FEARS over the loss of parking spaces, raised by plans to build an hotel at the Red Lion in Petersfield, have been described as "ludicrous" by town traders.

Businesses at the end of the High Street say an hotel would regenerate an area that they feel is being neglected.

Plans to convert the Red Lion and Masonic hall have been given only a cautious welcome by town councillors, concerned over the loss of 28 parking spaces.

At a planning committee meeting on Tuesday, East Hampshire District Council planning officer Julia Mansi described the application for a 41-bedroom Travel Inn.

Whitbread's plans include the loss of 28 car parking spaces between 8 pm and 8 am for hotel use. But developers would plan to rearrange an area of the car park to create room for 10 more spaces.

Committee chairman George Watkinson said he felt the developer's provision for car parking would cause problems.

He said: "People often come to Petersfield at 7-30 pm to see a play or a show. I cannot see this working if they want to take away 28 spaces.

"The car park can get very full at these times. I can foresee big problems with this proposal."

Mrs Mansi pointed out that the district council's engineer was satisfied with the plans for parking but Vaughan Clarke told councillors it could be a problem for season ticket holders who arrive at the Festival Hall early in the morning.

Sandra Humphrey, who runs the Atmosphere store opposite the Red Lion, told The Herald she would welcome an hotel and believes the loss of parking spaces would have little impact on the town.

She said: "Every time I park in the Festival Hall car park there are always plenty of spaces available. I have never seen it completely full.

"Even when Waitrose is really busy, the central car park still has spaces. I parked at the Festival Hall this morning at 9 and it was half empty.

"Car parking will not be a problem and traders in this area feel the town council's worries are ludicrous.

"I think the council is being over-cautious because there was a big row when spaces were given to Waitrose for its extension.

She added: "An hotel at this end of the town would bring a lot of business to the area and to the rest of Petersfield. I think the town council is being very shortsighted.

"A lot of the traders in this area feel forgotten at times. We still get people coming in saying they didn't realise we existed and we have been open for a year.

"Many traders support the proposal for an hotel, as it would regenerate this area."

Councillors at the planning meeting also criticised the design of the hotel and George Watkinson said it looked like a barn.

Julia Mansi said East Hampshire planners felt the same about the design and had passed their comments to Whitbread.

She said: "I feel there are considerable improvements that could be made to these plans. The scale and bulk of the building is about right but the detail is very poor.

"The elevation to College Street is very bland. It needs something to break it up."

The town council is now awaiting revised plans for the hotel.