Storm over new air conditioning units

A ROW has flared over new air conditioning units on the roof of Warrington’s 10-screen Odeon Cinema at Westbrook.
Nearby residents say the units are bigger than the ones they replace – and that six have been erected without planning permission.
The cinema says the new units are necessary to carry on operating the cinema in a functional manner as imminent changes in refrigerant gas regulations will mean the gas used in the existing units will no longer be available.
A retrospective planning application for six air conditioning units on the flat roof of the cinema will go before the borough’s development control committee on Wednesday (April 23), together with an application for 11 more yet to be erected.
Coun Keith Gleave has raised concern about the impact on nearby homes and 14 nearby residents have signed a petition opposing the scheme.
But the council’s environmental protection department has not raised objections and planners say because the nearest house is more than 55m from the building it would be difficult to justify refusal on these grounds.
Existing roof-mounted heating and cooling units are 18-years-old and are operating beyond their anticipated life of 15 years. The new ones save energy, through increase efficiency, and are smaller in volume but are about 300mm taller.
Changes in legislation mean that harmful CFC and HCFC ozone depleting gases are being phased out and will no longer be available after 2010.
Planners say the slight increase in the height of the units will have little or no on visual amenity – particularly on a building of modern, functional design.