Borough councillors have refused plans to turn a former car sales site in Park Road, Kempston, into an MOT centre after residents warned it would worsen congestion and harm the character of the residential street.
Bedford Borough Council’s Planning Committee on Monday (23 February) rejected the application for 1 Park Road (25/01648/COU), going against officers’ recommendation to approve.
The scheme sought permission to change the use of the site to an MOT centre with car repairs and servicing, which currently operates as a car sales premises.
Planning officer William Comber told the committee: “There are very limited alterations [proposed] to the site, the largest change is internal.
“The application is before the committee as it received three or more letters of objection, and there is an objection from Kempston Town Council”.
He added that environmental health and highways officers had raised “no concerns”.
However, residents argued the impact would be very different to that of a car showroom.
“Wholly unsuitable”
Fouzia Zamir Atiq, speaking as a resident, described Park Road as a “narrow predominantly residential street and wholly unsuitable for commercial vehicle repair use”.
“The street already contains two existing garages, which create ongoing parking and traffic problems for residents,” she said. “Introducing a further garage would significantly worsen this issue.”
Resident Will Watt raised concerns about vehicles crossing the public footpath at the site entrance, telling councillors that increased vehicle movements would create a “material increase in risk”.
Ward cllr Caroline White (Green) said: “There are already significant issues in Park Road relating to insufficient parking leading.
“The introduction of an MOT centre will inevitably exacerbate this problem.”
During the debate, several committee members voiced concerns about parking pressures, noise from engine testing and equipment, and the suitability of the location within a residential area.
Cllr Leigh Coombs (Lib Dems, Shortstown) said: “We are councillors who are here to stand up for residents… we must do everything that we can to come out with the right decision and the correct one.”
The committee unanimously voted to refuse planning, citing that the development failed to demonstrate sufficient on-site parking and manoeuvrability and that it would result in an” inappropriate use in a residential area resulting in harm to neighbour amenity” due to noise and disturbance.
Committee chair, cllr Jonathan Abbott (Lib Dem, Clapham and Oakley), warned residents in attendance that this might not be the end of the process.
“But just to be clear, we as a planning committee feel that [the application] wasn’t appropriate for that site.”
By John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
