Plans for West Bromwich Community Center have been refused again for the same reason

A move to turn a former ITP garage into a new community centre, which was criticized by the council for not including car parking, has been rejected for a second time. A planning application to convert the empty building in Sams Lane, West Bromwich, into a new 70-seat community center was rejected by Sandwell Council last year due to a lack of details about parking.

Jaimal Bhandal’s plan was then brought to the council again earlier this year – with just one car park – and has now been rejected again on the same grounds. Sandwell Council planners said at least one parking space would be needed for every three people – meaning the single space left the plans well short.

Sams Lane, where the community center could be built, is a narrow road covered with double yellow lines. Adjoining Spon Lane also has strict parking restrictions and many of the surrounding residential streets also have double yellow lines. Last year’s rejected application contained no information about parking, and the latest plans include a pick-up and drop-off space.

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The application said that any other visitors to the community center would either have to walk or just close to Thomas Street and George Street – which is just over five minutes away – to park.

Drawings included with the applications show how the former garage will be transformed into a new community center with a stage, space for around 70 seats, a disabled toilet, a kitchen and a two-storey meeting room. A statement included in the application said: “Parking is a real challenge on this particular site due to its nature… In terms of public parking, George Street is a five-minute walk from the site and offers two methods of parking.

“George Street offers free street parking for a short stay of two hours at both ends of the street. Several free street parking spaces are available on Thomas Street. We also have the Thomas Street/George Street long stay pay-and-display car park, which is approximately six minutes from the proposed site, as well as several other pay-and-display car parks nearby.”