Date not provided
It is very concerning that the original number of apartments was originally 74 when the town was consulted. Now the number of apartments proposed is 332. This is not what the town was in favour of in the initial consultation. There is not provision for extra services despite the increased number of residential properties proposed - schools, doctors, dentists, emergency services which are already under strain will be put under further strain (especially as we are getting services removed already at an alarming rate). Loss of parking is also worrying. Not enough research has been conducted into the use of the Springs Car Park. Residents, such as myself, make use of the residents pass to shop in the town centre. Without these passes, or with insufficient parking spaces, residents like myself would be much more likely to shop online or elsewhere. This would have a devastating effect on the local economy. The Springs currently has around 400 parking spaces, the plans proposed to cut that by HALF despite building over 300 more residential properties. It doesn't make any sense. The proposed car park near the train station is problematic. This would increase traffic by the palace road junction where many school children walk daily which has the real risk of compromising their safety. That road is already congested enough as it is, with Peak Press, Royal Mail and a School at the top of a dead end road. I fear that this is a plan to turn a town centre into a residential site, without increasing access to services. The buildings proposed are not reflective of the historical spa town, they are completely incongruent with the aesthetics of the town. The town could benefit from regeneration, but this proposal appears to centre on residential apartments rather than making it more attractive to retail and tourism, and boosting established local businesses.
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