Resident's letter commenting on The Civic Society's meeting with Crest Homes and BT

2nd August 2000

Subject: Planning application TW/00/01474 FUL RCC
re: Telephone House, Church Road, T/Wells.

At the meeting in the Town Hall on Thursday July 26th to discuss the B.T./Crest proposal to replace the existing B.T. building with 43 new dwellings - Dr. Whitbourn, president of the R.T.W.Civic Society, appeared to me to give his approval to Crest’s modified plan.

I disagree with his views and think matters of principle should have been discussed, those are as follows:

1. Both, the B.T. representative and the Crest employees, stated that their objective was to make as much money out of the redevelopment as possible.

2. I think the long term interests of the town are more important.

3. Both York Road and Church Road are among the few attractive roads in the town centre. They are a part of a conservation area, the character of the roads should be preserved by building three storey town houses to replace those destroyed. When the B.T. building was constructed car parking space could be provided in the centre of the site behind the proposed new buildings.

4. Crest’s proposal to provide 43 underground parking spaces is clearly insufficient when one considers the likelihood of some two-car families together with their visitors, delivery men etc. Parking in York Road is already fully occupied by the residents who hold residents parking permits.