TWO plans to knock down blocks of domestic garages to make way for homes have been recommended for the green light – to the dismay of people living nearby.
They believe the plans from Derby Homes for Seymour Close, New Zealand, and Alum Close, Alvaston, will lead to parking problems.
Derby Homes is working to redevelop sites like these, also including patches of grassland and gardens, to make way for small homes.
It says these are "much-needed", because of a general need as well as the Government's so-called bedroom tax.
The application for Seymour Close would see the building of four homes on the site of 29 garages.
A 42-name petition has been filed against it, as well as two letters of objection.
Bill Lynch, 82, who lives near the garages, was behind the petition. He said that, when everybody was at home, Seymour Close was already full of cars.
He added that, if the new homes were built, cars would be more likely to park around the junction of Seymour Close and Raleigh Street, making visibility worse.
He estimated that "20 of the garages are still being used".
Both applications will be decided by Derby city councillors at a committee meeting on Thursday and have been recommended for the go-ahead by planning officers.
Their report, drawn up for the meeting, says there would be one off-street car parking space provided for each new home in Seymour Close.
It states: "Derby Homes has indicated that only three immediate residents have use of the garages, with all the other users living more than seven miles from the site.
"It is considered that a sufficient level of parking is being proposed to serve the development, which is in a sustainable location with access to public transport links."
The Alum Close proposal would see the creation of four bungalows and 12 parking spaces, including two disabled bays, on the site of 15 garages and an existing parking area.
UKIP organised a petition against the scheme, obtaining about 40 signatures, plus three letters of objection.
Pensioner John Bain, of Alum Close, said extra pressure on parking in the area was his main concern.
He said: "The people living in Alum Close are mainly elderly people who aren't going to want to walk to cars they've parked in other streets.
"I think Derby Homes should advertise the garages properly – they could make thousands a year in rent."
The officers' report states: "The proposed car parking is intended to provide spaces for both existing residents of Alum Close and Branksome Avenue bungalows, as well as the new dwellings."
