Young and old don't mix, say flats objectors

The YMCA wants to demolish part of its premises in Richmond Market Place and build eight one-bedroomed apartments for rent.

Officers at Richmondshire District Council say that the development would help ease a shortage of affordable homes and would not spoil the setting of listed buildings in the town centre.

Conditional planning permission for a different scheme, which included seven flats, was granted in 2003 but it was never built. A report to the planning committee on Tuesday (Sept 4) says that this previous permission gives weight to the new application.

An appraisal by local historian Jane Hatcher concluded that the site had been redeveloped several times since the current building was constructed in the 1920s and that the existing buildings had little historical merit.

In a report to the committee, planner Natalie Snowball says that the YMCA charity is a "responsible landlord" and that occupants of the flats would have to abide by its rules.

The plans have attracted objections from some people living in nearby Tower Street, who fear that young tenants would cause noise, disruption and litter.

In a letter to the council, one objector said: "Our street is mainly OAPs or disabled people. Our view is we don't want it. Young people and older people do not mix."

Geoffrey Milburn, who lives in Derbyshire but has a second home in Tower Street, said: "Although I sympathise with homeless young people who are in need of a roof over their heads, I would stress that Richmond town centre is definitely not the place to house them."

Elaine Riding, from Oxfordshire, who is a trustee of her grandfather's house in Tower Street, said she was prepared to form an action group to fight the YMCA plans.

Planners have asked the YMCA for more details about the tenants who would occupy the flats.

The plans comply with the council's policy for under-used town centre buildings to be brought into residential use.