MEMBERS of Evesham's Ambassadors Snooker Club are celebrating now plans to demolish the club have been scrapped.

The future of the Avon Street club was in doubt when owners of the site, West Midlands Leasing Limited, submitted plans to develop a nearby warehouse.

The company wanted to demolish the club, which has a 2000-strong membership, to provide vehicle access and parking facilities for the development.

A petition objecting to the planned changes generated more than 900 signatures in less than two weeks.

"I think it is brilliant news that the plans have been withdrawn - the campaign has gone very well and I could not be more pleased with the outcome," said campaign co-ordinator Irene Heath.

"The amount of people who have turned up at the club just to sign the petition has been marvellous."

She added the campaign had even provoked a reply from an aide of the Queen after one objector penned his concerns to Her Majesty.

Protesters were told their concerns would be passed on to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

Very happy

Tim Williams, part owner of the snooker club business said: "I am very happy with the decision that the plans have been withdrawn.

"The support we have had from the members has been great - about 900 people signed the petition, which is amazing. People also wrote to the council about their concerns which is fantastic."

Evesham Town Council had voted against the planning application and councillor Paul Rencher was delighted with the outcome: "I just think it is great news and I know that literally hundreds of people will be really chuffed about it.

"This has been a real example of people power - these kind of campaigns bring out the best in people."

The agent for West Midlands Leasing Ltd declined to specify why the plans had been withdrawn.

Wychavon senior planner, Caroline Ansell, said: "The view of the conservation officer was that the club building should be retained.

"It was felt that its demolition would be harmful to the conservation area and on that basis the applicant withdrew the application.

"It would have been likely that officers recommended the plans for refusal had they gone to full committee.