ROAD safety fears have led planners to refuse a bid to demolish a former dancehall and build retail units, apartments and town houses in it's place.

Allerdale Borough Council's development panel met on Tuesday, deciding on a number of applications for planning permission, one of which would see the demolition of Workington's Princess Hall.

The proposal would see the former recreational hall replaced by a mixed use development: two retail units, seven apartments and three town houses accessed from Frazer Street.

A site visit was carried out on Monday evening so that councillors could make an informed decision and they voted to halt the plans.

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The scheme had previously been discussed by the planning panel at a meeting on May 10 but members were concerned about highway safety and deferred making a decision until more detail could be given on access arrangements and parking.

Speaking at the meeting on Tuesday, the case officer recommended that the proposal is approved, subject to a legal agreement requiring £6,000 from the applicant for a Traffic Regulation Order, securing road markings and alterations to parking arrangements.

Cumbria County Council raised no objections as highways authority but letters were read out from concerned residents.

In her letter, Brenda Wills said: “We’ve highlighted on several occasions our genuine concerns regarding the current plans for the flow of traffic in the proposed plans for Princess Hall into Frazer Street and the suggested loss of two parking places.

“In the last month, we have seen on two occasions of emergency services parking for several hours exactly where the suggest lost parking places are while staff attending to elderly residents.

“Combined with the recent fire at Princess Hall and the traffic parked nose to tail on both sides of Frazer Street during the incident, it would have been impossible for residents to move their cars to a safe place if the need had arisen.

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“We would respectfully ask the panel members how they would react if emergency services couldn’t reach members of their own family.”

Responding to concerns, Phil Tillbury the applicant’s highways consultant said: "It's recognised that parking is a particular issue that requires close attention, the development proposals wholly meet the council’s parking standards with our transport statement confirming the retail development would create a demand for 10 spaces whilst 14 have been provided.”

Concerns were raised that the streets are too narrow for additional traffic, but Mr Tillbury said: “The extended gap in on street parking on Frazer Street will make it easier for two-way vehicle movements to pass.”

Councillor Anthony McGuckin said: "When you've got cars parked at either side of each junction, you cannot see yourself getting out and surely there's going to be some sort of blockage on that road."

He asked the transport consultant if he accepts there could be an accident.

Mr Tilbury said: "I don't think the impact on highways safety would be unacceptable or severe."

Councillors were still concerned about highway safety at the site and Cllr McGuckin successfully proposed that the plans are refused.

"I think it is overdevelopment for the area it is in and I have grave concern about the traffic management going onto Frazer Street."

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