A petition has been launched to protect a historic city building from future development.

The petition on Change.org is calling for Vesta Tilley House - a former music hall in Lowesmoor - to be locally listed.

The building was earmarked for demolition a few years ago as part of a plan to regenerate Lowesmoor Wharf.

Vesta Tilley House is one of a number of buildings that would have made way for the huge development of apartments, shops, offices, bars and cafes had the plans been approved.

That proposal was eventually withdrawn following a backlash from residents - but there are still concerns the building could be lost to future schemes.

Starting the petition, Worcester councillor Jabba Riaz said he is “alarmed by the threat posed to Vesta Tilley House”.

“Vesta Tilley House is a handsome building, originally a music hall opened in 1869, and now part of Worcester’s Canal Conservation Area,” he said.

“Named after the music hall star of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this is the last remaining building associated with Vesta Tilley in the city of her birth, all others being long since demolished.

“The young Vesta performed on this building’s stage, following in her father’s footsteps, before finding international stardom.”

Cllr Riaz said the loss of the building, which became a Salvation Army Citadel in 1881 and has since been used for office space, would be an “irreversible loss to the character of our city”.

The Victorian Society has described Vesta Tilley House as “a rare example of an early purpose-built music hall” and said its historic value is increased by its association with Tilley, who was among the most famous male impersonators of her era and one of the highest earning women of the 1890s.

Worcester News:

Historic England has called Vesta Tilley House “a building with great presence”.

“Despite Historic England's praise for this important local landmark, it remains unprotected from potential development,” said Cllr Riaz.

“We now have an opportunity to locally list this building before a further application goes in.”

To sign the petition go to www.change.org/p/protect-vesta-tilley-house-lowesmoor-get-it-locally-listed