Gaiger Bros are appealing after the council rejected their Urchfont Garage proposal. Residents express disappointment.
People can submit appeal responses until February 27th. These responses must be written. Councilor Whitehead says the plans are “illogical.” He thinks they fail to protect local jobs. Losing the garage also hurts a local service. He stated they should build those houses elsewhere. They should leave the existing garage alone.
Resident Neil Jones thinks losing the garage would be awful. He hoped Gaiger Bros would understand the village’s concerns. He says they seemed to lack empathy. Jones believes the homes will create a safety issue. He fears someone will get into a car accident.
Gaiger Bros understands the appeal might upset locals. They made the appeal after considering all factors. The neighborhood plan decided to use this site for housing. Locals created and voted on that formal plan in 2017. The landowner wanted to sell the site for housing since then.
They were upfront with the garage tenant about it. Gaiger Bros says the proposal aligns with planning policy. The officer’s recommendation confirms this. They say the plan includes drainage, traffic, and design considerations.
The parish council didn’t discuss the plan beforehand. Gaiger tried to talk with them in May, June, and July 2024. The main objection is that the garage will close. But, the landowner won’t renew the garage’s lease. The garage will have to move by May 2026 regardless.
The village can find the garage a new location. This can happen through the renewed neighborhood plan. Gaiger Bros is open to discussing relocation plans. They want to help with a smooth transition.