Developers cause another stir in residents’ WhatsApp chats

RESIDENTS of a Bournemouth housing block have vowed to do all they can to stop developers from building an extra storey.

The owner of Cedar Manor in Poole Road, Westbourne, was told by BCP Council’s planning officers that they are not allowed to build an extra two storeys earlier this year.

Officers said the additional 18 flats on top of the seven storey building would have had a negative effect on its existing residents, chiefly because of the extra noise.

Eighty formal letters of objection were written to the planning officers, with the residents mostly concerned about additional noise, their property being devalued and not enough parking spaces for new residents.

(Image: Daily Echo)

Cedar Manor resident Juliette Jackson, 77, said the concerns still stand with this new proposal and that word of the application has already spread through WhatsApp chats.

She said: “We’ve been putting up posters around and spreading the word far that this cannot happen; the building is not designed to carry extra weight on top.

“If this is allowed, there will still be the same noise with all the diggers and cranes coming to build the extra storey.”

A total of 20 people have so far written objection letters to BCP Council since the ‘prior approval’ application was submitted at the end of last month.

John Westhead said: “Cedar Manor already towers above neighbouring properties. Making it taller would be unsightly and further dominate the skyline as well as overlooking neighbouring properties.

“Not only that, but where would extra vehicles be expected to park?”

Jack Young added: “The level of disruption this will cause residents in (and around) Cedar Manor, far outweighs any potential benefit once it’s finished – of which, I’m struggling to see any.

“The only beneficiary of this development is the developer. Local residents will suffer as a result.”

And Sophie Perkins added: “Works will inevitably involve lifts being out of action for periods of time, there are a number of elderly, infirm residents who solely rely on the lifts to leave the building.

“How the lifts can be improved without leaving residents house bound I don’t understand.”

The agent for the applicants, Chapman Lily Planning, said: “Overall, the proposal would not result in any harm to the existing buildings.”