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Planning threat to Over Haddon green hall scheme
Fundraisers are hoping Peak Park members will ignore advice and back their plans to build a new eco-friendly hall.
Over Haddon Village Hall committee has worked for two years to raise funds to replace the existing hall with a bigger, more modern and sustainable building.
But planning officers have recommended the Peak District National Park Authority refuses permission for the new hall at its meeting on Friday.
Village hall committee member Dick Foxon said: "We're disappointed it's not just gone through with a nod and we are hoping to negotiate small changes.
"It's coming down to opinions over design issues and we are happy we can resolve that before Friday.
"We will meet with our architect and decide what to do," he said.
The new village hall would use renewable energy sources, including photovoltaic tiles and a ground-source heat pump.
It would have almost two-and-a-half times the floor space of the existing hall, which was built in 1957 and is in need of refurbishment.
But the proposals have met with some opposition in Over Haddon, including four letters of objection from residents. The parish council also raised concerns about parking.
The objectors' key complaints related to the scale of the building, its impact on surrounding properties and its effect on traffic and parking in the village.
Plans for a ten-metre-tall wind turbine were removed from the original design after the consultation period.
Planning officers said they recognised the importance of the new hall to the village and offered the committee some hope in their report.
The report said: "Officers must reluctantly recommend refusal of the current application because of the substantial policy objections to the scheme.
"However it is considered that the objections to the scheme are not insurmountable.
"Officers would welcome members allowing the applicant the opportunity to submit an amended scheme," it added.
The planning committee will meet at 10am in the Agricultural Business Centre in Bakewell.
The public will be given the chance to speak at the start of the meeting.
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Weather for Bakewell
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
