Dear Council
Re. Application to turn the Ancient Market House in Kingston in to a pizzeria (application 16/12087)
I object to the above planning application on the following grounds:
1. It counters the requirements of the Kingston Ancient Market Project which specifies that: "The emphasis (of the Market Square) will be on local traders and local producers providing the essentials for a daily shopping basket, something tasty for lunch or a treat for the weekend." By turning the Market House in to a pizza restaurant and allocating a massive area of outdoor seating space to a private tenant of the Market House, this will take away the focus of the Market on local traders and producers.
2. The council has already quietly applied for approved a generic area of outdoor seating outside the Market House - see application by Mr Roy Douglas of RBK - http://www6.kingston.gov.uk/PSImageViewer/ImageStore/Images/Dc/1512034/Image_3.pdf. This application was meant to cover additional seating that may be needed for existing cafes and new cafes ( both in the plural).
"Planning Permission is now sought for the entire space, for those existing cafes that have been granted licences plus areas for new cafe's that may apply. The total number of furniture within the location is 69 tables and 240 chairs"
It is unacceptable that so much seating should be allocated to one pizza outfit that will then dominate this ancient public space.
3. The above application is contrary to the Council's guidance for the Ancient Market Project which states that:
"Finally, we need to ensure that future uses for the Market House generate activity and drive footfall in a way which will reinforce trade at the Ancient Market, particularly for the new stalls which will directly face the Market House" - https://www.kingston.gov.uk/info/200170/kingston_town_neighbourhood/855/kingston_ancient_market_place/7
Typically, people who are just about to eat or have just eaten a pizza at an upmarket pizza restaurant are not going to be buying a lot of food from Kingston's market stalls. This pizza restaurant will therefore cause a decline in business at the surrounding market stalls.
4. The proposed application is not an acceptable use of the Market House as "as an important heritage asset for Kingston town centre" https://www.kingston.gov.uk/info/200170/kingston_town_neighbourhood/855/kingston_ancient_market_place/7. An important heritage asset should remain accessible to the public and not just to those people who can afford to give the pizza company their money.
5. The proposed development will have an adverse visual impact on the surrounding area because of the excessively large area of outdoor seating allocated to the pizza restaurant. This amount of seating, all coded in some way as belonging to a single restaurant, will dominate the market square and detract from the character of the square as an open public space.
6. The proposed development will have an adverse impact on the character of the neighbourhood in which it is situated which is very much that of a public square with many different small traders and small cafes selling their goods. This restaurant does not provide an offering that fits within that character and would dominate the market place, spoiling its character. The proposed development would also prevent access to the Market House by the public, thus spoiling the very heart of the Market Place as a public place.
7. The proposed development would add noise and light pollution to the Market Square. Use should be found for the Market House that protects its character in the Place at all times.
8. The Council has stated publicly that it wishes to protect the Ancient Market Square and that this area of town would be spared the fate awaiting the rest of Kingston as the Council sells the town to the highest bidder. It appears that the Council is now prepared to sell the very heart of the town. This should not be permitted.
A Resident
Re. Application to turn the Ancient Market House in Kingston in to a pizzeria (application 16/12087)
I object to the above planning application on the following grounds:
1. It counters the requirements of the Kingston Ancient Market Project which specifies that: "The emphasis (of the Market Square) will be on local traders and local producers providing the essentials for a daily shopping basket, something tasty for lunch or a treat for the weekend." By turning the Market House in to a pizza restaurant and allocating a massive area of outdoor seating space to a private tenant of the Market House, this will take away the focus of the Market on local traders and producers.
2. The council has already quietly applied for approved a generic area of outdoor seating outside the Market House - see application by Mr Roy Douglas of RBK - http://www6.kingston.gov.uk/PSImageViewer/ImageStore/Images/Dc/1512034/Image_3.pdf. This application was meant to cover additional seating that may be needed for existing cafes and new cafes ( both in the plural).
"Planning Permission is now sought for the entire space, for those existing cafes that have been granted licences plus areas for new cafe's that may apply. The total number of furniture within the location is 69 tables and 240 chairs"
It is unacceptable that so much seating should be allocated to one pizza outfit that will then dominate this ancient public space.
3. The above application is contrary to the Council's guidance for the Ancient Market Project which states that:
"Finally, we need to ensure that future uses for the Market House generate activity and drive footfall in a way which will reinforce trade at the Ancient Market, particularly for the new stalls which will directly face the Market House" - https://www.kingston.gov.uk/info/200170/kingston_town_neighbourhood/855/kingston_ancient_market_place/7
Typically, people who are just about to eat or have just eaten a pizza at an upmarket pizza restaurant are not going to be buying a lot of food from Kingston's market stalls. This pizza restaurant will therefore cause a decline in business at the surrounding market stalls.
4. The proposed application is not an acceptable use of the Market House as "as an important heritage asset for Kingston town centre" https://www.kingston.gov.uk/info/200170/kingston_town_neighbourhood/855/kingston_ancient_market_place/7. An important heritage asset should remain accessible to the public and not just to those people who can afford to give the pizza company their money.
5. The proposed development will have an adverse visual impact on the surrounding area because of the excessively large area of outdoor seating allocated to the pizza restaurant. This amount of seating, all coded in some way as belonging to a single restaurant, will dominate the market square and detract from the character of the square as an open public space.
6. The proposed development will have an adverse impact on the character of the neighbourhood in which it is situated which is very much that of a public square with many different small traders and small cafes selling their goods. This restaurant does not provide an offering that fits within that character and would dominate the market place, spoiling its character. The proposed development would also prevent access to the Market House by the public, thus spoiling the very heart of the Market Place as a public place.
7. The proposed development would add noise and light pollution to the Market Square. Use should be found for the Market House that protects its character in the Place at all times.
8. The Council has stated publicly that it wishes to protect the Ancient Market Square and that this area of town would be spared the fate awaiting the rest of Kingston as the Council sells the town to the highest bidder. It appears that the Council is now prepared to sell the very heart of the town. This should not be permitted.
A Resident