A WORCESTER man who has set up a controversial business on a busy city road was advised to wait until he had planning permission, it has been revealed.

Peter Yates, of Worcester City Council's planning department, said the owners of Pots Direct, on Droitwich Road, were told not to go ahead with their retail outlet last Friday.

People living close to the business are up in arms after it started trading over the Bank Holiday weekend.

"We spoke to the owners and told them they needed planning permission," said Mr Yates. "They came in again yesterday and again they were advised to stop trading."

He said the owners had taken planning application forms needed to make a retrospective application.

"They have a right to apply and at the moment they're considering their options," he added.

He said a planning enforcement notice could not be carried out until the planning office could confirm who was the legal owner of the land.

"I've been in discussion with our legal services team in order to take this action," said Mr Yates.

"But we don't know how long that will take. When we have confirmation I'll be continuing discussions with legal services.

"We're also considering a stop notice, but we'd need to be able to justify our actions."

People living nearby say they are angry that it could be as long as two months before the company is forced to move on.

"No one seems to be taking much action," said Alex Kear. "We feel they could be doing more.

"The business is in the Green Belt and we don't want to see it here.

"The owner said they weren't doing anything wrong, but it's clear they are."

Mr Yates said the city council was unlikely to approve any retail plans on the site because it was Green Belt land and should be kept purely for recreational use.

"It would create a precedent in this area and we don't want that," he added. "If they don't apply for planning permission we'll serve an enforcement notice.

"They can appeal against that but if they fail then it will be a criminal offence to continue trading."

Pots Direct declined to comment today.