PROPOSALS to convert a former carpet warehouse and a public house car park into five homes in Wellington town centre have been dropped.

The plan was put forward in January by Victoria Arms owner Jude Elstub to help keep the pub going, but has now been withdrawn

Ms Elstub wanted to develop five two-bedroom homes by converting the empty warehouse in North Street and extending into a small car park opposite her pub.

But there was a barrage of objections to the scheme, many of which were from elderly occupants of the adjoining Bishops Court retirement flats, where the eldest resident was over 100 years old and many others were in their 80s and 90s.

Wellington town councillors also formally opposed the plan, saying it was an overdevelopment of the 53,800 sq ft site and would cause traffic problems on the narrow and busy North Street.

Ms Elstub said in support of her planning application: “This is our 20th year in the pub and it looks like it could be our hardest one, with all the rising gas, electric, beer, and wages.

“The idea behind the houses is to try to supplement the income for the pub as we may not make any profit, or very little, this year as people tighten their purse strings.

“We are hoping to either rent out fully per month or maybe even try the Airbnb option.

“We are determined to try to keep the pub going, even if it is just breaking even for the next year or so, and then using the income from the houses to live on.”

Ms Elstub said the pub car park was not needed for the business because 99 per cent of customers walked, and it was only used by neighbours and people visiting shops in the town centre.

Planning agent Simon Helm, of Bro Architecture, said permission had previously been given for a former carpet shop at the front of the warehouse to be converted to a two-storey house.

Mr Helm said it was intended to use the pub car park for a bin store, cycle store, and parking for the new development.

Ms Elstub and her partner Carl Wood previously won praise for saving the Victoria Arms in 2003 when they took over following a protection order being issued on the property.

It had become run-down and the couple extensively repaired and redecorated the premises.