AN Aster parking site at Southfields/Feltham Drive is no longer to be sold, thanks to residents campaigning against the auction of the site.
Residents were given less than a month’s notice to vacate the forecourt area and find another place to park, despite some residents using the area to park their cars for over 50 years. Residents said that the parking area provided access to their properties and disabled residents needed to park near their homes.
In a letter to his neighbours, Roy Phillips, who led the campaign to stop the plans said, “When I got the letter through the door, I was so relieved; it really felt like a win! I’m glad to see that Aster have seen sense, and I guess now they will have to re-evaluate their plans for the site and hopefully involve us in it in the future.
“This is a great example of the local community banding together and not just accepting a bad decision for once. There is still obviously the concern that they could just put the area back up for sale, but I’m hoping this is the last we hear about this specific issue.”
Roy added, “Thank you to all our neighbours’ support in this matter, as without all the signatures on the petition, this outcome may not have materialised.
“Special thanks to Gina Murphy at No 4 Southfields for collecting all the signatures. Let us hope that the eventual conclusion will be satisfactory for all residents.”
Aster had planned to auction off the forecourt and garage area, saying they had struggled to let the garages out to residents and instead looked to sell the area to spend more money on building ‘affordable homes and providing essential services to our customers’. Residents say that the garages were not being used due to ‘poor maintenance’ and point towards a lack of investment by Aster.
Roy was informed of the change by Aster after he received an email that read, “I would confirm that the site has been withdrawn from auction for the forceable future. As discussed, we will be reviewing all options available to us over the coming months.”
Roy had previously said in the Frome Times that the parking area was “essential to the properties for vehicular and pedestrian access to the rear of the properties, especially numbers 14-30 inclusive simply because there is no other vehicular or pedestrian access to the rear of properties other than through the site being auctioned.
“This access is essential for emergency services vehicles, refuse vehicles, and tradesmen”, Roy added. “Access is also essential to at least four households, currently, where the residents are disabled, and who need close access to their vehicles, because of their difficulty in walking any distance. We also believe that there is a Right of Way for both pedestrians and vehicles over the area in question.”
