'We need parking not more houses' (From Gazette Series)

'We need parking not more houses'

DEMOLITION of a Wotton-under-Edge business to make way for housing would result in an "oppressive overdevelopment" of the site, according to residents who turned out in force to voice their objections.

Around 15 attended Monday's meeting of Wotton Town Council's planning committee to object to the planning application for the Wotton Motor Centre site in Gloucester Street.

If given the go-ahead, all buildings would be demolished and replaced with 14 houses.

But the residents of Bradley Street, whose houses back onto the site, raised numerous objections. These included the number of parking spaces for the houses, loss of privacy and difference in levels of the gardens.

One resident said the plans were not representative.

"The plans suggest the land is level," she said. "In reality there is a 40ft drop between Gloucester Road and our gardens. I don't want 50 tonnes of rubble to end up in my garden when they start knocking it down."

The residents said their gardens would be seriously overlooked by the three-storey homes.

"My garden would turn into something resembling a prison courtyard if this development is allowed to go ahead," added the owner of one house.

Concerns were also raised about the removal of the petrol tanks and fears about possible contamination.

Committee chairman Cllr Elizabeth Warren urged people to write to Stroud District Council planners with their concerns.

The plan includes a mixture of two-, three- and four-bedroom houses - with a total of 38 bedrooms - and 14 parking spaces.

Town and county councillor Dr John Cordwell said in his opinion the development would create twice as many cars as spaces to put them in.

"I think it is incredible that they would even contemplate a development like this," he added. "Parking is already at a premium in that part of town."

Members said they believed the proposal was overdevelopment.

Cllr Warren stated: "The house have small gardens, which is indicative of overdevelopment."

The plan includes 12 terraced houses fronting Gloucester Street and two on the end in Bradley Street.

Cllr June Cordwell raised concerns over the appearance of the two end houses. "If this does go ahead, it would be a very bleak entrance to the town," she said.

The development would also have a negative impact on the whole town.

"This development is not considering Wotton as a whole," added Cllr Cordwell. "If allowed to go ahead, it would have a gross effect on the parking situation in the town."

Members felt this was one of the final sites in the town that could be used for car parking.

Cllr John Gowers said: "I think the priorities in the town speak for themselves and I would prefer to see this space used for car parking."

The committee voted unanimously to object to the plans on grounds of overdevelopment, resulting in a lack of parking. It also believes it would have an overbearing effect on neighbouring properties, would be oppressive to the whole of Bradley Street and would form an inappropriate entrance to the town and would have a negative impact on traffic.

The application will be decided by Stroud District Council's development control committee in June at the earliest.