The North Norfolk District Council will this week vote on plans to redevelop an 'eyesore' in the middle of Sheringham town centre.

Eastern Daily Press: ©Albanpix.com-Picture by Alban Donohoe The Chequers Shorts stay car park Sheringham, Norfolk Dr Gerry Bedford on knees to get his pay and display ticket out of the marchine©Albanpix.com-Picture by Alban Donohoe The Chequers Shorts stay car park Sheringham, Norfolk Dr Gerry Bedford on knees to get his pay and display ticket out of the marchine (Image: ©Albanpix.com)

The NNDC has submitted plans to knock down the old Shannocks hotel, and repurpose it into four commercial units and 10 apartments.

Judy Oliver, NNDC cabinet member for legal services, said: 'It is absolutely essential this site is brought back into use and that the current blight on the centre of the town is removed, and we will maintain pressure to that end.'

The plan also includes taking over the land which is currently occupied by Chequers public car park.

The vote which will take place at the council's development committee meeting on Thursday, September 28, will have to take into consideration the objections to the project.

Currently, both the Sheringham Town Council and Historic England, as well as Sheringham residents and business owners, have raised issues with the plan.

These range from loss of a historic building, to objection to the loss of car parking in a busy, tourist-fuelled town centre.

The Sheringham Town council wrote: 'It is essential to retain the Chequers car park as it is extremely well used for the Town, Museum and Oddfellows Hall, as it is the only car parking facility in that area.

'In addition the car park is essential for disabled visitors.'

Further objections raised the point that no alternatives had been raised if Chequers car park were lost, with no consideration made for how the commercial sites would be receiving their deliveries.

However the NNDC state that the development 'will contribute both to the commercial viability of the town centre and the mix of residential dwellings and at the same time, enhance the public realm of this part of Sheringham.'

When the NNDC launched their application earlier this year, they said: 'The Council is determined to rid Sheringham of the eyesore and enable regeneration of the area around the top of the cliff in the centre of the town. The current state of the empty hotel has caused blight to the local area for a number of years as the building continues to deteriorate.'