Car park ‘will be an eyesore’

Central Bedfordshire Council approved Keir Group’s application to substantially alter its headquarters at a meeting of the development management committee on Wednesday (August 17).

The company has been granted planning permission to partly demolish and refurbish existing offices, to extend a workshop, to construct a new fitness centre, multi use games area and trim trail and to extend the car park. Fifty or 60 additional members of staff will subsequently work on the site.

Residents of Holme Farm Close, which is next to the site of the extended car park, were appalled by the decision. The 104 new spaces will be 41 metres away from the properties at the closest point.

Becky Michell, who lives in Holme Farm Close and spoke on behalf of the residents at the meeting, said: “There were 122 signatures on the petition from the tiny village.

“They’ve got 38 hectares and I want them to put the car park somewhere else. There is no reason it has to go there.”

Councillor Nigel Young, deputy executive member for strategic planning and economic development at Central Beds Council, said: “The planning application for Tempsford Hall was heard by the development management committee and although the issue was raised and debated by members about the reduction in privacy caused by the car park the application has been approved.”

To read the full story see the Biggleswade Chronicle of Friday, August 19.