Will Masonic Lodge plans cause parking chaos for the marina?

RESIDENTS in Portishead have vowed to fight plans to turn a former Masonic hall at the town's marina into flats - claiming the development will cause parking chaos.

People living in the Fishing Village at Port Marine say they are horrified at plans to turn the hall at Pier Road into six flats and a two bedroom house because there is no parking included as part of the development.

There is also no vehicular access to the hall, meaning that anyone wanting to get to the new flats would have to walk down a steep flight of steps near The Royal pub at Pier Road to get there.

Homeowners say if the plans are given the go ahead it is likely residents from the new properties will end up parking on the already congested streets around Port Marine.

They fear that any increase in cars on the narrow marina roads will mean that residents and even emergency vehicles will struggle to reach properties.

People campaigning against the plans have now delivered 500 leaflets to homes in Port Marine urging them to write to North Somerset Council and object to the proposal.

Resident Karge Zoha, 70, moved into his three bedroom house at Eastcliff with wife Marilyn six years ago.

Mr Zoha, who is leading the campaign, said: "Residents in the Fishing Village, which is the only way through to the Masonic Hall, have one parking space per property and there is no provision for visitor parking.

 "The situation is already chaotic as many people leave their cars on the roads throughout the development which makes it very difficult to get through at times.

"If further cars park in the area it will just make it impossible to get through and there have already been occasions where emergency vehicles have struggled to reach properties.

"If the development of the Masonic hall had been considered at the time Port Marine was built, then parking could have been incorporated, but it is too late now.

"Anyone living in the flats would only be able to get there on foot.

"The whole development is a completely insane idea and if it goes ahead it will be the residents who will have to cope with the aftermath.

"Not everyone in the area has been informed of this application and this is why we have put together a fact sheet and distributed it to hundreds of homes on the marina.

"We hope residents will use the feedback slip and voice their concerns to North Somerset planning department."

The hall has been vacant for several years and has fallen into a state of disrepair.

From 1878 until 1911 Eldon Lodge met at the Royal Hotel Portishead.

In 1911 the Lodge purchased the old Pier railway building used as a station masters office and waiting room and converted it into a meeting place for Eldon Lodge and  other Masonic Lodges based in the locality.

Members visiting the lodge used to park in the Royal Hotel car park and the adjacent land.

Talks between lodge representatives and dock developers took place when the plans for the marina were being drawn up and there was some talk that a car park would be created at the rear of the hall.

However, these plans never came to fruition.

When new owners took over the Royal Lodge members were unable to use the previous parking facilities, leaving them with the option to either sell the building or leave it to rack and ruin.

It is understood that in the past there was talk of the building being used as an art gallery, café or another type of community building.

The deadline for objections to the planning authority was July 1 although residents are trying to get this extended.

The development is being put forward by Doctor David Mason who is the secretary of the Eldon Lodge.

The Eldon Lodge, which is listed as having 38 members, currently meet at the Masonic Hall at Albert Road in Clevedon.

In the planning application's notes it said that at a meeting to discuss the use of the site, it was suggested that residential accommodation was the best use.

Portishead councillor Reyna Knight, who represents the marina, said: "I have been contacted by a number of residents and I too have concerns that there is no parking contained within the development.

"There are already serious problems with congestion and parking at the marina and these flats are not going to help matters."