Proposals to create extra parking for a village’s popular pub have drawn vociferous objections from residents who have called for more off-street spaces to solve the problems.
Deben Inns have applied to use a little-used field in The Street, Newbourne, for extra parking, when needed, for The Fox.
The site is opposite the famous Giants’ House – home in the mid-1800s to brothers George and Meadows Page, who were about 7 feet 7 inches tall – and just a short walk from the pub.
Newbourne Parish Council is opposing the plan because of the loss of a green space, impact on the quality of life of people living opposite, the car park would be “ugly and will spoil the view”, and worries over highway safety.
The council added: “The pub should be signposting the overspill car park at the village hall better so people can use this to reduce the parking problem.”
Residents from 21 households have also objected with similar concerns, including worries over traffic and late night noise.
A report to Suffolk Coastal District Council’ s planning commitee, which meets on Thursday and is recomended to approve the car park, said the proposal was to change the current occasional use to a semi-permanent informal parking area.
In a report, case officer Lisa Chandler said parking problems had been an issue in a previous application to extend the pub with people citing concerns over inappropriate parking on the road when the pub car park was full.
When the extension was approved the council undertook to work closely with the applicant to provide an appropriate solution to car parking that would meet the public house requirements and ameliorate residents’ concerns.
She said: “It was acknowledged at the time that this would be unlikely to be achieved in a manner that would satisfy everyone.”
Architects Last and Tricker Partnership, for Deben Inns, said: “The ongoing popularity of the Fox Inn continues to cause concern with local residents with regard to customer parking arrangements.
“Whilst the applicants are obviously pleased at the success of their business, they do have sympathy with the concerns of the local residents and, therefore, feel their proposal for an overspill car park provides an ideal opportunity to address the parking concerns.”
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