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Published:
March 4, 2008
Opposition
grows over district council's Highbridge car park sell-off
 Opposition
against plans to sell off Highbridge's only town centre car park
grew this week when worried town councillors voiced their concerns
about the controversial proposals.
Doug
Bamsey, Corporate Director of Sedgemoor District Council, explained
at a meeting in Burnham on Monday evening (March 3rd) that the
district council wants to sell off Bank Street car park, pictured,
in order to raise money for regeneration projects.
"Without
capital there is no scope for us to push forward with regeneration
in the area," he told Monday night's town council meeting.
"Our revenue budgets are under great strain this year because
of our £1.8m funding shortfall, so the sell-off of some
assets is essential."
He
added that the 3,083 square metre area of land is one of the least
profitable car parks in the district and that the site has "development
potential" for several multi-storey blocks of flats should
it be sold.
A
plan has even been drawn up showing how two blocks of flats could
be built on the site in the future - click
here to view Sedgemoor's 'potential development plan' here.
Highbridge
town councillors were unanimous in voicing their opposition to
the plans.
 Deputy
Mayor Cllr Neville Jones lashed out at the plans, calling them
"potentially catastrophic for Highbridge."
"There
is deep concern over this proposal and I am confident it would
cause a great deal of harm to the town. Nothing should happen
here until we know the future of the nearby market site."
Cllr
Derrick Cooper said he wanted detailed survey results published
of how well the car park is used. "Only then will we know
what the true impact on local businesses and people really is,"
he said.
Cllr
Joe Leach called the sell off a "ridiculous idea" and
added that he is "extremely distressed" by the scheme.
He added: "I find it quite ironic that Sedgemoor should be
considering selling off the car park while trying to regenerate
Highbridge at the same time."
Concerns
over more flats being built on the site of the car park worry
Cllr Mike Mansfield, who said: "The people of Highbridge
are fed up with all these new flats being built."
Cllr
Chris Williams has fears over the future of the public toilets
at the site. "Will we lose them?" he asked.
Cllr
Janet Keen added: "It is absolutely essential that we retain
car parking spaces nearby to Bank Street." She also questioned
whether it would be possible for the grass area next to the Frank
Foley statue to be designated a village green, thereby retaining
it in its current format.
 She
also questioned whether money from the sell-off would go towards
regeneration in Highbridge or Burnham.
The
chairman of the Town Council's Planning Committee, Cllr Pete Clayton,
voiced fears about what would be built on the car park site.
"Have
the prospective purchasers been told that a four storey block
of flats is acceptable here even when it is not acceptable to
us? Highbridge really does not need more flats," he said.
And
County Councillor Rosemary Parsons added that she has concerns
for businesses in the area.
"To
cut down car parking here in the middle of the town is just not
right. Highbridge needs this car park."
She
added that the nearby Social Club could also be adversely affected
by any sell-off.
Companies
interested in buying the car park have until 12pm on Wednesday
(March 5th) to come forward.
RELATED
LINKS:
Council
urged by Lib Dems not to sell off Highbridge car park
Anger
over bid to sell off Bank Street car park
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