RESIDENTS will be penned in “like chickens in a coop” if a plan to convert a former town hall into apartments goes ahead, a town councillor has said.

A proposal to convert the old Ulverston Town Hall into an 18-flat development has been met with anger over doubts about quality of life and fire safety. The building, in Queen Street, has been empty for two years following the decision by South Lakeland District Council to close it due to budget cuts.

Ulverston town councillor Norman Bishop-Rowe has questioned the sense in turning the building into flats, saying it is over-intensive and a fire risk.

He said: "Tower blocks, what happened to the tower block in London? A potential for fire is there."

Earlier in July a consultation was announced by South Lakes Housing, a not-for-profit housing association who provides affordable housing, inviting residents living near the town hall to view the proposed plans.

Instead of support, the consultation provoked an angry response. A recently formed residents association says it was badly informed by SLH, and the development would destroy a local landmark.

Dr Roger Lindsay, 72, of Benson Street, Ulverston, is heading up the fledgling Ulverston Zone A Residents' Association.

He said: "A select few of the people adjacent to the town hall got a letter inviting them to the consultation meeting."

The consultation informed residents of the plan to transform the town hall into 18 flats.

It was no secret a housing development was on the cards; in 2016 The Mail reported a nine-flat development was under consideration. However, doubling the number on offer is a step too far, says Cllr Bishop-Rowe.

He said: "An 18-flat hen coop. I wouldn't recommend any of my friends to live there. Over-intensive development is the phrase I tend to use."

Tina Balmer, 57, also of Benson Street, was equally dissatisfied.

She said: "I thought I'd go along to the consultation to look at the flats; what I saw was we're going to put in 18 flats and knock down a wall. We've invested time and money into this building, to renovate this building. This will turn it into a ghetto."

Assistant director at SLH, John Mansergh, assured residents plans were at a very early stage and all comments on the development would be welcomed when a planning application is submitted.

He said: "Although we are working up a proposal to change the town hall into apartments, it hasn't even gone to the planning stage. We've done work on a few designs and consulted local residents about it.

"There will be an opportunity to influence the design and for residents to make their concerns or support known."

Mr Mansergh added it would be several months before a planning application would be submitted.