Compromise talks are planned as a long-running wrangle over the redevelopment of the Old Mill site in Keswick rumbles on.
Stalemate remains between residents, who overlook the land off Main Street, and its owners Keswick Youth Centre Services, which need to generate an income and create a permanent base in the town after being flooded out in 2009.
At the town hall last Thursday, before a busy public gallery, Keswick Town Council heard impassioned arguments from both sides.
Councillors are torn between wanting to support the youth centre, while also representing the views of residents of Old Mill Court and Greta Grove House, who oppose large-scale development on their doorsteps.
Youth centre trust members told the meeting they were keen to find a compromise – even if that involves their architects having further talks with the town council about the building design.
Councillors met to decide whether to support or object to the youth centre’s two planning applications lodged in May.
Youth centre officials are seeking permission from planners at the Lake District National Park for a proposed 28-space temporary car park open 7am-to-7pm, and a bike store, to generate income.
That would be used to then fund a new youth centre building and multi-use community hub along with associated offices for its work and four flats to generate income.
The scheme has attracted letters of objection to the national park, and some support.
Previously, the LDNPA has refused plans by the youth centre for the site. That has sent youth officials in Keswick back to the drawing board to make revisions and try to come up with an acceptable scheme.
At the meeting, the new car park proposal won majority support from town councillors in a vote, although an objection and an abstention was lodged.
Mayor Steve Harwood told the meeting: “We would not normally support a new car park on this site but as a temporary facility to assist in the applicant’s ability to fund a much-needed new youth centre we are prepared to support this application subject to a time limit of five years.”
However, the youth centre and residential development looks set to be subject to talks. The town council has asked the national park to allow it an extension until July 22 to give it more time to pass judgment.
The council deferred any decision to allow further talks to take place, although the clock is ticking.
Ultimately, planners at the Lake District National Park Authority will be the arbitrators over planning permission – taking into account the council’s view.
Cllr Allan Daniels suggested the matter be deferred for talks and Cllr Duncan Miller backed the compromise approach.
Cllr Adam Paxon pointed out that the youth centre was bucking the national trend and that the town’s provision for older people had “blossomed” but that for youth was “dwindling.”
Cllr Tony Lywood urged the council to make any decision on facts, and not let emotions cloud their judgment.
Cllr Lywood said: “We should be treating this as a planning application. Whatever that planning application is. I think the emotional tie-up with the youth club, that we all support, is clearly there. But I do think the youth club can compromise.”
Cllr Harwood too said a way needed to be found to reduce the size of the proposed youth centre and residential building.
Trustee Jorrit Jorritsma told the meeting that an earlier consultation with residents had left both sides disappointed and he felt sorry a compromise had not yet been found.
Mr Jorritsma said KYCS had tried to resolve as many concerns as possible which had been raised about former proposals.
He said the youth centre needed a permanent home so it could be in charge of its own destiny and derive an income to protect against falling grants which had seen other youth organisations fail.
It also had ambitions to offer services beyond just a youth club, he added. “We are simply looking for the youth of Keswick and the wider area to have somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to.”
He said it also would be available to the wider community.
Resident Charlotte Christensen said: “We are convinced that the development encompasses so much unrelated to the youth centre that it consequently has become absurdly big and architecturally offensive, and this over development will damage both neighbours and Keswick as a town.
“The building’s three storeys will overbear our houses, and become an unwelcoming ‘big ugly’ focal point when arriving into Keswick.
“It will furthermore increase already existing safety concerns on the junction here. The last two aspects are concerns for everyone in Keswick.
“Whilst we reject the idea of supporting a building project simply because it’s proposed by members of a youth club, we also firmly reject that we’re against a youth club.
“Rather; we welcome a good connection to the youth, youth workers and parents.”
Resident Brian Moffat opposed the previous plans last year for a 32-space car park which were thrown out by the LDNPA.
At the meeting he outlined a number of material objections to the “over development” of the site.
Mr Moffat said the proposed youth centre and residential development was an “in-your-face rectangular block” that should be restricted to two storeys and not three.
“As residents, there is no objection to a youth club building but we want a building that’s appropriate and in sympathy with the area that it is in,” he said.
“The proposed development has changed little and remains completely out of scale for this part of the conservation area.”
