Squarepeg is keen to clarify some of the comments that are currently being aired across the e-waves. Available to the right as a pdf download we have attached the site plan which is the final version for the planning submission. It shows the site, the cycle housing and the BCC land overlaid in blue. The discussions with BCC have been held openly and if this has been taken as a covert operation that was never the intention.

This plan clearly shows the cycle housing and the proposed entrance from the cycle path to the square, which is the heart of the development. A fair proportion of the BCC land will be used for access to the site for walkers and cyclists alike, also for the Cycle Dock – which includes a café and a 20-room youth hostel style cycle venue, cycle repair/sales workshop and this will all be open to the public. We are also aware that there was a submission for a cycle B&B facility using local homes in Greenbank. This did not reach fruition due to the lack of cycle parking in the existing Victorian houses but with the cycle parking available on site, we are hoping that someway down the line we can work something out between the Chocolate Factory and the local residents if people are still interested.

To just refer specifically to the cycle housing: The houses have been designed with the cyclist in mind and there are two designs:

• The three bedroom, three storey homes are to the west of the site (nearest to Carlyle Road), these do not have garages and there are 10 cycle houses along this stretch.
• The four bedroom, four storey houses are to the east of the site, opposite the current car parking area. There are 12 of these designs with space that could be used as a garage but is flexible and can accommodate other uses such as storage/workshop. Only four of the cycle houses are built on the land currently owned by BCC.
• None of the cycle homes have front gardens, they all have roof terraces.

The access from the house to the cycle path is part of the ongoing discussion with BCC regarding an easement across the verge.

It may not be what some people want to hear, but families have cars and cars need to be kept somewhere. The message from the local residents was very clear - they did not want to add to the on street parking, hence the on site parking allocation.

The development certainly holds a great deal of positive elements for the area, not the least of which are jobs, homes and work space. Whilst we cannot expect everyone to like every aspect of the site, hopefully this clarifies some of the issues which are currently being debated.