Parking concerns dismissed as hotel plans are passed

The three-storey extension will take the Premier Inn beside the Brecks pub on East Bawtry Road to 88 rooms.

Neighbours fear the development — including the loss of 17 parking spaces — will result in vehicles having to use nearby roads.

But the proposals were passed by Rotherham Borough Council’s planning board by six votes to five last Thursday (6).

David Mitchell pointed out that his wife Janet’s dance school also uses the same car park — along with Sainsbury’s supermarket and Brecks Snooker Club.

Mr Mitchell said: “There will be insufficient parking available for these businesses, and cars, vans and lorries will have to park on the surrounding roads, blighting neighbouring residents and causing a safety issue for our students.”

One parent, who has two children at the dance school, added: “It’s going to cause a significant safety issue for the young children, some of which are two-and-a-half years old and have to cross that car park.

“You’re going to make it even more dangerous for them. I don’t know how there hasn’t been an accident already.”

Most of the 23 letters of objection related to concerns about parking. The council added a condition forcing Premier Inn to introduce a parking management system for hotel guests.

Jake McLeod, from Premier Inn’s agents Walsingham Planning, said: “The proposals represent the expansion of an existing tourism asset on brownfield land and will contribute to boosting Rotherham’s tourism offer and economy.”

Planning board member Cllr John Turner said: “This will cause complications. I feel a travel plan may help but I think you will start to have problems and overspill into the roads.”