A PROPOSAL to increase the amount of viewing days at an auction house has caused concern among residents living around the site.

Wotton Auction Rooms in Tabernacle Pitch currently has permission to open to the public for 25 days a year.

However, with 12 viewing days taking up half of the allocation, there is one day spare which the auction house would like to use for an additional specialist sale of small collectibles, such as stamps, coins and postcards, and this would need a viewing day.

The plan has, however, provoked a mixed response from some nearby residents who claim that the location of the auction rooms already causes massive parking issues.

The plan, which can be viewed on Stroud District Council website, has already attracted more than 20 letters of objection, including that of Douglas Hobbs, who lives on Tabernacle Road, who expressed concern that both businesses on the industrial estate and residents, the great majority of whom are elderly, are greatly affected by the extra traffic generated in and around sale days.

Neighbour Yvonne Johnson has also written an objection to the council, although she is keen to stress that it’s not the salesroom itself that causes a problem, just the congestion it causes.

"People are just not considerate to residents," says Mrs Johnson.

"We’ve always got on well with the people at the salesroom, but I dread to think what would happen if the emergency services needed to get down the lane on a sale day.

Owner of the auction rooms, Philip Taubenheim, said the overall parking problem in Wotton was bad, but added that there is a car park which houses more than 70 cars on site.

"We do try and work around our neighbours," says Mr Taubenheim, "and we generally have a good relationship with them.

"Many people, particularly the traders, look forward to sale days as we bring people to the town from miles around.

"Wotton is a great market town and has been for centuries, but some people are never going to be pleased."

Visitors to the auction rooms have also written in support of the application. Frequent visitor David Newton, from Leonard Stanley, said: "Wotton Auction Rooms provide a valuable and sustainable serivce to the local economy; the business acts thoughtfully in grouping sale viewing days as efficiently as possible."

The application will be heard at the next meeting of Stroud District Council's development control committee on Tuesday, February 9.