PETERSFIELD moved a step closer to getting its much-needed hotel when plans for a 41-bedroom development were backed by town councillors.
Despite concerns over the details of parking for coaches and the disabled, councillors agreed to support the application.
Elsa Bulmer said hotel accommodation was desperately needed in Petersfield and said it should be considered Òa top priority for the townÓ.
A Hampshire County Council-commissioned study recently highlighted the need for an hotel in Petersfield.
But a number of applications for development at the White Heart pub, land at Buckmore Farm near the McDonaldÕs restaurant, and at the Red Lion itself have fallen through.
WhitbreadÕs plans for an hotel at the College Street site faced opposition from councillors last year who were concerned at plans to cordon off 28 Festival Hall car parking spaces at night for guests.
The plans were objected to by the town council and East Hampshire District Council planners have been working with the developers to amend the design since the plans were resubmitted.
At last weekÕs meeting, Mary Vincent said the amended plans had been softened, but councillors agreed that nothing much had changed.
Committee chairman George Watkinson pointed out that more use had been made of the loft space where rooms will be located. Car parking details had not changed.
Mr Watkinson said he was concerned at details for the positioning of the coach park in the Festival Hall car park. Whitbread has proposed to site the coach bays outside the open-air swimming pool.
Mr Watkinson said: ÒThis is one thing that concerns me. I often see children running straight out of the pool and on to that area of the car park. If one youngster runs out in front of a coach there will be quite a serious accident.Ó
Elsa Bulmer said she used the swimming pool a lot and never saw children running round outside the facility.
She said: ÒQueues only ever build up on the very few hot days of the summer and they are always orderly. I think complaining about this is being a bit pedantic.Ó
Mr Watkinson proposed that the coach bay should be moved to outside the CitizensÕ Advice Bureau building but Bob Ayer pointed out that this would mean passengers having to walk across the car park to reach the Festival Hall.
Members of the planning committee agreed to ask EHDC planning officer Julia Mansi to look into the lack of disabled car parking spaces.
Despite the concerns raised at the meeting, councillors agreed to support the application because of the considerable demand for an hotel in the town.
Mrs Bulmer said: ÒTo have an hotel in Petersfield is essential. If a few people have to park somewhere else, then so be it.Ó
Mr Watkinson said: ÒI think the people of Petersfield may moan a little bit about this at first but itÕs the price we are going to have to pay if we want this to happen.Ó
Comments from the town council will be passed on to East Hampshire District Council and it is hoped that the plans will be discussed by the south planning sub-committee in February.