Garage conversions are filling roads with cars, says councillor

PEOPLE who have converted their garages into living accommodation are causing streets to be filled with parked cars, says a town councillor.

Ken Arlett spoke out at a meeting of the town council’s planning committee, which was considering an application by Alan Ross, of Valley Road, for permission to convert his garage and rear storage areas into a new living room and cloakroom as well as extend his kitchen and dining area.

Councillor Arlett said he had continually voted against this type of application but that it was a waste of time to continue doing so.

He said: “Anyone who travelled down Valley Road five years ago would know that there were no vehicles parked on the road.

“In a couple of years’ time, it will be the next Harpsden Road, which you can barely get up.

“We are allowing these garages to be accommodation. The residents have one or two cars parked on the drive and the rest in the road. You have to zigzag trying to get through all the parked cars.

“We are just making the highway worse by supporting these applications. We haven’t reaped the benefit but somebody has.

“If this application goes to South Oxfordshire District Council or to appeal, it will go through.”

Cllr Arlett said he would support the application but “for the wrong reason”.

Councillor Lorraine Hillier said it was “regrettable” that such conversions were happening.

Councillor Donna Crook said that parked cars on the road were a danger to pedestrians, particularly children trying to cross.

But Councillor Stefan Gawrysiak said that it had the benefit of slowing down drivers. Mayor Michelle Thomas said that garages were often too small for modern cars, citing her own as an example.

Thomas Cockhill, a highways consultant, has recommended the application is approved on the condition that Mr Ross provides two spaces at his property.

The committee recommended approval of the application.

It recommended refusal of an application for an extension at a house in York Road.

Mr Chapman-Holman wants to build a rear extension and loft conversion with an extra storey and a third bedroom.

But the committee objected to the proposed Velux window on the front elevation as it would be the first skylight in the street and out of character with the rest of the houses.

Councillor Laurence Plant said: “Once we say yes to one, we cannot say no to any more. A previous council allowed skylights on King’s Road and then it was impossible for us to ever say no to any future ones and they have got bigger and bigger. Now there’s dormers three times the size.

“York Road is a proper Victorian terrace. I have no issue with changes made to the back of the houses but there is not a single Velux at the front in that street scene at the moment. This is our chance to say no.”

Councillor Donna Crook said: “I’ve lived in a similar house which had overdevelopment next door. It is not very pleasant.

“It is a steady, slow process but everyone will suddenly say, ‘Oh, when did this happen? The road has lost all its character’.”

Councillor Stefan Gawrysiak said the council was “fighting a losing battle”.

The Henley Society has also objected.

• What do you think? Write to: Letters, Henley Standard, Caxton House, 1 Station Road, Henley or email letters
@henleystandard.co.uk