New apartments plan blocked due to fears over dangerous road access junction at busy road.
The recent plan changed the floor from business to homes. They wanted a two-story stair extension. Also, the plan added two parking spaces and a Marston Road entrance. A councillor, Aidan Godfrey, brought it up. Neighbors worried about more traffic. Parking is already hard there, he said.
A roofing business uses the building’s ground floor. They get in from Dorrington Drive. Parking exists in the front area.
Chris Ralphs supported the apartment idea. He said it would make the site safer. People living there would watch over it. A gate would stop anyone unauthorized from entering. He stated the first floor is currently empty.
A business there would mean more parking needs. The town needs more homes. Using the building is sustainable. It avoids building on undeveloped land. Highway officials advised rejecting it.
The entrance was too near a busy road. Extra traffic near the junction will harm safety. They couldn’t prove a safe entrance was possible. Council planners wanted to approve it, however.
Councillor Scott Spencer had worries about the road. He knows drivers speed through the junction. Turning onto the new access might cause crashes. He wondered why they didn’t use the dead-end street entrance.
Councillor Roy James also worried about the entrance. He thinks accidents will happen there. Apartment residents will use their cars at rush hour. This creates more risk.
Councillor Tony Nixon moved to deny the plan permission. He cited concerns about its closeness to the junction. Other council members agreed, voting unanimously to reject it.