The new Council has suspended the letting of a contract to build on the garage site on Newbury Avenue.
The scheme, hatched by the last Labour administration, had been pushed through against strong opposition from residents who lived in the area. Most objectors had pointed to the lack of alternative car parking space on the estate and to problems with the road network (which is limited to a single entry route from Kingsway West).
The problems had been exacerbated by the Council’s decision to almost double the number of homes being built on the nearby Our Lady’s school site.
One idea, thrown out by Labour, had been a proposals that anyone affected by the new buildings, and who did not have an off-street parking space, would be offered a free dropped kerb/verge crossover.
The Council were asked to look at other sites including the derelict land to the rear of the Library on Front Street. A site which is very well located for the kind of amenities that the elderly occupants of the flats are likely to need.
Local Councillor Dafydd Williams was blamed by many for the decision. He was forced to quit his Westfield seat in May and seek election in a ward located on the other side of the City. The Councillor who claimed responsibility for the proposed development (Simpson-Laing from Acomb) lost her seat at the elections.
The project suspension will provide another opportunity for the issues surrounding this development to be reviewed.
NB Cllr Sue Hunter (Email cllr.shunter@ork.gov.uk) is making efforts to revive the local Residents Association. The last Association collapsed 2 years ago when most of is members resigned in protest against Labour’s controversial local development decisions.
