A NEW tattoo parlour has been given the go ahead by councillors, despite claims that it would give off the 'wrong impression'.

Rat-Tattoo-Ee will open up in a vacant shop in Old Street, Upton, after a planning committee approved the application.

A Malvern Hills District Council planning officer advised councillors to reject the application as the tattoo shop would undermine the prime retail area.

But councillors rejected the recommendation to refuse the application and authorised the council's head of planning to grant the tattoo shop temporary permission for three years.

Paul Kemp, the owner of Rat-Tattoo-Ee, said: "We have been approved for three years by a unanimous councillor vote with one abstention.

"The councillors were all amazing and fully in favour of my studio coming into Upton.

"I'm hoping I can finally open the studio within a couple of weeks."

Cllr Mike Morgan said: "We did feel actually tattoo parlours of today are not little dens of iniquity that one might have associated with them historically.

"They are far more presentable now. Sometimes you have to move with the times.

"We all wanted to see something open and active in the town. It's been shut for four years.

"What we have said is the front of the premises has to look retail."

Mr Kemp intends to sell his artwork at the front of the shop and do his tattooing in the back area.

A local resident who opposed the application said: "Not ideal or very pretty for a lovely small town.

“I think it gives off the wrong impression, especially when it’s straight on the high street.”

But supporters argued that the parlour would benefit local businesses and bring a new industry to the town.

Councillors approved the project on the basis that it will benefit the local economy.

Mr Kemp will now have to provide an additional ground floor plan, which will be shared with district council ward members.

If these councillors are happy with the floor plan he will be granted full planning permission.

Anyone who wants to find out more about Mr Kemp's work can visit his website on http://paulstuartkemp.wixsite.com/tattoo-artist