A PROPOSAL to build five flats and two shops on North Street, Wilton has been rejected by council planners over parking and flooding fears.

The proposal to demolish the existing building was backed by division councillor Peter Edge who described the current building, which is situated behind Webbs of Wilton, as an “eyesore”.

It was recommended for refusal by officers but Cllr Edge called it to planning committee and said the new shops would be a much needed link between the shopping village and the town centre.

He said: “I welcome this development because it is providing additional shops in Wilton. The town is on the up there is no doubt about it, there is a demand for shops in Wilton and I think this will benefit the town greatly.

“It is an improvement to the area, add to the vitality of the town and it will remove an ugly eyesore. Although it does not meet the car parking needed by parking policy, because it is a mixed use development the owners of the flats will not be there when the shops are being used.”

Other councillors disagreed, with many voicing fears over parking with North Street already being heavily congested.

The committee members felt five parking spaces would not be sufficient for two shops and five flats.

Cllr Ian West said: “You look at the drawings of the new site and it looks good but I am afraid it is in the wrong place in Wilton.

“I was county councillor for Wilton for many years and my biggest problem was parking in North Street and this would exacerbate it. Really in planning terms there is nothing going for it but I am sure somewhere else in Wilton those units would be very welcome.”

The proposal was also opposed as it was being built on a flood plain which was prone to being swamped once every a hundred years.

Developers hoped by making the ground floor commercial they could gain an exception, however planners took the view that even if the ground floor was flooded residents in the flats above would still need to move out.

The development was rejected by eight votes to two.