Mixed reactions greeted the news that the Eden Council-owned Mansion House could be in line to become Penrith’s newest hotel.
Architect Stephen Macaulay, who is president of Penrith Chamber of Trade and Commerce, thought such a development would benefit the town.
“It would be a positive move for a hotel to be developed at Mansion House. The building is underused currently and investing in our existing buildings, particularly those with heritage value is to be encouraged,” he said.
“From a town business perspective, it would increase economic activity in the town and this will benefit the local economy.”
However, the response from Dan Harding, vice-chairman of Penrith Business Improvement District (BID), who is also a director of Foundry 34 bar, restaurant and hotel, was slightly less enthusiastic.
He said another independent hotel would be acceptable, but if it was a Premier Inn or another hotel chain which had big contracts with booking agents, there could be a problem.
“It’s a difficult one, really, because in June, July and August there probably is a need for more accommodation providers, but outside of that space, there isn’t, I don’t think,” he said.
Mr Harding noticed that when Premier Inn first opened, there was a dip in business stay and it hit winter trade for everybody. Such trade is always reliant on business travel.
Hotel chains like Premier Inn have contracts with the likes of Capita and big booking firms, so “chunks” of the town’s winter trade were taken out by that, he said.
At Foundry 34, Mr Harding said they were still relatively busy at present, but guests were mainly travelling for business.
In addition, Herald letter writer Ron Kenyon has raised concerns in relation to the loss of parking should Mansion House become a hotel. He states that he has seen details of the sale with indication of parking for 80 vehicles and possibility use of the car park to the rear for an extension.
“I wish to reiterate my concerns in relation to the loss of parking in the area which is of use in a number of ways, including enhancing the parking provision in the town centre and use by residents of properties in the area and also possible future property conversions (the Co-op comes to mind),” says Mr Kenyon.
“I appreciate it is a ‘carrot’ of space in the deal to extend Mansion House with this land being available. However, does the development become unviable without the rear parking area?
“As an alternative, what about the retention of half or two-thirds for parking and the rest for the development,” asks Mr Kenyon.
