DERELICT Pershore garage sites used by drug-takers have been earmarked for housing in Wychavon's draft local plan.

The under-used brownfield sites are ugly eyesores, ideal for development, say planners.

But residents have protested that they are needed as garaging for the surrounding housing estates and should be tidied up and brought back into use.

Pershore Mayor Richard Hampton, who is also a district councillor and a director of Evesham and Pershore Housing Association, said Wychavon had to find sites for housing, and preference had to be given to brownfield sites.

"These rows of garages were originally built in the centre of council estates, which are now owned by the housing association, but many have fallen into disuse and disrepair.

"People didn't use them because they felt they weren't safe and people go there to take drugs and dump rubbish. But residents are very determined that they should not be developed for housing."

He said a delegation went to the town council, saying they wanted them cleaned up and kept as garages.

"One argument is that space for parking has to be provided somewhere and if more houses are built, more cars will have to be parked on the streets."

New houses

Wychavon planning policy manager Dave Tomaney said the council had to find sites in the district for 1,300 new houses, of which 120 had been allocated to Pershore.

Five garage courts would provide space for 60 houses, with another 60 on three other brownfield sites.

"Significant numbers of these garages are disused. A lot of them are eyesores, prone to vandalism, drug use and anti-social behaviour.

"At Mill Lane Close, for example, only about five of the 37 garages are in use," he said.

Pilot study

It was hoped a pilot study on one site would show how a better layout could incorporate housing and parking spaces.

Evesham and Pershore Housing Association spokesman Rebecca Bailey said a development at Mill Lane, where some garages were demolished to make way for three houses and parking spaces, had already shown what could be done.

"Some garages are rented out privately, but others are disused and there's an option of demolishing them and putting in some more housing with open car parking," she said.

"It would move the cars off the streets and tidy up the sites, which would be an environmental improvement."