THE loss of 160 long stay parking spaces in Virginia Water has been attacked as 'nothing short of scandalous'.
Runnymede Borough Council's planning committee members agreed on Wednesday, March 30 to allow a new block of four/five storey assisted living apartments to be built on the site of the Bourne car park behind Station Parade, adjoining the railway station.
The application was put in by Your Life Managements and Somerston Healthcare. It will provide 58 apartments for people over 70.
The meeting was attended by residents and traders opposed to the loss of the car park spaces who are furious with the council
Eric Leon, chairman of Wentworth Residents Association, said: "It is nothing short of scandalous. They are riding roughshod over the people of Virginia Water. It is going to create tremendous problems."
The association's secretary Carol Manduca addressed councillors at the meeting directly. She said: "Viriginia Water workers and residents do not want to lose 160 essential long stay parking spaces in the village.
"The loss of the Bourne car park will among other things cause real parking issues and hardship to shopkeepers, residents and commuters."
She said the council had agreed to sell the car park without proper public consultation.
There were 14 letters of objection sent to the council about the scheme. But 14 were also received supporting the apartments and saying they would fulfil a vital need.
Cllr Gail Kingerley, who is chairman of Runnymede Borough Council's planning committee, hit back at the complainants after the meeting. She said the Bourne car park was on council owned property and that there were no covenants on it to restrict the sale.
She said: "Officers have been charged with using their best endeavours to find alternative parking. They are liaising with the railway about finding new spaces."
She said the proposed apartments would fulfil a need and that there would have been no legal grounds for councillors to turn down the application.
She said council officers had worked closely with the applicants to produce a well designed building that would not adversely impact the area.