Scarborough Argos development 'was poorly designed'
Councillor Bill Chatt has welcomed the move to reject the £22 million development plan of the former Argos building.
A Scarborough Borough Councillor has welcomed the rejection of plans to develop the former Argos building in the town.
Yesterday planning permission for a £22 million development of part of Scarborough town centre was rejected.
A motion was proposed to reject the plans, with it being described as of a "overbearing size and a poor design".
Independent Councillor for Woodlands Ward, Bill Chatt, said:
"There was a very good turnout of the public there who voiced their objections quite strongly. When you listen to the meeting a lot of the presentation was very heart-stringy and emotional blackmail by saying 'we're going to put some students in there; we're going to put some health people in there'. I just thought it was really out of order.
"When we went around the room and we listened to what people's views were on the planning committee, one of the big things that came out is that the building is very overbearing on the street. I can see that - it is quite overbearing.
"You won't see much of the Boyes store, which you can't see much of now anyway. It is a five story building and I just thought that it's going to be quite difficult."
Councillor Chatt said that emotions were running quite high at times during the meeting:
"A member of the public - as the meeting started - was very vocal on their opinions. I can understand that as people get very emotive about where they live. Also, one councillor said something very insulting to another councillor, which was very out of hand. There was no need for it".
Councillor Chatt did welcome a separate plan which was approved during the meeting for an open area next to Argos and opposite the market:
"The Market Hall is the most hidden gem we've got in this town; some people can walk by it and never even realise it's there. Producing the market square and keeping the Shakespeare Pub was a really decent idea. There was even a proposal that the cobbles that we take up be re-used somewhere - and not just thrown away".