PERSHORE town councillors are opposing plans for 71 homes in the High Street for retired people. They want developers to go back to the drawing board.

The proposed four-storey building containing the flats is to be located on the corner of the High Street and Cherry Orchard Road.

A report in last week's Journal highlighted local opposition to the planned retirement homes, and members of the town's planning committee followed suit.

At the meeting last Thursday, Councillor Dave Shaw said: "We are opposing this application on the grounds that the four storey structure is too imposing as it sits right on the High Street - not set back at all. Also we are anticipating a lot of traffic congestion around the site because of the large influx of new residents moving in. The location of the main road entrance to the building also needs to be looked at."

The application was made by Cheshire based company Morbaine Limited, who are also planning to set up an office in Evesham.

Alex Brodie, the company's development director, said: "We believe that this is the only practical way to develop the one-acre site. We have looked at mixed residential and retail use, and straightforward residential options for the site, but both have been rejected."

If the plans are given the go ahead by Wychavon District Council, small businesses on the site will have to go to make way for the development. There has also been some opposition from High Street residents who didn't like the idea of such a substantial structure nearby.

Though Pershore town councillors have objected to the current plans they are not against the site being redeveloped. The main issue is the scale of the building and design which they say should be in keep with Peshore's Georgian style. They think that if the plans are amended after consultation with Wychavon District Council then they could be more successful. The plans are expected to go before the district council within the next six weeks.