Parking worries lead to plans being refused

DEVELOPERS have been refused permission to build 17 homes on Gloucester Road after locals raised concerns about the impact on parking.

Residents and councillors warned that if the new apartments were built, some drivers would find it harder to park their cars nearby.

The 17 apartments were planned for the corner of Gloucester Road and Berkeley Road. Developers wanted to convert a derelict Methodist chapel, which was formerly occupied by an electrical shop, into three storeys of flats with some retail space kept on the ground floor.

But because of road safety concerns along Berkeley Road, Bristol City Council’s development control B committee refused permission for the plans.

Developers originally applied for planning permissions, successfully, to build nine apartments on the site. They then applied again for 14 flats, and later 17 apartments. The plans for 17 apartments included just four parking spaces, three of which would be reserved for the ground-floor.

Speaking to the committee, Gerard Duffy, a local resident, said: “I live on Berkeley Road and I don’t object in principle to the development for housing, and I think the original proposal for nine flats was perfectly acceptable. However, the increase from nine to 17 flats and the lack of parking creates a lot of problems for us further up the road.

“Parking is the main issue. Berkeley Road is just outside an existing residents’ parking zone, and is already heavily used by commuters and Gloucester Road shoppers. It’s already difficult for residents to park and those who drive often find themselves blocked in. This development will make matters worse.

“Regardless of available public transport links, it is inevitable that many of the residents will have cars. These will add to the parking problems which will in turn