AN ENTERPRISING landlady says her efforts to revitalise a city centre pub are being thwarted be-cause council chiefs refuse to give her a grant.

Kaff Buzza, who moved into the West Midland Tavern at Lowesmoor Place a few months ago, is angry and upset and says she feels "totally let down" by the council after investing thousands of pounds of her own cash into renovating the place.

She has replaced the floor in the derelict skittle alley which she has turned into a function room, fitted new carpets and curtains and repainted the inside.

Now Kaff wants to replace the old windows and renovate the peeling paintwork outside to attract more customers.

"The council is refusing to give me a grant which I think is extremely unfair, especially since a business which is very near to me has already benefited from one," said Kaff.

"The council says the grant is to regenerate Lowesmoor properties to make the area attractive, vibrant and the thriving part of the city it once was. So why won't they help me with mine?

Nonsense

The pub looks awful on the outside and is dirty. But they won't even give me the cash for a pot of paint. It's a nonsense."

Kaff, who hopes to start serving food at her hostelry, applied for a grant from the Lowesmoor Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme, which is backed by Worcester City Council and English Heritage. It aims to kick-start the social and economic improvement of the area.

It hands out grants of up to £15,000 per scheme to help owners or lessees repair and reinstate historic buildings.

Will Scott, principal conservation officer for Worcester City Council, said that the pub is not within the conservation area.

"She is a block away from the conservation area - we had to draw the line somewhere," explained Mr Scott. "The pub is not a listed building and will not get a grant."

All work funded by the scheme - which grants cash to both listed buildings and those of special architectural interest - states that only natural and traditional methods and materials can be used in construction work.

The Lowesmoor fish bar has just received an award for its newly designed frontage.