brentwood.gov.uk

We have concerns around the proposed site for housing in Chatham Way car park. These concerns are for the following reasons;

-Access. Currently the exit into Crown Street is blocked off and this has been the case for the last few years. This was done partly to ensure traffic was controlled through Crown Street which previously had a disproportionate amount of traffic for a street its size. The proposal shows that this exit would be reopened. Have the problems that led the exit to be shut disappeared?

-Noise. We live very close to the car park and we already have serious problems from noise, particularly late at night through to early mornings at weekends. The noise pollution stems from drunken people exiting away from the highstreet often congregating in Crown Street, commonly shouting. This regularly wakes us up during the night.

There have been considerable changes to the areas night time economy in recent years with the number of bars and eateries increasing and licenses being granted much later into the night. The increase in people living in the local area would only increase the problem of noise pollution which in our view the council is yet to take seriously. This view is further embedded by the council plan's showing a keenness to open new bars and restaurants around the town centre and on this specific proposed site.

-On street parking for residents. We are entitled to 2 on street residents parking permits. Finding a parking spot is already difficult, especially after 6pm and all day Sunday when the public are allowed to park in the otherwise reserved bays. Having 30+ houses introduced would only cause these matters to be worse.

-Public car park. We understand from meeting a council representative that it is intended for the public car park to remain, likely as an underground car park. We have concerns surrounding the appearance of the proposed site, particularly surrounding the height of the new structures.