A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build flats and townhouses in Malvern Link has had to be deferred while Malvern Hills District Council decide how to deal with it.

Applicant David Watkins wants to convert existing buildings at 213 and 215 Worcester Road into three flats and two townhouses, and build six more houses in the grounds.

The plan was on the agenda at last week's meeting of the southern area development control committee, but when the meeting started, members were told that it would not be discussed that night.

This was because Mr Watkins, who made the application back in March, was last month elected as a member of the council, and is on that very committee. This means that when it comes up for decision, he will have to declare a prejudicial interest and leave the meeting.

But to make it worse, Mr Watkins was the agent for all the Conservative candidates at the election. This means that as well as Mr Watkins, the other 16 Tory members of the 22-strong committee will have to declare similar interests.

The remaining five members are not enough to form a quorum, which needs at least six councillors.

The matter has been referred to the council's standards committee, which meets on Tuesday, June 5.

The site of the application is on the junction of Worcester Road and Cromwell Road, and it has aroused a lot of opposition from residents of Cromwell Road and Redland Road who feel it will make existing traffic congestion much worse.

A previous application on the same site was refused planning permission in January.