Residents' battle to save Courtman House continues

10.24.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 31st Mar 2008

Maltese Road resident Bob Huntingdon discussing the planning application for Courtman House with Marconi Councillors Jude Deakin and Graham Pooley (right), and Chelmsford Parliamentary Candidate Stephen Robinson

A valued part of Chelmsford's suburban street scene is still threatened with demolition despite protests and positive action from local residents and by their two local Councillors, and an alternative planning permission being granted by the Borough Council.

An application was made in April last year to demolish Courtman House. The building was the home and work-place of the 'Mayor elect' of Chelmsford, Frank Whitmore, at the time the town was granted Borough status. The plan - to build a modern complex of twelve flats - prompted strong protest from Maltese Road and nearby, and from the two then freshly elected Borough Councillors for the area, Jude Deakin and Graham Pooley.

Happily that application was refused in mid-2007. A fresh application that converted rather than demolished the house was welcomed all round, and approved earlier in March 2008. But now the developer has said he is going to press forward and appeal against the refusal of the plan to knock the house down and the Appeal goes ahead in Chelmsford on Tuesday May 13th.

Maltese Road resident Bob Huntingdon was the focal point for residents last year and remains determined to see the battle through; He said: "We really hoped that the danger had passed with the fresh plan that's now been approved. But now we must carry the fight to the Appeal Hearing and are hopeful that the future of Courtman House will be secured."

Lib Dem Councillor for Marconi Ward Graham Pooley said; "So much for common sense and a willingness to plan something we might all welcome. For me this is a sad example of a developer trying to go one step too far and cram too much onto one site, without regard to what's really appropriate for the neighbourhood."