A planning application to add new parking to the former Newark Municipal Offices has come under fire
A planning application to add additional parking to the rear of the former Newark Municipal Offices is under fire.
The application, which was approved in November last year, was revisited in March and went under review as an exempt item at a policy and finance committee meeting.
Mr Michael Knapton, chairman of Newark Civic Trust, believes Newark and Sherwood District Council has failed to justify any of the supporting arguments it put forward in support of the application it has submitted.
Mr Knapton said he saw issues with the economic benefits as well as the public consultation in the lead up to the application.
“The information provided with the original planning application emphasises that the reason for the extension to the car park is an economic one,” said Mr Knapton.
“The officer’s report that accompanied the application predicts that the additional 22 parking spaces will support and help protect and enhance the vitality and viability of the town centre.
“Unfortunately, the district council cannot provide any evidence, research or studies to prove that this statement is correct.
“The district council currently manages approximately 559 car parking spaces in the town.
"There are a further 1192 privately-managed car parking spaces in the town and this figure does not include supermarket parking, the Northgate retail park or Northgate train station.”
He said the extra 22 spaces would be 1.25% of the town’s spaces, and questioned whether that would bring a economic benefit.
Matt Lamb, director of growth and regeneration at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “As part of the decision (November 2018) the committee considered the full range of issues raised, including the loss of town centre green space; the impact on the conservation area, a listed building and the library; whether there was a need for additional parking and the objections from the civic society and members of the public.
“At the full council meeting in March 2019 it was moved that a review of the scheme be undertaken.
“Depending on the outcome of the committee’s decision (this evening), a review of the level of information needing to remain exempt will be undertaken.”
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