REAL ale fans were celebrating this week after planning officers recommended refusing a bid to turn a traditional old-fashioned Worcester pub into offices.

Harrison Clark submitted two applications to transform The Plough pub, on the junction of Deansway and Fish Street, into office space.

City council officers recommended councillors refuse the plans because there are so few Worcester City centre pubs left that cater for mature drinkers.

Real ale group the Campaign For Real Ale (Camra) and several members of the public had objected to the proposals and planning chief Paul O'Connor said their input had swayed his view.

"Public houses serve a valuable function within the community in terms of providing meeting rooms, support for local sports teams and serve a community focus," he said.

"Within the city centre they also contribute to the vitality and support tourism.

"The applicants argued that there are other pubs in the area and that this pub was unviable. The counter-argument is that there are few locations for mature people in the city centre as most establishments cater for a younger market.

"My view has been swayed by the comments made by Camra and other objectors.

"There is no evidence that the pub is unviable or has been marketed for use as a pub."

The building is an 18th Century grade II listed building, which, until the summer, was run as a pub by licensee Antonio Navarrete.

He left in July and neighbouring solicitors firm Harrison Clark, which now rents the building from owner Bob Moss, submitted the applications a few months later.

The firm has applied to add a single-storey extension to link the pub's main building to an outdoor toilet block and renovate the inside.

Camra spokesman Bill Ottaway said: "We are chuffed that the recommendation is to refuse.

"It's great that there have been so many objections and the planning officers have been swayed by them.

"It's now a case of waiting to see what happens at the committee meeting, but we have our fingers crossed."

Worcester City Council's planning committee will consider the plans on Thursday.

END TO COURT ALCOHOL LICENSING

MORE than 500 years of history came to an end at Worcester magistrates yesterday as local justices' responsibility for granting licences to sell alcohol came to an end.

With the recent passing of the Government's licensing Bill a traditional going back to the Middle Ages ended.

From Thursday local authorities will grant licences to sell drink and chair of the bench Patricia Richards marked the occasion with a short speech. She said: "We wish the local authorities well with all the matters that they will have to deal with.

"Some of us are sorry to see it move from the magistrates and thank you to all those who have dealt with it.

"It is an interesting time and will be missed by some of the magistrates."

Although magistrates lose licensing jurisdiction, they will retain control over betting and gaming.