parking spaces off Rose Avenue to make room for the affordable homes.

Association representatives had argued that the garage area was unpopular due to anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping with only 24 of the garages let out.

However, the council received 22 letters of objection from residents who were concerned about the loss of parking and the potential for further congestion because of the new homes.

One man said the association had forced him to give up his garage after 40 years and he was now struggling to find a parking space in Charles Henry Road.

At a planning meeting, objector Barbara Crashley said the association had a no-maintenance policy on the garages which had led to them falling into an "awful state of disrepair".

She said displaced garage tenants would look for parking elsewhere causing congestion and added: "Previously, a fatality occurred in nearby Winslow Avenue when a child was hit by a milk float - that being one child too many."

Lee Wheeler, speaking on behalf of the association, said a survey showed many of the garage tenants used the garages for storage not parking.

Councillor Pam Davey asked for planning permission to legally oblige the association to help anyone who wanted to turn their front garden into a driveway but was told by officers it was impossible to impose such a condition.

Councillors voted in favour of the plan.