Travelodge set to expand

DUNMOW'S out of town hotel has received conditional planning permission to build an extra 38 rooms and a downstairs restaurant.

The decision, made last Wednesday, comes with a provision that the developers, at the Travelodge, Chelmsford Road, pay for much needed junction improvements at Hoblongs at the cost of nearly £30,000.

The Uttlesford development control committee, mulled over the application for around 45 minutes before a decision was made, with councillors worried about the prospect of over-development and the possibility of encouraging lorries to park in a new section of car park, which will increase capacity to 131 spaces, including five disabled spaces.

The application received conditional approval on the basis that work would be carried out on the junction, between the A130 and Chelmsford Road, prior to the hotel extension being built.

Cllr Clive Smith said: "I have never been aware of a lorry problem at the hotel, but the junction is an atrocious piece of road engineering.

"People cut into the fast main road after sometimes waiting over 10 minutes, without junction changes, someone will be killed."

Councillors agreed to write to Essex County Council to see when improvements could be made and to recommend schemes, both temporary and final, such as traffic lights or a roundabout.

Dunmow Town Councillor Michael Miller wanted the application flatly turned down, he said: "Why can't we refuse this application on highways conditions? A similar application was turned down in Takeley on conditions that traffic was to high."

The site will also be monitored to control a possible increase in youth activity around the restaurant area. Councillor Christina Cant said: "Youths could converge on that area because of few other similar facilities around."

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