Very supportive meeting of Ware Town Council's Planning Committee last evening, where this Appeal by the site owners (Herts Regional College) and its developers (Charles Church Homes) was discussed. A member of the Scotts Road residents' committee spoke against the grounds for the Appeal, which states there is no problem with the size, scale or design of the block of flats proposed at the front of the site, nor any issues with parking, amongst other things.
It was pointed out that the majority of residents have no objection to appropriate and non-intensive residential development of the site, provided that adequate parking is provided within the confines of the site as ALL roads around it are heavily parking controlled already. The forward position of the block of flats, plus the planner-inspired balconies over the main road, were raised as continuing issues, plus the inadequate parking (one space per 2 bed flat). The planners misuse and misrepresentation of their own parking guidelines was pointed out in detail.
There was full agreement from the councillors, including comments from Councillors Ros Standley, Phyllis Ballam and Mark Pope. spoke. The Town Clerk was asked to write to EHC and register these comments, particularly on parking.
It has been confirmed that this is not a different application, just raising the original one again and questioning its refusal. Which is really weird, as one major element of the application has to all intents and purposes been superseded by a new application purely for the College development alone, which is now well in hand.
It was confirmed that if the Planning Appeal does go ahead it will be held in public, probably in January or February 2015.
Hope the Mercury was there to report on this. The town seems to be under assault from developers, who just will not take a No from the Planning Authority for an answer. Seems as though they keep appealing, until eventually you wear down the opposition, due to legal threats and potential for costs. Well not in this case
