A WITHYCOMBE house will be split into five flats despite town hall concerns over the loss of another family home and major parking concerns

A WITHYCOMBE house will be split into five flats despite town hall concerns over the loss of another family home and major parking concerns

District planners last week rubberstamped plans to sub divide 32 Withycombe Road and build a rear dormer.

The town hall was concerned that it would exacerbate existing parking problems, put extra pressure on an already stretched sewerage system, increasing the risk of flooding.

There were also doubts if there was enough room to store refuse bins.

Ward member Cllr Eileen Wragg said: “I believe this is gross overdevelopment…there could be ten people and more living in their property.

“If this was to be repeated with future such applications then parking in the area would be unsustainable.”

Planning officer Ed Freeman admitted parking was bad – but said there already nothing in the new scheme could make it any worse.

Cllr Geoff Chamberlain disagreed and said: “That road has cars parked from end to end and adding up to another five vehicles is only going to exacerbate the problem.

“I can’t go along with this. This type of accommodation is desperately needed, I don’t disagree, but that road is an absolute nightmare because of parked vehicles on both sides.”

Cllr Mark Williamson said traffic there had reached “saturation point” and it was over development.

“Exmouth is not full of singletons looking for bed sits or small flats,” he said. “If this was to be two small family dwellings, starter homes, I think I might support this.”

Cllr Ray Franklin added: “You can’t make that area worse, traffic wise.”