Salston Manor plan 'appalls'
PLANS to turn Ottery s Salston Hotel manor hotel into a 76-bedroom care home have been opposed by appalled town officials who think the site s new owner is 'having a laugh'.
PLANS to turn Ottery's Salston Hotel manor hotel into a 76-bedroom care home have been opposed by "appalled" town officials who think the site's new owner is "having a laugh."
Town council planning committee members are unanimously against proposals to demolish parts of the existing hotel and build a new timber clad three-storey extension so it can provide nursing and medical care to the elderly.
Councillor Paul Lewis said: "You are having a laugh. This is very disappointing. I have no real objection to a nursing home being there, but a huge objection to that carbuncle being stuck on the end of something that has been a nice building for, 104 years.
"Its totally out of keeping in character with the building there, I'm appalled it has got this far."
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Cllr Ray Bloxham wasn't happy to see a hotel business go from the site.He said "Ottery will lose one of its two major hotels which bring visitors to a historic town in an area of outstanding natural beauty
"This is another example of an established hotel being lost. I think we should stop and think about whether it is acceptable and whether we take this loss of income on the chin."
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Councillors noted concerns from the Coleridge Medical Centre over the affect a possible influx of care-home residents could have on local infrastructure.
Cllr Tony Abbott said: "It is a real loss to the area. The Tourist Information Centre is finding it tough to find holiday accommodation for people.
"Cadhay and Escot are hosting weddings every week of the year, the swimming pool was used by local school children and it had our museum, this will affect the town quite badly over a period of time."
Mayor Glyn Dobson said: "There is a visual impact on the landscape. Salston is visible from some distance and these plans are not acceptable."
The former family-run business in Fluxton Road, which proved a popular venue for wedding receptions and corporate events, has been closed for 18 months and was sold to Salton Manor Ltd for �900,000 in April last year.
The town council's opinion will be considered by East Devon District Council's development control committee, which will decide on whether to grant the application.
