Parking in the area has been a long-standing problem but with the building of the new restaurant on the old Battrick’s Boatyard site, pressure to act has increased.
The exact number of seats at the restaurant will not be known until the work is completed, although owner James Lane said that it would be under 300, including an al-fresco eating area.
While the building of the restaurant itself is not being opposed, the fact that it could add to the already serious parking problem is causing concern.
Principal planner Andy Townsend said that the application for the restaurant had been a complex issue.
It was felt that the facility would be a positive benefit to the area but parking had been taken into consideration from the onset.
In the initial agreement, providing parking along the harbour wall as well as on the site itself was a requirement.
In later applications the further condition that the applicant would contribute to additional parking provisions in the future was agreed.
