Landmark is coming down (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Landmark is coming down

A HIGHWORTH landmark is set to be demolished. The old Co-op building on the corner of the High Street will make way for 14 luxury apartments and a shop on the ground floor.

Swindon Council had origianlly refused the plan, but the developer has won on appeal.

Highworth lawyer Ian Selby is delighted his appeal has been upheld. And together with his business partner Alfonso Eltieri he is hoping work can start on the development early next year.

Mr Selby, whose development company bought the building in July last year, said: "The council's decision confirmed our belief that our scheme complies with government guidelines."

Mr Selby said the scheme had been turned down previously because it did not include parking arrangement for the residents.

He said: "There is plenty of parking within 200 metres of the site. We think we have an excellent design for the site, which is a very important part of Highworth."

Nine of the apartments will be two-bedroom and the remainder will be one-bedroom.

Mr Selby said: "The old building is an eyesore. People will have something nice to look at.

"We feel we are doing something positive for Highworth as well as providing accommodation for local people."

Steve Weisinger, the town's mayor, said: "Obviously we're pleased the site will be developed. The thing that concerns us is the parking.

"The junction is lethal as it is, because there is very little room for traffic turning left out of the High Street.

"Cars get jammed there. When the Co-op was there you couldn't park there, and when the lorries were delivering it was an absolute nightmare.

"I just hope the developers will pick up the cost and liability for any accidents that are caused."

Coun Lisa Hawkes (Con, Highworth) runs the Jesmond House Hotel, which is on the same junction as the development. She said: "I'm not very happy about the decision, but you win some and you lose some.

"Highworth Town Council turned it down and Swindon Council turned it down.

"I admit the building is in bad condition but it couldn't have been difficult to do something about the parking.

"Common sense dictates that people do have cars and the traffic on that corner is already bad."

Coun Anthony Peake (Con, Highworth), said: "I'm all for development in Highworth and the old Co-op building is an absolute eyesore, but we are building up massive problems for the future.

"The development at the nearby Vorda works has planning permission for 52 flats with 19 parking places and this development is for 14 flats with no parking places. Highworth will be a nightmare for parking."

David Andrew