A PETITION has been set up to save a pub due to be taken over by a group helping alcoholics.

Changing Lives has agreed to buy The Melbourne pub, in Cemetery Road, and now hopes to secure planning permission for a project to convert it into a drop-in centre.

The organisation already has similar centres in Gateshead and Blyth, in Northumberland, which have proved successful, but residents have spoken out against the plans for York.

The petition states the pub "is a vital part of our local community and many people depend on it including disabled and elderly people".

It has already been backed by 257 signatories.

One person posting on the 38degrees website as Laura M said: "The street is just starting to pick itself up again, with young couples and families moving into the terraced houses down Melbourne Street.

"Over the years we have had countless problems and hassle living opposite a re-homing house.

"Removing a local pub like this will impact the surrounding community massively."

Anthony G added: "This pub is an asset to the local community, and would be a sad loss."

And a Melbourne Street resident, who didn't want to be named, added: "As a resident of Melbourne Street, I and my fellow residents are extremely concerned as we already have an alcohol dependency house and a young persons' refuge house in the street and feel that we are already contributing to helping these individuals without another scheme being opened in our locality."

As previously reported by The Press, Changing Lives said the organisation will be transparent about the planning process and the centre will focus on re-building lives and getting people back into the community.

Andy Ryan, operations manager, said: "We have been looking at purchasing a building for the last 12 months, so that we can follow the same model that Changing Lives has elsewhere.

"The idea of the recovery centre is to support people in transition.

"Everyone is going to have their opinion and we will be here to dismiss any myths and inform people about what’s going to be happening."