PLANS to demolish an historic building to make room for new apartments have been given the thumbs down.

Stourport-on-Severn town councillors voted by nine to four to recommend refusal for the scheme, submitted by John Martyn Construction.

The firm had asked to pull down the disused Drill Hall on Lion Hill and extend the neighbouring house to create nine flats.

A decision from English Heritage is expected by the end of the month on whether the 100-year-old building, the last port of call in Stourport for First World War conscripts, will be spot-listed to make demolition unlikely.

However, Wyre Forest District Council will decide whether the project goes ahead.

Even though the developer had reduced the proposed number of units from 12, the project still met opposition.

"It's a very dangerous place for access on to Lion Hill," said Reg Knott, leader of the town's Labour Group.

"We should be of a mind to look after the residents of Stourport and I think it's going to be a dangerous junction."

Deputy Mayor, Councillor Vi Higgs, argued that if two-bedroom flats generated two cars each, there would be 18 cars coming in and out.

"What would happen if you needed the emergency services to get there and there's only one way to get in?" she said.