WORRIED residents in Prestwich want plans to convert a much-loved Victorian home into a private doctors' practice to be shelved.

Householders around Cheddleton Lodge, on West Road, fear the refurbishment would spoil the area.

They believe security fixtures will be unsightly and that the substantial gardens will prove a lure for under-age drinkers and drug users.

Residents also fear that an increase in traffic will lead to parking and congestion problems.

The plans were put before Bury Council's planning committee last month, but members agreed to defer any decision until a site visit could be made.

Now, householders have drawn up a petition of almost 100 names from surrounding streets urging the council to refuse the plan.

Mr Darrell Johnson, of Dashwood Road, said: "We are not Nimbys (Not in my back yard) and we understand that in urban areas there is going to be traffic, but we feel this is a bridge too far.

"The house is a part of the heritage of Prestwich and we feel that changing it from a family home would undermine the character of the area too much.

"It's a genuine concern that people taking drugs and drinking will gravitate to a property like this when it is vacant at night."

He added: "We feel that the planning office were quite rigid in their interpretation of who to inform, because the proposal will cause an increase in traffic to all surrounding roads."

Planners, who originally recommended approval of the development, say that consultations were made beyond the required minimum.

A spokeswoman said that individual homes on West Road, North Road and Federation Road had been contacted.

She said: "We are only obliged to consult those properties along the boundary of the development.

"However, we also extended the area to include people who would be affected by any extra traffic generated."

At the time of going to press the applicant, Dr Jonathan Swan, was unavailable for comment.

A decision is expected at the next planning meeting, on June 29.