A VIRTUAL meeting is being held tonight to give Droitwich residents the chance to have their say on plans for the Raven Hotel.

We reported earlier this month that, if the plans were given the go-ahead, the listed Raven Hotel, in Droitwich, would be partly demolished to make way for 51 new homes, preserving the long-term future of the building.

The central part of the St Andrews Road hotel - which is grade II-listed and dates back to the late 16th century - will be kept as well as some of the later buildings.

The plan to build up to 51 homes, which includes a mix of flats, terraced, detached and semi-detached homes, as well as space for a bar and restaurant was backed in 2018 by the council.

The closed hotel has fallen into a shocking state of disrepair and pictures emerged on social media late last year showing the extent of the damage.

The online meeting is scheduled to start at 6pm, and will include a presentation by RCA Regeneration, the agents for the proposed development.

Following this residents will then have the opportunity to ask questions.

READ MORE: Plans submitted to protect long-term future of Raven Hotel, Droitwich

The meeting, being held on Zoom and chaired by Councillor Bradley Thomas, leader of Wychavon District Council, is scheduled to last around 90 minutes.

At the latest meeting of Droitwich Town Council, Councillor Alex Sinton said town councillors had come under “unfair” criticism over the Raven Hotel, so this meeting was “very timely indeed”.

“In an ideal world we would have been having a public meeting, to which the public would have been invited,” he said.

“What has arisen is a very good second best, the public will have chance to ask questions. It can cater for up to 300 people. I’m looking forward to hearing what is going to be said.”

Log in details for the meeting can by obtained by emailing the Droitwich town clerk or his deputy at mark.keld@droitiwichspa.gov.uk or sharon.abbott@droitwichspa.gov.uk.

Alternatively call 01905 774258.