Katesgrove gets a relatively small number of contentious planning applications. This is partly because of the make-up of housing (meaning less sites for major developers). However, we had two at the most recent Planning Committee on 1 April. One was the bizarre tale of the new DAIS (Drug and Alcohol Information Service (DAIS) centre on Queen's Road, which saw vehement objections from a lawyer in a nearby practice, despite no evidence of problems from the existing premises on London Street. Bizarrely, all Conservatives on the committee abstained - despite Planning being a quasi-judicial process on which party politics is supposed to be set aside. I hope they are not trying to vote as a group, as anyone daft enough to do that would be liable for severe sanctions.
Then there was the matter of 68 Swainstone Road. This is for a major extension to the end terrace, highly visible from the footpath from Waterloo Rise. A local resident spoke very well about some of the problems in the area, particularly parking. From this and my comments as local councillor, we were able to demonstrate that the parking figures were not for the acute problems in the Swainstone Road area - they were for the whole of Katesgrove Ward. Other issues were discussed centring on design and concerns over a spate of badly-managed HMO conversions in the area. Eventually, as councillors were scrambling for a decision that reflected a number of series of concerns, the right decision was taken, which was to defer a decision, as floor plans were not available to the meeting. (So if Committee had refused it, the Council would have been left vulnerable at an appeal).
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