South Staffordshire marina developers appeal over decision
Developers have appealed against a decision to reject plans to increase the size of a controversial marina which is being built in South Staffordshire – leaving campaigners facing a new fight over the project.
The proposals were thrown out by council chiefs in June amid concerns over a lacking of parking space and that the larger boating hub would be too big for Swindon. But now an appeal has been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate against the decision to reject the scheme.
Original proposals for a 252-boat marina were submitted by Tim and Joanna Munday in 2009. Plans for the complex prompted objections from more than 200 residents.
Revised plans were submitted for 226 narrowboats, before it was scaled down even further to 199 boats. Those were approved in December 2010.
The latest plan to increase it to 236 boats was unanimously refused by the council's planning committee in four months ago.
As well as the marina, an office, farm shop, tea rooms, gift shop, viewing gallery area and a car park on around 22 acres will be created. The scheme will create around 10 new jobs, according to applicants Timothy and Joanna Munday.
Hinksford Gardens resident Gordon Fanthom has campaigned against the plans for years.
"Conservationists like myself had hoped that the localism act would remove the Planning Inspectorate from the planning system so that all decisions could be left to local people," he said.
