What a waste of Crown Wharf

Developer McCarthy & Stone revealed their plans for a retirement complex at Crown Wharf on Thursday – but surely a complex like this is a real waste of a prime, canalside site in the town?

That’s certainly the view of prominent members of the boating community in Stone, who see Crown Wharf as the final opportunity to use the canal for real, long-term regeneration.

Poet Jo Bell and her narrowboat moved to Stone last year. She’s vehemently opposed to the plans for a retirement complex on Crown Wharf.

Jo said: “The canal is Stone’s greatest historic asset – the UK canal network really began here, with a meeting at the Crown Hotel which set in motion the canal building movement and therefore laid down the bones of the Industrial Revolution. Stone has always been kind to its canals and made good use of them as a vital part of the town. This proposed development would put a visual and physical block between the canal and the main town, divorcing the two for ever and doing real damage to the historic environment which is Stone’s main hope for meaningful, long-term development.

“And all so that a few retired folk can have a nice view of the water. Stone, don’t let this happen. Use it as an opportunity to re-address how we use the canal in our town, and to appreciate it for what it is – the best and most financially promising asset we have for real and sustainable regeneration.”

Roger and Teresa Fuller own the nationally renowned boatyard near Whitebridge industrial estate. The couple attended the public exhibition on Thursday.

Teresa said: “As residents of 30 years, who came to Stone because of the canal, my husband and I were extremely disappointed when we viewed the exhibition. This is the prime unused site in Stone town centre that should be used to benefit the town, the canal and the community. The use of this site for 33 apartments is a total waste of this historic location. The site would be better used as a tourist attraction. It is in the Local Plan for mixed development, including leisure. Other towns make their canal a focal point for the community and visitors to enjoy. Let’s have something good on this site – there are enough expensive retirement flats in Stone.

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“Let’s focus on making our views known when the plans are submitted. We still have a chance to object to this development. The £100,000 raised by Stone Town Council in 2009 to buy Crown Wharf could surely still be used to help fund a community/tourism project on the site?”

Karen Wyatt runs the Canal Cruising Company, which is based right next to Crown Wharf.

Karen told The Sentinel: “This business has been running for over 65 years and I am concerned that if people move into apartments, they will complain about the noise and smell. I think it could be a big threat to the business. Looking at the current plans, the development will be too big and the apartments will be too high. It’s not appropriate for the site. I don’t think the apartments are needed in the town and it’s just another nail in the coffin for Stone.”

You can see McCarthy & Stone’s plans for the complex HERE. They say their complex of 33 apartments will “positively contribute to the local area and respect its setting” and make use of the historic Wharfinger’s Cottage on the site, albeit for residential use.

You can submit your comments on the proposals to McCarthy & Stone HERE as part of their current consultation. The developer will be submitting a planning application to Stafford Borough Council soon and we’ll let you know when that happens so that objections can be made.

McCarthy & Stone built a retirement complex just down the road in Crown Street a few years ago, called Joules Court.

Crown Wharf is owned by the Canal and River Trust and currently rented to Stone Town Council for use as a car park. It will be sold to McCarthy & Stone if they get planning permission for the retirement complex.

Stone Town Council raised £100,000 in 2009 through a one-off increase in council tax in an attempt to buy Crown Wharf for use as a new community centre for the town. That plan floundered.

Crown Wharf was also included in an extended Stone town centre boundary in the Stafford Borough Local Plan that was adopted by the borough council recently, putting it in line as a possible site for mixed-use development of leisure and retail. The sale of the land to McCarthy & Stone seems to have put a halt to that possibility, and thrown open the issue of car parking spaces in the town.