A CONTROVERSIAL attempt to turn a stable block into housing has been thwarted by Malvern Hills District Council planners.

The stables, at Brook Farm Drive in Welland, were the subject of a planning application to turn them into a one-bedroom house.

Last week, officers recommended that the permission be granted under certain conditions. However, under new rules allowing three-minute speeches in favour of and against applications, neighbour Mrs J O'Sullivan told the meeting that a new house would cause tension on the street.

She said the access rights were currently the subject of legal dispute and the occupants of the new house would suffer from noise.

"We carry out maintenance of garden machinery next to the proposed bedroom," she said.

Planners refused the application on grounds that the building was not of sufficient architectural or historic value to merit conversion.