Council planning chiefs faced a grilling over plans for a hostel in a residential street, at a meeting in the Groves, York.

City landlord Geoff Laverack, who owns several properties in Eldon Street, in the Groves, has applied for planning permission to convert 74 Eldon Street, a former warehouse, into a 17-bedroom hostel.

Mr Laverack was invited to last night's meeting of the Park Grove Residents' Association, but was unable to attend because he is on holiday.

His brother, architect Matthew Laverack, would not comment when approached by the Evening Press.

Association chairwoman Gill Branscombe told the busy meeting that residents were already concerned about the growing number of bedsits and houses with multiple occupants in the Groves.

She said she had spoken to MP Hugh Bayley about the issue and believed that the law should be changed.

"The law should stop landlords building up a monopoly in an area," she said.

Residents expressed concern about local crime levels and about the possible strain on the sewer system because of the Groves' growing bedsit population.

"There's a dominance of multiple occupancies; surely family accommodation is a more appropriate use," said one woman.

Four ward councillors and planning officer Cliff Carruthers attended the meeting to try to answer residents' questions.

Councillors Janet Looker, Brian Watson, the Rev Peter Dodd and Viv Kind, all said they would write to the planning committee voicing residents' objections.

Coun Looker stressed that councillors were very limited as to what they could do in law regarding planning applications.

Mrs Branscombe called on residents to write to the planning committee with their objections. "We have to rely on you to show the weight of support," she said.

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