Higher buildings would detract from clocktower
I FEEL that your reporter (Journal, October 1), although suggesting that the Majestic Wines planning application for a single-storey warehouse at the clock tower roundabout site is likely to be approved, concentrates on Forest Heath Council's reasons to refuse it.
Forest Heath's historic buildings adviser believes that the proposed building has "inadequate massing in relation to neighbouring buildings", and Inspire East, although agreeing that the previous two-storey design was rightly rejected, have produced their own alternative – also two-storey – design (by the way, commissioned by Forest Heath at a cost of 1,400, unnecessarily in my view). Both seem to feel that a larger building is needed, despite Majestic Wines requiring a single storey one, but neither seem to appreciate that a higher building right next to the footpath could be overbearing and would seriously detract from the appearance of the historic clock tower as seen from the High Street.
The council's Land Plan 1995 states that "Newmarket should be developed as the district's largest shopping centre". If they continue to frustrate Majestic Wines' planning applications in this way, the company will simply go elsewhere, to the detriment of the town's retail profile and leaving the currently derelict site as it has been for many years.
John A Walker
Bury Road
Newmarket
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Friday 25 May 2012
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