A FORMER ambulance driver turned town-planner has met with fire chiefs over fears that emergency services may not be able to get to residents if new flats in the Marina are built.
A FORMER ambulance driver turned town-planner has met with fire chiefs over fears that emergency services may not be able to get to residents if new flats in the Marina are built.
Developers have applied to build 14 new flats at land adjacent Windward Court, Shelly Road at the Marina, to be called Spinnaker Court.
The town council's planning committee last week unanimously voted to recommend the application be denied planning approval following 50 letters of objection.
Councillor Steve Gazzard said: "I have had a meeting last week with a senior fire officer from Devon and Somerset Fire Service.
"We discussed my concerns that if the flats are built and there is an emergency, emergency vehicles would have difficulty getting to some flats.
"There is no way to get a platform ladder to the side of the building if they need to get to some of the higher levels.
"The plans are asking for the flats on one side to be just seven metres from the sea wall - that is too close.
"As a former ambulance driver I know the problems emergency services face and I believe the fire service should be consulted about the application."
He said if the Service were not consulted on the plans it would be a mistake - and that with the flats being so close to the sea wall he worried if the defences were breached.
The plans are currently being considered by district planners.
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