Conversion of Colony house into flats approved
A BID to convert a boarding house into three flats in the Colony has been agreed behind closed doors by district planners - despite objections by the town council and residents.
A BID to convert a boarding house into three flats in the Colony has been agreed behind closed doors by district planners - despite objections by the town council and residents.
The owners of 14 Woodville Road had applied to convert the property which prompted at least 17 letters of objection from neighbours.
But despite the contentious nature of the application the decision was made by 'delegated powers' - by council officers not by elected district councillors.
Lisa and Gary Stead of Woodville Road said: "There is no clear fire escape in the drawings... (and) the proposed storage for waste and recycling is adjacent to family gardens."
Neighbours Ann and Ivan Prior wrote to the district council with their concerns: "...the whole of the area is low lying...this is an area of high flood risk.
"We've seen manhole covers lifted by sewerage, sewerage coming up in people's toilets, sewage and waste water swilling around kitchens.
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"The addition...of any further living units in the colony...is unjustifiable."
Jean Gray of Hartopp Road was concerned that the development would add to parking problems and there would be at least another six cars on the road.
Town councillor Pat Graham said: "The houses in the area are the only small ones left that are still affordable for family occupation and we should be resisting this trend towards developing small family houses into tiny little flats.
