ANGRY householders have hit out at council chiefs for putting their properties on a list of Kidderminster's "locally important" buildings, calling it a waste of council tax payers' money and a blight on property values.

Objectors to the new "local list" said the singling out of their properties would damage their chances of selling or making alterations.

More than 300 buildings have been placed on the draft Wyre Forest District Council list, to aid councillors who make planning decisions which could involve changing - or even demolishing - buildings.

York Street resident, Paul Holmes - whose terraced 19th century home has been included - told officers the scheme was a waste of council tax payers' money.

He said it was "a waste of time, effort and money" and would "needlessly (worry) homeowners".

One Chester Road North resident said the listing of his detached home would place "additional restrictions on what changes can be made", while a Hurcott Road resident warned he would "take every step possible to prevent your proposed action".

It is not just individual home owners who have given a frosty reception to the list of more than 200 properties, which has taken a year to compile.

The Salvation Army objected to the inclusion of its Jerusalem Way Church.

West Midlands building surveyor for the charity, Andy Harris, said: "I didn't think there was any architectural significance to the building. It has a new part which is the most attractive part anyway.

"I am very wary of local lists. I think they impose other restrictions."

A total of 12 objections were presented to the council's environment and economic regeneration policy and scrutiny panel, which approved the document on Wednesday last week.

The list - the first of its kind to be drawn up in Wyre Forest - was commended by 27 featured householders and will be rolled out to Stourport by next March and then Bewdley.

It does not, however, provide a building with the kind of statutory protection given with listings, said the council's conservation officer, Simon Roper-Pressdee.

He said it was to "encourage sympathetic design and materials in any repair or reinstatement work to the original building, to require a justification of the demolition or redevelopment (of a building on the list) and to encourage high quality design in any new build within the curtilage of any such building."

The scrutiny panel recommended the council's cabinet retain the properties complained of on the list, when it meets on September 30.