Ashby de la Zouch Town Council says it has 'serious concerns' about the revised application to develop the Royal Hotel.

An extraordinary meeting of the council's planning committee met last night (Monday) to discuss the scheme which was submitted last month.

The application, from owners Oaklands Hotel, reads: 'Erection of a 30-apartment terrace, office building, cafe kiosk and 69 bed care home with associated car parking access, landscaping and associated access amendments'.

The plans re-appeared after concerns were raised about the state of the hotel which has been empty for four years - and now has no access to the car park area.

Councillors discussed the plans and raised a number of issues.

Cllr Mike Ball put forward a resolution that the council should approach North West Leicestershire District Council to suggest they buy the Royal car park - at a projected cost of around £1.5million - to prevent building on at least one side of the Royal and to ensure that the restored hotel has sufficient parking to operate satisfactorily.

This was passed with nine to one - and one abstention - in favour.

The council has not objected - but Historic England are expected to announce its concerns about the revised scheme.

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Ashby Town Council raised the following issues.

It has 'expressed serious concerns regarding the application' in respect of:

• Highways issues, with regards to parking and access for larger vehicles

• Loss of trees

• An archaeological impact assessment should be carried out

• Previous comments made in 2019 about the redevelopment, still apply

Cllr Ball also spoke about car parking - with a number of residents already registering their objections on the same grounds.

His resolution stated: "Ashby Town council supports the principle of Oakland Hotels selling land to generate ringfenced funding to allow the restoration of the hotel building.

"Which it wants to see started without further delay.

"However, the Town Council, is concerned that the latest scheme appears to have insufficient car parking for the proposed residences and for the restored hotel to operate successfully.

"There is no alternative car parking available in the south of the town, the promised provision on Money Hill is simply too remote.

"Instead, we call upon North West Leicestershire District Council to purchase the hotel car park for the figure Oakland would have profited by had they developed that land.

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"Ashby Town Council is investing £620,000 in the future of the hotel building through the purchase of the Bath Grounds.

"North West Leicestershire District Council should also take a stake in the future of this iconic building in return for an income stream and car parking fees in perpetuity."

A spokesman for Ashby Civic Society said earlier: "We object to the kiosk and office which are not required for the refurbishment of the Royal Hotel."