Last updated 17:13, Tuesday, 13 May 2008

COCKERMOUTH’S Market Hall depot will be torn down to make way for affordable housing despite objections from residents worried about the demolition and potential parking chaos caused by the development. 

Allerdale planners gave their approval to Impact Housing’s plans to build eight two-bedroom rental homes at a meeting today by nine votes to five.

However objectors felt that because the terraced houses did not include car parking spaces it would place more pressure on the town’s car parks and on-street spaces.

Susan Coombs, whose home on Kirkgate backs onto the Bitter Beck car park, said she spoke on behalf of other residents and businesses when she expressed concerns of the development nearby.

She said: “There is already a severe shortage of town centre car parking in Cockermouth.”

Mrs Coombs said the average household possessed two cars and added: “That’s potentially 16 cars - approximately one quarter of the Bitter Beck car park.”

She also said that parking would be in even more demand once tourists flocked to the town following the improvements on Market Place but the housing development would not be in keeping with the view of All Saints Church and the Town Hall.

Cockermouth Town Council had recommended that the plans should be refused because it felt the area was the last available space for community use in the town and that better sites could be found for affordable homes.

However, Alan Smith, town and Allerdale councillor for All Saints, said the site had been chosen as it was one of the few remaining parts of the town suitable for such a development.

He added: “There’s a dire need for affordable homes in Cockermouth to rent.”

Mr Smith said two other similar affordable developments in the town had created no problems with parking as residents had been able to find spaces.

“I believe there’s enough capacity in Cockermouth to absorb these houses,” he added.

Both Cumbria Highways and Allerdale’s own car parks manager had expressed concerns over the lack of parking provision on site but agreed that steps could be taken to offer spaces nearby.

Allerdale officers said that although the depot site was envisaged as being used for civic space in the town’s masterplan, there was no funding available to do this in the short to medium term.

The terraced homes will be decorated with stone and rendered walls, with second-hand local green slate tiling the roofs.
Impact also intends to plant some small trees to the rear of the Bitter Beck car park and replace the two-storey public toilet block adjoining the site.

Stuart Woodall, a director of Cockermouth architects Day Cummins, which represented Impact at yesterday’s meeting, said: “The scheme has a positive impact on the surroundings and will see the demolition of an ugly building.”

He said Flimby firm Thomas Armstrong would be carrying out the work and planned minimal disruption to residents.

Mr Woodall said research had suggested the nearby Riverside car park was currently being under-used as it was poorly sign-posted.

“With 39 spaces literally around the corner, parking isn’t an issue,” he added.