A PLANNING committee vice-chairman who put up a garage on his land without permission has applied to build a replacement.

At its meeting on Tuesday, Upton Town Council supported plans by Tim Perry to construct a new garage to replace the unauthorised building in New Street.

Coun Simon Wilkinson said: "I would have thought that, both in terms of its materials and its size, it's acceptable."

Malvern Hills District Council, which served Coun Perry with an enforcement notice for building the original garage without permission, will make a final decision on the plans.

The council also heard that public toilets in Upton High Street would close within days, unless Malvern Hills District Council calls in a decision made by its executive committee at a meeting on Tuesday.

Barry Kitchen, representing Upton Tourism and Trade Association, said its 100 members condemned the plan, adding that coach parties would not stop in Upton if there were no toilet facilities.

District Coun Mary Wilkinson asked him to attend Tuesday's district council meeting to voice the association's fears.

Other business discussed by town councillors included plans for landscaping work in Upton's parks and riverfront.

The plans will be on show at a public consultation meeting at Upton Memorial Hall on April 18.

Members heard a new road safety scheme from Worcestershire County Council should be ready in the next six weeks, while the design of an extension to Upton Library was also being finalised.

The library is due to house a customer service centre when the extension is built, but it will be smaller than originally planned because the police would not agree to sell garages and land at Upton Police Station for the project.

A town plan for the next decade was adopted as guidance for decision making at the meeting.

The council heard there would be a youth showcase event in Upton on April 22.