Plan to replace Victorian building with flats blasted

Newbury Town Council planning committee "very unhappy" with proposal to tear down Dolmans, in Shaw Hill

A PROPOSAL to turn a historical Victorian building in Newbury into eight two-bedroom flats has been roundly denounced by the town council's planning committee.

Charles Smith Homes want to alter Dolmans in Shaw Hill to put the apartments in a single block, at the cost of demolishing the existing building.

At a town council meeting on Monday, planning committee member Tony Stretton (Con, Clay Hill) asked the agent acting on behalf of the applicant, Michael Pagliaroli if the original brickwork at the present house would be saved to put towards the new build.

Although Mr Pagliaroli said he did not know what would happen to the material, Mr Stretton, who is employed in the building trade, argued that it was not feasible that Mr Pagliaroli would not know.

Mr Stretton said he feared the house would simply be demolished with the waste sold on, and was not happy with any aspect of the application.

His views were strongly backed by councillor Jeff Beck (Con, Clay Hill), who added that he had grave concerns over the pedestrian access proposed, an issue picked up by Anthony Pick (Con, St Johns), who said he was also very unhappy to see the plans, and proposed an objection on safety grounds.

The chairman of the committee Phil Barnett (Lib Dem, Clay Hill) gave his backing to the objections said the area was one of two places in Newbury which councillors feared walking down when canvassing such was the danger to pedestrians.

He said he felt the proposals to destroy the “unique” building were completely wrong, and put the matter to the vote.

Councillors unanimously objected to the proposed development.

The final decision on the plans is to be made by West Berkshire Council.