AN application to open a locked gate at a retirement home in Wickham has been refused.

Residents of Wykeham Court retirement village, on Winchester Road, wanted the locked gate to be opened so they could use it for walks.

However, when the village plan was approved in 2013, a condition was that the gate would stay locked, restricting pedestrian access onto Tanfield Park and only to be used by refuge collectors and emergency services.

The new application received scores of objections as residents of Tanfield Park were worried that visitors will park in their road.

City councillor Angela Clear said the access was unsafe. In a letter she said: “It is not the best route for elderly pedestrians and there is no pavement in Tanfield Lane and this is quite dangerous.”

The Wykeham Court development was opened in April and has 32 one and two-bedroom flats.

Fellow ward councillor for Southwick and Wickham, Therese Evans, said the gate is already used by the Wykeham Court residents.

“This is a really important decision locally. All three local councillors have objected to this application. The lock number is known by the residents and the gate is used by them.

“It was also used by builders during the building process and this caused misery for the local residents of Tanfield Park.”

She added that the city council made a promise not to use the gate after the initial application was approved.

“When we gave this application approval in 2013 the city council promised that this gate would not be used.

“I think, because of this, the application should be refused.”

However, resident of the home Christopher Williams said the new access route would be used for walks, and not for parking.

“To have the access would enable residents to take a short walk out of the rear gate. This would be very beneficial.

“At the home, we have adequate parking and do not intend to use Tanfield as another place to park.

“We currently have 21 occupants and only 12 car owners with 22 spaces between us. That means the remaining 10 apartments, that are currently empty, have 10 car spaces between them.”

The planning committee at Winchester Guildhall voted to refuse the gate opening plan by six votes to none, with two abstentions.