Ashby Civic Society has called for the current planning application to redevelop the Royal Hotel to be re-submitted.

In a letter to North West Leicestershire District Council, the Society says the hotel must be part of the redevelopment - which currently has plans to build 17 townhouses on the site.

The Society objects to the scheme on a number of grounds - and has followed the tone set by Historic England in December.

Other concerns include the height of the proposed houses and the fact that residents' objections may limit the amount of events that can be staged on the Bath Grounds

The proposed felling of 81 trees to make way for the new buildings is another matter raised by the society.

Oakland Hotels, the owners of the Royal Hotel, submitted the revised planning application last year.

The project's architects made updated images of the planned development available last month.

But the Civic Society has made its feelings known about the plans which have yet to be given the go-ahead by North West Leicestershire District Council.

The Royal Hotel in Ashby

The letter to the council reads: "Ashby Civic Society wishes to object to certain aspects of this planning application.

"Our members feel that the exclusion of the hotel itself from this planning application is something that cannot be considered workable, as any restoration provisions will not be effective.

"The planning application needs to be resubmitted to include the hotel.

"The landscape plan includes the action of cutting down 81 trees. It is not considered acceptable by our members. We also see that no provision has been made for planting elsewhere to compensate for the removal of so many trees. The siting of this Georgian building amid these trees is the main feature of the grade II* landscape.

"The council has already allowed the felling of too many trees on the site, to contemplate such a drastic plan is too much. Although some 69 trees are planned to be planted later, we will not be able to wait for 20 years before the hotel is once again framed by some mature trees and the landscape is restored.

"We noted that both the National Forest and your own tree officer have expressed strong opinions in this matter. They are not alone."

The hotel has been empty since 2018, but the Society says the planning application does not fit the surroundings.

The letter adds: "The height of the new townhouses is of great concern. Particularly the houses overlooking the Bath Grounds, they are a storey too high, and will dominate the parkland, making the experience of using the Bath Grounds unpleasant for the ratepayers of Ashby.

"The design may be acceptable for urban houses, lining a street scene, but to overlook a park is not acceptable. When town events are being held beneath these houses, any park experience will be lost.

"It is quite likely that events with any noisy element will be prevented by the new townhouse inhabitants following their own objections. This will render the Bath Grounds unusable as a recreational area. We object on the grounds of heights of the proposed buildings.

"We also noted that there appears to be a shortfall in parking for events of the hotel, using the new car parking arrangements. If a wedding occurs, there needs to be at least 60 to 80 car parking spaces. There are not sufficient on the plans.

"There is also poor provision for service vehicles for the townhouses by the cricket pavilion. We also object on these grounds.