THE owner of a newsagents in Worcester has spoken out against plans to turn a former pub into a convenience store.

A planning application has been submitted for external alterations to be made to The Lakes in Ambleside Drive, Warndon, before it is turned into a convenience store.

The pub — which first opened when the estate was built in the 1960s — closed in August and since then has been boarded up.

But Natu Patel, who runs the nearby Ambleside News with wife Hansa, said: "I think it's a ludicrous idea. Whoever is looking to run the store fail to realise how damaging this will be to the area," he said.

"On top of the fact that we have many shops around here already, the increase in traffic brought by another convenience store on an already busy and dangerous road will be awful.

"It's wonderful here and we love it. We have had our shop here for 26 years and if we hadn't been serving the community properly then we wouldn't be here still."

Ann Oliver, who has lived near to the pub for the last 30 years, said: "We really don't need anymore convenience stores. We have Costcutters up the road and Ambleside News, which has been there for years. Ten minutes away we have Tesco and Sainsbury's, we also have a Nisa and a Spar close by too. I worked behind the bar at the Lakes years ago, so to an extent I am sad that it won't be a pub anymore but I think the atmosphere that used to be in pubs has gone now. But I do wish they would do something else with it. I don't want a new store to put other smaller stores out of business."

Jack Miskimmin, who has lived in the area since 1970, agreed that there are "enough shops in the area".

A spokesperson from planning agents Marrons Planning said Marrons couldn't comment for the story.

A decision on the application is due to be made by Worcester City Council on November 25.