A BID to remove off-street parking from plans for 39 flats in Warwick town centre has been branded “madness”.
Waterloo Housing Group is planning to demolish a former printing works on Theatre Street, together with a neighbouring building on Bowling Green Street, to make way for the new flats.
But the applicant now wants to remove a condition to provide off-street parking.
Coun Dave Skinner said: Warwick town centre has an extreme problem with parking as it is.
“To remove what was already a small allocation of off-road parking spaces is madness and will not stand the test of time to ensure spaces are not taken up sometime in the future.
“Other areas are being used already for parking, not just the legal spaces, and this application, should it go through, will just heighten the problem.”
The move has prompted concern further pressure would be placed on on-street parking, but officers at Warwick District Council suggest not allowing residents of the new flats to apply for on-street parking permits could be a solution. They also stress residents could buy a season ticket for the nearby Linen Street car park.
A further 44 objections have been made to the council highlighting the lack of parking for residents and the impact on those who already hold residents’ parking permits.
Warwick District Council planning committee has been recommended to grant the removal of the off-street parking provision condition when it meets on Tuesday (July 16).
* Concerns have also been raised about plans to build 148 homes on the site of the former Ridgeway School in Warwick.
Increased traffic together with issues of design and layout at the Montague Road site have been voiced.
The application is recommended to be granted. the planning committee is also set to discuss it on Tuesday.
