MALVERN'S Three Counties Showground is facing restrictions on its future growth designed to prevent it moving further away from its traditional role in supporting agriculture.

Events at the showground are already under the microscope after complaints from residents about noise and disruption.

They claim certain events bear no relation to agriculture and that the showground is in breach of its 1956 planning permission in running them.

Malvern Hills District Council has been investigating the complaints for more than a year but this week said it was still not ready to decide whether to accept or reject them.

However, the council has indicated how it sees the showground's future role in the newly published Local Plan, a blueprint for the development of the district in the period to 2011.

The draft plan outlines the council's likely opinion if the Three Counties Agricultural Society were to apply for planning permission for new buildings or facilities in the future.

The plan says development would only be allowed if it was "directly related and necessary to support the operation of the TCS in performing its intended primary role as a rural showground for agricultural related exhibitions, displays, shows, and related uses".

Residents have been supported by Malvern Wells Parish Council in their concerns over noise from public address systems and fireworks.

In response, the showground has already stopped hosting two events, the Kit Car Show and the American Extrava-ganza.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the society's chief executive officer Gareth Smith said: "Balancing the economic benefits of showground activity with any impact on the environment is an obvious consideration and the provisos laid down in the plan reflect this. We will, as always, be working closely with MHDC on any future business planning."