A ROW is looming over a bid to turn the former headquarters of the Avon Rubber Company in Bradford on Avon into flats.
The plan, submitted by London-based developer Prestigic Ltd, would see Manvers House in Kingston Road turned into six homes and one office suite, with seven new homes built on its car park.
The plan looks set to be vehemently opposed by the town council, which appealed for its employment spaces to be preserved in February.
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In a response to West Wiltshire District Council's Core Strategy paper outlining potential areas for development in the coming years, former mayor Cllr Peter Leach called for a halt to the town's employment spaces being turned into housing developments.
Further hints at opposition to the plans were given at the annual town meeting on Tuesday when current mayor Cllr Vicky Landell Mills decried the description of Bradford as a dormitory town'.
She said: "How dismissive for a town that has a 1,000 year history of economic activity, or more if you go back to the Romans?
"We've had to do something to stem this tide and it is a battle that will continue planning application by planning application."
She described Manvers House as one of the key working sites in the town' and added I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions'.
Manvers House, which was the headquarters for the Avon Rubber Company, is owned by Prestigic Holdings and on a long lease to Avon Rubber.
The building is currently being offered for rent by an estate agent, and is billed as offering first class office accommodation in the heart of the historic town.
The town council believes the loss of employment space in the town over the last decade has resulted in the loss of hundreds of actual and potential jobs, the loss of economic benefit to the townsfolk, a considerable increase in traffic through the town as people drive to jobs elsewhere and a progressive weakening of the town's economy as a whole.
The council's economic consultant Gerald Milward-Oliver said: "We believe there is an economic future for the Manvers House site and have a couple of proposals that we believe should be considered which would help future employment generation in the town."
The application will go before the town council for comments on April 29 before going to the district council for a final decision.
Posted by: Sue Woodland, B-on-Avon on 4:18pm Fri 18 Apr 08
Can't help but side with the town council on this one. We have enough houses in Bradford already! Would these new properties be for the locals? Very much doubt it, just the usual 'out of towners' who stay for 5 minutes, think they own the place then b****r off again. Most born and bred Bradfordians feel the same way as I do.
Can't help but side with the town council on this one. We have enough houses in Bradford already! Would these new properties be for the locals? Very much doubt it, just the usual 'out of towners' who stay for 5 minutes, think they own the place then b****r off again. Most born and bred Bradfordians feel the same way as I do.
Posted by: moodybluejays, bradford on avon on 6:09pm Fri 18 Apr 08
It's employment that the town needs, not more houses that the 'born & bred' here cannot afford. I'd also like to know, if properties were built, would they be in keeping with the town's character........[bold]Not[/bold] monstrosities like the [italic]Library[/italic] & the [italic]debacle[/italic] in Frome Road.
It's employment that the town needs, not more houses that the 'born & bred' here cannot afford. I'd also like to know, if properties were built, would they be in keeping with the town's character........Not monstrosities like the Library & the debacle in Frome Road.
Posted by: Walter McCabe, Freshford on 10:21am Sat 19 Apr 08
Well if Prudence Browns financial future beckons as it appears to be doing then hopefully the developers wont get the financing to do this, regardless of then selling them to anyone who cant get a mortgage. Turn it into a training scheme centre for local yoof is what I says.
Well if Prudence Browns financial future beckons as it appears to be doing then hopefully the developers wont get the financing to do this, regardless of then selling them to anyone who cant get a mortgage. Turn it into a training scheme centre for local yoof is what I says.
Posted by: Sue Woodland, Bradford-on-Avon on 9:35am Mon 21 Apr 08
Dear Josey
We are NOT inbred in Bradford! In fact, the inbred ones are those that have left the town because of expense of housing etc. How dare you suggest that we are backward looking - all we want is industry back in the town. Enough is enough. As you state you are from near Westbury, might it be that you have moved from away in to the area as you don't sound as though you are Wiltshire born and bred.
Dear Josey
We are NOT inbred in Bradford! In fact, the inbred ones are those that have left the town because of expense of housing etc. How dare you suggest that we are backward looking - all we want is industry back in the town. Enough is enough. As you state you are from near Westbury, might it be that you have moved from away in to the area as you don't sound as though you are Wiltshire born and bred.
Posted by: Hayley, Bradford-On-Avon on 5:35pm Tue 22 Apr 08
[quote][bold]Josey[/bold] wrote:
Perhaps if the people of Bradford were more open minded and no so inbred and backward looking in their views employers may come to the town![/quote] That's quite rude and surely shows how seriously your comment should be taken?
There are more important things that B-O-A need, like the aformentioned employers, over new housing. Simple as that really.
Josey wrote:
Perhaps if the people of Bradford were more open minded and no so inbred and backward looking in their views employers may come to the town!
That's quite rude and surely shows how seriously your comment should be taken?
There are more important things that B-O-A need, like the aformentioned employers, over new housing. Simple as that really.
Posted by: GSXRRRSP, WESTBURY on 7:27pm Wed 23 Apr 08
[quote][bold]Sue Woodland[/bold] wrote:
Can't help but side with the town council on this one. We have enough houses in Bradford already! Would these new properties be for the locals? Very much doubt it, just the usual 'out of towners' who stay for 5 minutes, think they own the place then b****r off again. Most born and bred Bradfordians feel the same way as I do. [/quote] NIMBY
Sue Woodland wrote:
Can't help but side with the town council on this one. We have enough houses in Bradford already! Would these new properties be for the locals? Very much doubt it, just the usual 'out of towners' who stay for 5 minutes, think they own the place then b****r off again. Most born and bred Bradfordians feel the same way as I do.
Posted by: GSXRRRSP, WESTBURY on 7:28pm Wed 23 Apr 08
[quote][bold]Sue Woodland[/bold] wrote:
Dear Josey We are NOT inbred in Bradford! In fact, the inbred ones are those that have left the town because of expense of housing etc. How dare you suggest that we are backward looking - all we want is industry back in the town. Enough is enough. As you state you are from near Westbury, might it be that you have moved from away in to the area as you don't sound as though you are Wiltshire born and bred. [/quote] NIMBY
Sue Woodland wrote:
Dear Josey We are NOT inbred in Bradford! In fact, the inbred ones are those that have left the town because of expense of housing etc. How dare you suggest that we are backward looking - all we want is industry back in the town. Enough is enough. As you state you are from near Westbury, might it be that you have moved from away in to the area as you don't sound as though you are Wiltshire born and bred.
Posted by: walter, wilshur on 7:57am Tue 29 Apr 08
Tis the same everywhere. Back along a bit, when I were a nipper, Melksham had the Avon factory with five times the workers it has now, Spencers' engineering, two dairy factories, a sawmill, Coombes lemonade factory, a feather works, and others. Now it has a sad remnant of the Avon and bugger-all else.
Tis the same everywhere. Back along a bit, when I were a nipper, Melksham had the Avon factory with five times the workers it has now, Spencers' engineering, two dairy factories, a sawmill, Coombes lemonade factory, a feather works, and others. Now it has a sad remnant of the Avon and bugger-all else.
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