A GARAGE owner has said he fears a plan to build new flats in the city centre will bankrupt his business.
A plan to build a new ‘modern’ three-storey building opposite the Fownes Hotel in South Street in Worcester with two commercial units on the ground floor and four two-bed apartments has been put forward by developer Misters Bros.
Neighbouring car repairers Miller and Lloyd said building the new units and flats would ‘finish off’ the business.
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An objection to the plan from the garage off City Walls Road said: “The only access to my business is along South Street. The proposed development would cause issues for my business and may finish it off.
“Continual access is needed along South Street for the business and should the proposed development result in additional vehicles, pedestrians or parking on the road, this would cause me access issues.
“There would also be no turning space for the development so vehicles would have to reverse out onto City Walls Road, which would be dangerous.
“The development would result in many interruptions to the running of Miller and Lloyd, causing bankruptcy.”
Planners at Worcester City Council have recommended the plan should be rejected by the planning committee when it meets in the Guildhall on June 24.
Worcestershire Regulatory Services also raised an objection to the plan saying the smell from paint spraying at the garage would “significantly” impact people living there and, if built, future complaints about odour could have a negative impact on the workshop.
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The objection read: “Considering that the paint spraying may be undertaken six days a week, this would have the potential to significantly impact upon the amenities of the future occupiers of the development, particularly in the summer months when windows are more likely to be open and the balconies are more likely to be in use.
“The smell of paint over, potentially, several hours per day, would have a significant and harmful impact upon the amenities of the future occupiers of the development.”
A council planning report suggested the two units could be removed and replaced with two more apartments.
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