CIRENCESTER'S civic leaders have objected to plans to knock down Le Spa to build "incredibly boring" houses.

The town council's planning committee voted unanimously last Thursday to object to the planning application put in by Qualitas Consultants.

Under the plans, the whole spa and Edwardian house would be demolished to make way for 22 houses.

Cllr Andy Lichnowski told the committee the Edwardian house on the site was designed by local architect Vincent Lawson, who also designed the Standard's office in Dyer Street and the HSBC building in the Market Place.

He said fine buildings were always being replaced by those that are "non-descript."

Cllr Brenda Potter said the houses proposed were "incredibly boring."

All the councillors said residents had approached them with complaints about the plans.

The town council has objected on the grounds that it will demolish an architecturally important building and lose vital open space and local employment.