Have your say in the Bedworth water tower debate

[dutchman]

A public meeting is to be held over attempts to amend a massive £1 million-plus project for the borough’s best known landmark.

People living in the shadow of Bedworth Water Town have expressed concerns about alterations to plans to convert it into luxury apartments.

They have launched a petition and have planned a public meeting for Thursday, March 1 at a nearby old folks complex.

More than 50 of them attended a surgery held by Bede Ward councillors Bill Hancox and Richard Chattaway.

Afterwards Cllr Hancox said: “It was agreed by the residents at the surgery that they would like a public meeting so as to be fully informed of the plans and for them to be able to ask questions of those persons involved in the application process.”

Work has already started on the £1.4 million scheme to convert Bedworth Water Tower into six luxury flats, including a prestigious penthouse.

But residents who live nearby are not happy and about proposed amendments to the plans for the iconic building.

They are concerned that their privacy will be invaded by people who live in the tower and that clear glazing is to be used in the windows of the iconic building and not bronze tinted glass as originally agreed.

Also, they feel their properties will be devalued by being overlooked by the flats in the tower and that there has been a lack of real consultation.

Another serious bone of contention that they have expressed is the lack of protection for a pair of peregrine falcons, a protected species, who have been breeding in the building.

A planning application has been submitted for changes to the windows of the Grade II Listed building and other amendments which are not likely to go before the council’s planning applications committee until at least March 21.

Cllr Hancox has asked the planning officers at the Town Hall to ensure that no work that has not been granted planning permission should go ahead until after that meeting.

“I have advised all of the people who came to the community forum to submit any concerns and objections to the planning department within the consultation period,” he said.

He has also asked that the amendments to the planning application should be subject to a wider consultation area because of the size of the 150ft building.

“I would suggest that, as well as displaying site notices wrapped around lamp posts, that letter are sent to at least the wider area of Tower Road, Briardene Avenue, Gibson Crescent and relevant sections of Ambleside Road and Derwent Road.” said Cllr Hancox.

The public meeting is to be held at the Eddie Miller Court sheltered accommodation complex in Tower Road, Bedworth, on March 1and will start at 6pm.