ANTI-social behaviour will be reduced in Great Malvern if plans are approved to shut down one of the town’s popular nightspots.
That was the opinion of Mike Stephenson, crime prevention design advisor with West Mercia Police, who said there had been issues at Priors Croft since it was opened in 2005.
But he also questioned how the loss of the venue on Grange Road, which would be partially demolished to make way for six new homes, would affect youngsters in Malvern.
Mr Stephenson told The Observer: “Historically there have been a few issues around crime and disorder at the premise in its current form as a pub and club.
“It would be easy to say changing it to housing may benefit policing as it probably would, and disorder in that area would certainly reduce.
“However, there is a much bigger picture – the loss of a public and social amenity. Where will the young people of Malvern go to socialise and how will that impact on other parts of Malvern?”
Residents in Great Malvern have also come out in support of Jonathan Roe’s proposals with David Hill, of Grange Road, saying he would ‘very much welcome’ the move.
In a letter to Malvern Hills District Council, he said: “As the residential landlord of a number of properties in Grange Road we are constantly being advised by our tenants of the noise and general unsocial behaviour of people exiting at the end of late night sessions at Priors Croft.
“We also, as owners of a property in that road, have had to deal regularly with discarded bottles and general damage we suspect has been caused by late night revellers.
“We very much welcome this application on the grounds the removal of this venue and its conversion to what is hoped will be quality residential properties would greatly enhance the area for its residents.”
Despite backing calls to get rid of the ‘problem spot’, Bob Tilley, chairman of the Malvern Civic Society’s planning committee, said the society recommended refusal due to overdevelopment at the site.
“We don’t think enough research has been done on the original house and some of the demolition of the original building,” Mr Tilley added.
“It is a problem spot, that is why people are making recommendations for it to go to residential.
“We are not against that but it is just too much in that area.”
Mr Roe declined to comment when contacted by The Observer.
*What do you think, would converting Priors Croft into housing be good for the area? Email Letters at [email protected]
