RESIDENTS and businesses are gearing up to battle against plans to build four blocks of flats on a Bournemouth cliff top car park and community gardens.
St Catherine’s Road Action Group is calling on the community to support their opposition to the plans for the Southbourne Cross Roads car park.
As reported, Vivir Estates Ltd has submitted plans to BCP Council for 27 flats on the Southbourne Coast Road site in a scheme which was described as a “landmark development” by the applicant’s agents.
BCP Council has confirmed following a decision to dispose of the site by the former Bournemouth Borough Council, a long lease has been agreed with the developer.
St Catherine’s Road Action Group spokesperson Nadia McGarry said: “We are expecting a huge increase in holiday makers as more and more people choose to holiday in England and businesses are desperately trying to recover from the 14 months of Covid restrictions.
“The seafront car park will be an essential part of the post–Covid economic recovery. After all, just remember the tremendous parking pressures faced last summer. What on earth is the council thinking?”
The existing car park has 75 spaces. The plans feature 29 undercroft – on ground level below the flats – parking spaces for residents.
The action group said the community gardens on the edge of the application site are home to rare lizards and insects, with children and volunteers working together to manage green space.
Bournemouth Borough Council’s decision to dispose of the car park in 2017 faced strong opposition, including from the residents’ group, which has launched a fundraising page called Save Southbourne Cross Roads Car Park and Garden for donations to support legal action.
Many residents had voiced concerns that the BCP Council planning portal stated the application would be subject to a delegated officer decision.
However, the local authority confirmed to the Daily Echo this was an error and due to a default setting in the database. The planning portal listing has now been amended.
The application automatically triggers a planning committee decision based on the local authority’s constitution, with it being a major development – more than 10 homes – on council-owned land.
Residents have until June 4 to submit their views on the application through the council’s planning department.
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