Six week wait for Hungerford hotel decision

Critics claim Charnham Park site is the wrong one for budget hotel

HUNGERFORD residents will have to wait several weeks before they learn the outcome of a public inquiry into controversial plans for a budget hotel on Hungerford's Charnham Park.

The two-day hearing held at West Berkshire Council's Newbury headquarters ended last Wednesday, June 15.

However, inspector Jane Burden was due to make a site visit this week.

Hungerford town councillor Margaret Wilson, who attended the hearing, said afterwards: “It's difficult to say which way it will go. I believe Hungerford does need an affordable hotel but it's where the applicants wish to site it that is the problem.”

The hearing was called by the Secretary of State for the Environment to examine West Berkshire Council planners' rejection of proposals for the development of a hotel providing up to 65 bedrooms, an ancillary restaurant and associated works including car parking, landscaping and new access from the A4 on land adjacent to the Herongate Leisure Centre at Charnham Park.

The refusal was made in July 2010 on the grounds that the hotel would be contrary to the designated use for the land set out in the Local Plan and also that the applicants had failed to mitigate the impact that new hotel employees would have on local amenities.

Hungerford Town Council objected on the grounds that it was contrary to local policy, the design was poor and the designated land use was not intended for a hotel.

Town and Manor Trustees also objected on the grounds of the likely adverse impact on existing local hotels, light pollution plus potential drainage and ecological problems.

Mrs Wilson said after the hearing: “I feel the hotel design is too stark and it is right at the entrance to Hungerford, that's the problem. The applicants claimed it would create work for the town although the existing hotels say they are struggling to fill staff vacancies.

“It seemed a bit of a stalemate.”

She added: “I do believe, though, that Hungerford needs an affordable hotel. I was lobbied just the other night by members of the town's Royal British Legion who said there was nowhere affordable for them to put up visitors. But this is in the wrong place.”

Tim Burden from Barton Willmore, planning consultants on behalf of the developers said after the hearing: "The design, size, transport implications and a variety of other detailed planning considerations were all considered as part of the inquiry, and had all already been agreed with (West Berkshire Council) beforehand.

“In accordance with the council's own core strategy the hotel can only help to enhance Hungerford's role as a tourist destination, with its location ensuring the town gets much needed hotel rooms, whilst having no adverse effect on the Town Centre."

The appeal decision is expected to be announced in around six weeks.