Controversial development of Newbury theatre approved

New Era Theatre (pictured) based at St George’s Church Hall, Andover Road, Newbury, applied for planning permission to build an extension to provide a lobby, dressing room, and access to an existing toilet.
Newbury Town Council was quick to oppose the plans, claiming that the closure of an alleyway linking Andover Road to Falkland Primary School, a requirement for building the extension, would force pedestrians to use the theatre’s busy car park.
West Berkshire Council received two letters from residents expressing the same concern about the alleyway, and two formal letters of objection from other local residents.
Andover Road resident, Victoria Passmore argued that the proposed extension was unacceptable as it would be 30 centimetres from her garden.
At a meeting of the western area planning committee last Wednesday (4) evening, Mrs Passmore, who also argued the building would increase noise in the area, said: “The gains to the small group of people that use the theatre would have a considerable impact on the benefits of the residents.”
District councillor Adrian Edwards (Con, Falkland) told the committee members: “Would any of you like a brick wall to appear 30 centimetres from your boundary wall?
“It’s going to have an impact regardless of the benefits to the community or drama group.”
However, representative for the New Era Theatre, Madalene Winter said the development would provide extra comfort to the theatre’s audience.
She also said the extension would remove anti social behaviour in the existing alleyway between Andover Road and Falkland Primary School, and to mitigate the closure of the alleyway a path around the theatre would be widened.
Councillor Hilary Cole (Con, Chieveley) described concerns over the alleyway as a “red herring” as it is not a public right of way and therefore could be closed by the church at any time.
She added: “I have every sympathy with the applicant wanting to extend the theatre but I have great reservations about the application. If I were Mr and Mrs Passmore I would not want to look at that big slab of wall next to my property. I think it’s unacceptable to be so close.”
Jeff Beck (Con, Clay Hill) agreed, describing the application as “wrong, wrong, wrong”.
However, Tony Vickers (Lib Dem, Northcroft) said: “There is some loss of amenity but you have to balance that to the benefits of the community; It will get rid of anti social behaviour in the alleyway. There is also an economic benefit to the theatre.”
Anthony Stansfeld (Con, Kintbury) said that if the committee rejected the application it would be approved at appeal.
Planning permission was granted following a majority vote.