Concern over March car park home plan

A councillor branded plans by Fenland District Council to build a bungalow on one of its car parks as a “bit dodgy”.

Fenland has applied for permission to build the bungalow on a car it owns off Upwell Road at the rear of the dental surgery. Members heard the car park is privately owned by the council, and while it may be used by patients attending the dentist’s it was actually there to serve the residents of Smiths Drive.

Town clerk Sarah Lemmon reading details of plans said: “The site is to the rear of 84 Upwell Road with vehicle access served from Smiths Drive. The site was a private car park serving the residents of Smiths Drive. Any parking that currently takes place is done so without permission of the land owner.”

She also pointed out that a similar application for a site elsewhere in the town had been welcomed as a way of preventing anti-social behaviour.

However, councillors were concerned about the loss the amenity which would force residents without driveways to park on the road.

Cllr Field said: “I think this is a bit dodgy. Why is Fenland District Council getting rid of a permanent car park meaning once more forcing more cars to park on the road? FDC is supposed to serve the people of Fenland.”

However, Cllr Jennifer Lawler pointed out: “It’s their land and they want to build on it. This is using brownfield land, which is good.”

Cllr Jan French added the application would go to the district council’s planning committee for a decision as it is the council making the application.

In the end it was agreed to offer no objection.