Concerns:
Residents are afraid that " bulk, size and height of the existing office building " will not be reduced by the proposed planning.
- The site is as big as 1/3 of the right-side of York Road and the left-side of Dudley Road together.
- The planned size of Block 1 alone would be in excess of even the Trinity Church.
- The proposed 42 flats could provide accommodation for 2/3 of York Road's actual
Summary of objections and suggestions
- Traffic
- Increased volume of traffic
- Pollution and congestion
- All access via York Road ?
- All traffic directed into town centre
- Road maintenance
- Road safety (result of more on street parking, increased use)
- Traffic studies carried out ?
- Parking
- Not fully underground Only one space per flat
- Already over crowded and much illegal parking in York Road
- Public safety issues : foot path blocked Fire Services & Ambulance access ?
- Parking survey ?
- Sky line
- Not in synchrony with existing buildings:
- much higher than neighbouring houses
- up to two floors higher than houses directly opposite (height of buildings takes the light off - ancient light issue)
- Completely obliterates views from London Road and York Road (upper end) towards Trinity Church
- Habitat
- Buildings not set back like neighbouring houses,all with front garden
- Privacy issue: neighbourhood watch in the most negative way
- Destroying the existing trees
- No replacement for this - internal courtyard does not benefit the public
- " Tunbridge Wells in Bloom "
- Construction
- Traffic via York Road too heavy
- Street too narrow built
- Double parking frequent
- Illegal parking on yellow line / pavement
- No passage for lorries - blocking the road
- More logical via Church Road
- Road maintenance
- Structural damage to properties
- Likely vehicle damage
- Services
- Guarantee of mains services coping ?
- Expanding of mains
- Irregular usage from office in the past - not residential
- 42 flats = considerable strain on water electricity gas sewerage
- Suitability
- No benefits to present York Road residents
- Out of line & unrelated to existing York Road buildings (rendered facades)
- Diverse supply of housing : Housing Association v Penthouses
- Housing at cost of amenity (neglected underground parking & leisure areas)
- No play areas for children (Housing block possibly gated off)
- Character differences between York Road ? Church Road not considered.
- Opportunity to correct the predecessors' error
- Townhouses more appropriate than purpose-built blocks of flats
- Public notice
- lack of notification & consultation
- Openness
- Keeping residents informed
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Back to William Bennett’s speech at the Public Inquiry May 2001
Telephone House, Tunbridge Wells |
| Whom are we dealing with? - The developers of Telephone House, Tunbridge Wells |