THE latest chapter in PetersfieldÕs search for a hotel was set to unfold at a meeting of the town councilÕs planning committee when councillors considered plans for a three-storey development at the Red Lion.
WhitbreadÕs plans to develop the Beefeater site in College Street would answer calls for a much-needed hotel in the town.
Members of the planning committee were set to discuss the application for a 41-bedroom development at a meeting on Wednesday night.
Last month a new survey revealed a shortage of hotels in East Hampshire and pinpointed Petersfield as having a special need.
The Hampshire County Council commission study, carried out by Tourism Solutions, highlighted the need for extra accommodation in the town following the closure of The Concorde in Weston Road.
But a number of applications in recent years, including plans for a hotel on land at Buckmore Farm, next to the McDonaldÕs restaurant, have fallen down on planning grounds.
Plans for a £250,000 12 bedroom hotel next to the White Heart were withdrawn in 1999 when pub landlord John While claimed planners were making unreasonable demands through conditions set for permission.
The Red Lion site itself has also been the subject of applications.
WhitbreadÕs original proposal to convert the Red Lion and Masonic Hall was given a cautious welcome by town councillors who were concerned over the loss of 28 car parking spaces outlined in the plans.
Planning committee chairman George Watkinson said he felt the developerÕs provision for car parking would cause problems.
The plans included 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.
East Hampshire District Council planning officer Julia Mansi said that the Òbulk and scaleÓ of the original design also needed to be addressed.
The plans were resubmitted to the council last summer and EHDC planners have been working with Whitbread to make the necessary amendments.
But car parking details have not been altered despite the disapproval of the proposals by town councillors.
Mrs Mansi said: ÒWe have been in contact with Whitbread to work on their re-submitted plans.
ÒThey have changed the bulk and scale of the development and the layout, but they are still proposing the scheme to cordon off an area of the Festival Hall car park at night.Ó
Traders at the Red Lion end of the town would welcome a hotel at the Beefeater site.
Sandra Humphrey, who runs the Atmosphere store, claimed town councillorsÕ fears for the loss of car parking spaces were ÒludicrousÓ.
She said: ÒA lot of the traders in this area feel forgotten at times. We still get people coming in saying they didnÕt realise we existed and we have been open for a year.
ÒMany traders support the proposal for a hotel as it would regenerate this area.Ó
The plans for the Whitbread hotel were set to be discussed at Wednesday nightÕs meeting of the town council. It is hoped that EHDCÕs south planning subcommittee will consider the application in February.