Disgust over vandal attack at pub

Vandals who targeted a Stafford pub earmarked for development just hours after a public meeting have been labelled "disgusting."

Up to 100 members of the public attended a meeting to hear developers defend their plans for the Doxey Arms - but hours later the boarded-up building was daubed with the words "Not Here".

The words, painted in black, appeared on three large boarded-up windows at the pub.

Richard and Amy Dixon, from Woodseaves, have applied for planning permission to convert the Doxey Arms into a multiple occupancy home for young professionals.

They will offer 12 en-suite rooms at a flat rent including bills such as council tax to allow professionals such as teachers and engineers to save for a home of their own.

The couple were forced to defend their plans after rumours circulated in Doxey claiming the pub would become a bail hostel.

At a public meeting at St Thomas and St Andrews Church Hall on Thursday the couple attempted to reassure residents about the plans and denied any bid to create a bail hostel.

But while some residents were reassured others were not - and unknown vandals targeted the pub hours later.

Parish council chairman David Hughes, who was originally sceptical about the plans, today said: "I think its disgusting what has been done, especially as I thought the meeting went well and most people seemed reasonably happy. There were a few disgruntled people but to go and graffiti the pub is out of order.

"This makes the pub look even worse thanks to a couple of hotheads. It's terrible."

Developer Richard Dixon added: "This is very disappointing after what seemed to be a constructive meeting. Some people still feel they have to lower the tone.

"It is frustrating that they can't understand the quality of what we are proposing, which is to breathe new life into a beautiful building which will raise the value of homes in the area, rather than having a derelict pub." Mr Dixon said he hoped to remove the graffiti within the coming days and warned that if any more incidents took place he would have to contact police.