Residents have until April 5 to comment on a planning application for an industrial unit with office space at Centurion Industrial Park, that some fear could affect waterfront access.
Photo: L. Weedy
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It follows the construction of possibly now completed coastal defence work [see previously].
So far the application has one comment online which provisionally supports the application, from The City of Southampton Society. There are no public comments objecting on the council’s planning portal.
However one resident told bitternepark.info that they are concerned about the continuation of the river path where the new development is proposed. They also noted that what they describe as “hideous palisade” has recently been erected around the new wall; “not exactly an attractive City waterfront” they say.
The final section of a new path behind the Royal Mail Bitterne Manor delivery office
Cllr Tony Bunday (Ind, Bitterne Park) told bitternepark.info that some residents had approached him about the application with concerns about waterfront access.
But he said: “I have checked with our planning department who tell me that access will NOT be affected. The footpath and sea wall are currently being repaired which should provide additional protection against flooding, and this might mean temporary access restrictions.
“However, the Council places a high value on increasing, not decreasing, the access to our river as evidence by the recommendations emanating from last years scrutiny enquiry into the River Itchen”.
The waterfront