A former council car park is back on the market for over double its original price as a plot with planning permission for a house, causing uproar among local residents.
Cheltenham Borough Council leaders made the decision to sell the Idsall Drive car park in Prestbury, deeming it surplus to requirements and noting that its maintenance was costing taxpayers approximately £4,000 a year.
Despite strong opposition from locals who wanted to preserve the site and called for a reconsideration of the decision, the car park was sold off last year.
Adrian Gillman subsequently submitted plans for a self-build property on the site, which includes four ensuites on the first floor and a loft with a double bedroom and bathroom.
The borough's planners gave their approval to the scheme earlier this year.
However, Councillor Stan Smith (People Against Bureaucracy, Prestbury) has voiced concerns about existing parking issues in the area, arguing that proposals for double yellow lines will exacerbate the situation.
Last month, Highways announced plans to paint double yellow lines down several streets in Prestbury, including Mill Street, Linden Avenue and The Burgage.
Councillor Smith alleges that a parking survey conducted in Prestbury included the now-closed and sold 20-space car park.
He expressed his frustration at the council's actions, stating: "When you look at it in the whole, it's a joke what the council has done".
He added: "It's a sore subject with the borough councillors for Prestbury. They rode roughshod over us and Stephan Fifield who was the County Councillor.
"They rode roughshod over his petition. When we talked about the petition they said it was too late it was sold. They didn't even want to listen to what we had to say about the property and the damage it was going to do to the village.
"It's chaos in there now. Residents are fuming. People are parking on the bank by the war memorial opposite the Idsall Drive car park.
"If they put double yellow lines on the road, where are people going to park then? Nobody has thought this out. The council just doesn't care."
The Borough Council has stated they identified the site as surplus to requirements and apt for sale as part of their Covid-19 recovery strategy back in 2020.
After conducting a series of surveys to determine how much the car park was being used, the council moved forward with the sale towards the end of 2023.
The property was put on the market through a local firm of chartered surveyors and attracted several offers.
Following a round of best and final offers, the site was eventually sold unconditionally for £282,500, a figure significantly above the other bids, according to the council.
Yet, the plot is now back on the market with an asking price of £600,000. It is currently listed on Right Move as a "unique opportunity to build a bespoke home in Prestbury".
A spokesperson for the council said: "Taking into account the market at the time, along with planning and other costs and risks, the council is satisfied that it secured best consideration for the local taxpayer.
"The sale also removed the financial liability of ownership, allowing those savings to be diverted into front line services.
"The purchaser has since obtained planning consent for a single self-build dwelling, meaning that the future owner must live in the property for a minimum period of time."
