In a surprise move, the Windsor Urban Development Control Panel of The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council has refused Legoland Windsor Resort’s planning application for the proposed new haunted house attraction.
Despite having been previously recommended for approval, the panel felt that the attraction would only increase traffic to the resort, despite a number of successful recent trials designed to ease congestion caused by visitors to the park. Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Phill Bicknell stated that “we are at the point where something has got to give”, and was fully supported by all councillors when he suggested the planning application be refused.
Sue Kemp, Divisional Director of Legoland, expressed her disappointment about the decision and felt that the recent traffic trials, which had successfully eased congestion, had been ignored. Unfortunately though, her views were not shared by the panel who were of the opinion that the traffic had merely been shuffled onto different roads. The councillors refused to accept that the new attraction would not add to the traffic with one councillor stating that they were “tempted to think this is the point where we have reached a threshold”, potentially suggesting the resort may face a struggle to obtain permission for any future attractions.
At this stage it is unknown what Legoland Windsor Resort plan to do now, although it is not unusual for attractions to re-submit planning applications, making adjustments to address the concerns raised.
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