COUNCILLORS were expected last night (Wednesday) to refuse plans to redevelop the former railway station site in Buntingford. The future of the site, in Aspenden Road, was to be considered by East Herts District Council s development control committee. Th

COUNCILLORS were expected last night (Wednesday) to refuse plans to redevelop the former railway station site in Buntingford.

The future of the site, in Aspenden Road, was to be considered by East Herts District Council's development control committee.

The proposal is for the demolition of two buildings, the conversion of the Station House into three dwellings, the construction of two pairs of semi-detached houses and one terrace of four houses as well as the improvement of road access to the site.

Buntingford Town Council has not objected to the plans.

Reasons for turning down the scheme include the loss of a former employment site and insufficient details about bat roosts in Station House.

Hertfordshire Biological Records Centre has requested that permission should not be granted until a comprehensive bat survey had been carried out

It is believed bats are living in Station House.

A similar application was submitted in August 2006 which was seeking permission for the demolition of the former employment use existing buildings, conversion of the Station House into three dwellings, the construction of a new block of nine flats and block of 12 flats as well as an underground car park and improved road access.

The application was withdrawn prior to a decision being reached.

A further application to demolish the workshop and factory in order to construct two blocks of flats with an underground car park and convert and extend the Station House for three dwellings was also refused.

It was said that this would have been an over development of the site.

In a planning report to the committee it was said that one concern, too, was "the lack of landscaping and amenity provision".