Residents in Hitchin have slammed 'anti-social' planning proposals that could block iconic views of the town - while concerns have also been raised over a possible conflict of interest regarding the application.

Forty comments criticising the plans - that could harm views of the picturesque town centre - have been posted at North Herts District Council since the application was lodged on January 5, with only two supporting the scheme.

The planning proposals came from DLA Town Planning Ltd acting as the agent of behalf of the applicant, Garrison Court Freeholders Ltd.

The project intends that two connecting four-storey blocks, comprising of eight apartments, are to be built following the demolition of existing garages at the rear of Garrison Court.

'Town cramming of the worst sort'

However, Hitchinites are strongly against the plans mooted for a development which sits at the bottom of Windmill Hill, near to Queen Street overlooking the town's 12th century church and the town centre.

Comments against the scheme from residents living nearby posted on the NHDC website ranged from objections relating to loss of privacy and to a loss of light - while other concerned members of the public underlined that the new build would be out of character to the rest of the area.

Fears were also raised about overdevelopment, restricted road access and inadequate parking relating to the proposal.

Ellie Clarke, who served on Hitchin Forum and played a big part behind community-minded schemes including campaigns to tidy up the town, slammed the plans, saying: "What is proposed has nothing to do with the scale, design or character of this part of Hitchin, or indeed, any part of Hitchin.

"It is town cramming of the worst sort - awkward, disfiguring, degrading and overwhelming," adding, "This is a truly dreadful application and I trust it will be thrown out as before."

Previous plans blocked

Last year a previous application to build a five storey building on the Garrison Court site was turned down.

Hitchin Highbury councilor Keith Hoskins opposed the plans at the time, after he said they would, "dominate the surrounding residential blocs with a deleterious effect on privacy and quality of life - the monolithic design is redolent of East Berlin in its heady days."

There are further precedents in NHDC turning down planning applications that could block views of the picturesque area including St Mary's Church.

Last October, permission had been refused for extra flats in Hitchin – after council concerns over 'unsympathetic and unacceptable' development plans blocked planning permission for 10 flats to be added onto the top of the nearby Exchange on Queen Street.

The application had caused disquiet among residents who contacted Hitchin Nub News to express their concerns that the move could spoil views of the town's iconic 12th century church, St Mary's.

While this week saw an unpopular planning application to turn Market Theatre on Sun Street into flats withdrawn after nearly 150 objections.

The climbdown came following the town's community rallying around the popular community hub after Nub News covered the story this month.

Concerns have also been raised by residents commenting on the Garrison Court proposals about a possible conflict of interest in the scheme.

Among those associated with the applicant, Garrison Court Freeholders Limited, is Richard Thake.

According to documents lodged at Companies House, listed among the four 'officers' is Mr Thake, who describes his occupation on the paperwork as 'Chairmain' [sic].

Mr Thake is also an NHDC councillor for the Hitchin Priory, whose ward borders the Hitchin Highbury precinct, where Garrison Court - and the picturesque Windmill Hill and St Mary's Church - are located.

A spokesperson for North Herts District Council denied there was a conflict of interest, telling Nub News: "With regards to the planning application for Garrison Court, councillor Richard Thake has declared a DPI.

"[This is] disclosable pecuniary interest - [for example] a category of interest where a member must declare whether they or their partner have such an interest, on NHDC and Herts County Council registers of interests.

"Councillor Thake does not sit on NHDC's Planning Committee, and therefore will not be involved in the decision – so it does not create a conflict of interest in the process."

Hitchin Nub News has contacted Mr Thake for comment but is yet to receive a reply.

However, the town's Liberal Democrat leader and councillor for Hitchin Highbury, Sam Collins, told Nub News: "I am surprised that councillor Thake has been so silent about his involvement in these schemes.

"As a Hitchin councillor surely he owes it to the public to not only be more open about his involvement - but also he should justify to the public why he thinks it is appropriate to push to build such ugly structures in our wonderful town centre.

"In my opinion this development is entirely unsuitable for the location [and] it raises a number of issues.

"Despite being one level lower than the planning application last year the height, design, size, bulk and scale of these tower blocks would be incongruous and out of keeping within the locality resulting in a poor standard of environment detrimental to the character and appearance of the area.

"Frankly these tower blocks are ugly, such brutalist design has no place in the town centre.

"Indeed, I have had some residents describe the design as looking like a World War Two bunker or some kind of gun emplacement."

To share your view on the proposals or to read further comments disagreeing with the plans visit NHDC's official website here