Published at 19:40, Thursday, 15 May 2008

COCKERMOUTH’S Market Hall depot will be torn down to make way for affordable housing despite objections from residents worried about the demolition and potential parking problems caused by the development.

Allerdale council planners approved Impact Housing’s plans to build eight two-bedroom rental homes by nine votes to five on Tuesday.

Objectors felt that because the terraced houses did not include car parking space it would place more pressure on the town’s car parks and on-street spaces.

Susan Coombs, whose home on Kirkgate backs on to the Bitter Beck car park, said she spoke on behalf of other residents and businesses when she expressed concerns of the development nearby.

She said: “There is already a severe shortage of town centre car parking in Cockermouth.”

Mrs Coombs said the average household possessed two cars and added: “That’s potentially 16 cars - approximately one quarter of the Bitter Beck car park.”

She said that parking would be in more demand once tourists flocked to the town following improvements on Market Place, but the housing development would not be in keeping with the view of All Saints Church and the Town Hall.

Cockermouth Town Council recommended that the plans be refused because it felt the area was the last available space for community use in the town and that better sites could be found for affordable homes.

Members also had concerns over the car parking.

However, Alan Smith, town and Allerdale councillor for All Saints, said the site was chosen as it was one of the few remaining parts of the town suitable for such a development.

Cumbria Highways and Allerdale’s own car parks manager had expressed concerns over lack of parking provision but agreed that steps could be taken to offer spaces nearby.

Allerdale council officers said that although the depot site was envisaged as being used for civic space in the town’s masterplan, there was no funding available for this in the short to medium term.

The terraced homes will be decorated with stone and rendered walls, with second-hand local green slate tiling the roofs.

Impact intends to plant some small trees to the rear of the Bitter Beck car park and replace the two-storey public toilet block adjoining the site.

Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk