THE fate of a former ex-services club was due to be decided at a meeting tonight.

Plans to demolish the club in New Road to be replaced with 10 residential apartments with car parking and amenity area have been submitted to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC).

BDBC councillors were due to make a decision whether to grant permission at a development control committee meeting on Wednesday, 6 December.

The application, submitted by Orange Holmes Ltd, has come in for criticism from former mem- bers of the club, which was sold due to dwindling member num- bers and loss of finances.

Orange Holmes Ltd has said that the development would be in a similar style and scale as other residential properties in the area.

A planning statement from the developers reads: “The proposal will be designed to a scale simi- lar to the other properties in the surrounding area.”

If given the green light, the site would consist of eight three- bedroom and two two-bedroom apartments.

However, during the consulta- tion period for the application, more than 20 letters objecting to the plans were submitted to BDBC stating that the develop- ment would result in loss of privacy and cause parking problems in the area.

Responding to the plan, Janet Grandjean, of Chequers Road, near the proposed site, wrote: “I cannot believe that they intend to build 10 three bedroom apart- ments in an area that is already inundated with flats/apartments and very little parking facilities.

“I believe New Road to be quite a dangerous road – especially at the bottom of the hill. Vehicles swing around this bend at quite a speed.”

Another resident Robert Holliday, of Goat Lane, said: “In its use as a social club, peak traffic movements were largely in the evening outside peak hours.

“Now, as a multi-occupancy dwelling, vehicles will be com- ing and going at all times and so likely add to the peak flow in New Road.”

A decision on the application was due to be made tonight.