Planned hostel branded'eyesore'

LAWRENCE GULLERY
A plan for a two-storey, nine-bedroom backpackers hostel on Southland Road in Hastings has been described as an eyesore by one of its future neighbours.
Tom Perry, who lives a couple of doors down from the proposed hostel site, said he had concerns about the size of the building, the type of clientele it could attract and a perceived loss in its neighbours' property values.
Mr Perry, who has lived on Southland Road with his family for 19 years, said he became aware of the hostel plans when he read the New Zealand Tenders Gazette, a weekly magazine listing building consents.
He claimed the developer and owner of the site, Elizabeth Carbin, had told neighbours the building would be a two-storey town house.
"But after speaking to one of the town planners at the (Hastings District) council, they told me the plan was for a backpackers," Mr Perry said.
Construction work on the hostel started about three weeks ago on a 3030sq m property, which already has a 100-year-old lodge on it.
The hostel is being built next to the lodge in similar colonial-style architecture and will have nine-bedrooms, a communal lounge, toilet and showers.
Mr Perry said he believed the council should be held accountable for allowing the hostel to be built and had asked Hastings ward councillor Norm Speers to investigate the hostel plans.
"I do feel sorry for the neighbours because it is a big building, but it is on a big site and it does fit within the district plan and it's not breaking any council rules," Cr Speers said.
He said the building-height restriction was set at 10 metres for a two-storey dwelling and the hostel plans reached 7.5 metres at its highest point.
"It will be be built in the same colonial style as the lodge: It is different, normally backpackers' accommodation is built out of renovated houses," he said.
Mr Perry claimed there had been crime reported at another hostel on Southland Road and feared the same would happen at the one next to his home.
Mr Speers said while he understood Mr Perry's concerns, backpackers and seasonal workers helped drive the Hawke's Bay economy during the harvest season at the beginning of each year.
The developer, Mrs Carbin, did not want to comment about the development but wanted neighbours to talk to her about any concerns they had with the development.
Mr Perry said he did not want to speak to the developer and would deal with the matter through the council.