ANGRY residents of Malvern Link are calling on council planners to reverse a decision to allow a dental surgery near their homes to be enlarged.

A planning application by the Richmond Dental Practice, in Richmond Road, to build a new floor above the existing single-storey building was approved by Malvern Hills district councillors at a meeting two weeks ago.

But people living nearby want the decision reversed. They say the proposed application is out of place in the Link Conservation Area and the extension will exacerbate existing traffic and parking problems.

Donald MacKenzie has emailed the council, asking for the decision to be reviewed.

He said: "We don't think that this development has followed the spirit of improvement for the conservation area, or due process.

"We have tight restrictions put on us by the planning department for our own properties, yet the planner has worked hand in hand with the dentist to get an industrial building approved with no restrictions on the potential for change of use."

Mr Mackenzie said that residents are aggrieved because they feel they were ignored.

Another resident, Rodney Hatfield, said: "The highways department had no objection, but I don't think they can have visited. There are cars parking in front of our gates and driveways and on double yellow lines all the time. "

But in a statement issued this week, Duncan Rudge, the council's development control manager, said: “We understand the concerns of the residents, but the committee, after considering all the comments received and the various arguments for and against, decided that the design of the extension was acceptable for this location and that any impact on the surrounding area was not so great as to warrant refusal.

“Contemporary design can be appropriate in conservation areas such as this. Concerns about car parking were discussed by the committee but it was considered that due to the nature of the business and its close proximity to a public car park and other local services, any impact would not be significant.”

Practice owner Hirdeep Sanghera said: "Our application followed the proper rules and regulations and it wasn't my intention to create ill-feeling with anyone."