Gates plan on walkway sparks anger

Lichfield Property Developments Ltd is behind the The Old Picture House, a 38-apartment redevelopment of the former Kwik Save building in Tamworth Street.

The company wants to add the pedestrian gates and railings to The Tanneries, which runs alongside the building “for night-time security and to prevent anti-social behaviour.

Its recent application to the district council states that the black powder coated aluminium gates would be operated by a timer and be open from 7am to 7pm.

The applicant adds that the proposed gates are an external addition and “will not affect the previously approved scheme and will therefore not impact on the character and setting of any heritage assets”.

Lichfield City Council, however, has registered its objection over the “right of way issue” as have members of the public.

Mr Adrian Eggington said: “This application overrides the original consent and will prevent access through a long-standing public right of way which I have used for more than 50 years.

“It reduces access to the city centre at a time when we need to be supporting the economy, especially the evening economy.”

Deal

Lichfield Civic Society, which comments on planning development in the city, points to a deal made between the district council and Kwik Save in 1977 to ensure that The Tanneries would forever remain a walkway for use by the general public.

“Examination of the district council’s own archive will reveal relevant notes in the period 1977/8, produced during the negotiations with Kwik Save,” said a spokesman for LCC.

“(It was) recommended ‘that the council grant a right of way in perpetuity’.

“This would have gone to the next full council session for ratification, probably in January 1978.

“The above is quite unequivocal and does not entitle the present developer to obstruct the footpath or interfere with access.”

An anonymous objector said that as long as they have lived in Lichfield this walkway has provided a valuable cut-through from Stowe Pool to Tamworth Street.

“It is unclear why this application is being made but it is clear, that any reason, as the applicant may consider important is far outweighed by the inconvenience to a significant proportion of Lichfield residents and some businesses,” said the correspondent.

“If, as one may conclude, this is a critical requirement for the developer of the old cinema site, it should have formed part of the original application.”

Mr Roger Hockney added: “I anticipate that evening closure, when appreciated by the general public, will lead to complaints about the council’s failure to enforce the legal agreement.

“I note that The Tanneries sign has already been removed. By whom and with what purpose?”

The application is to be considered by planning officers at Lichfield District Council.