Newmarket’s Heritage Advisory Committee this evening unanimously rejected plans by developer Bob Forrest to build an out-of-place apartment block at the Clock Tower in the heart of the historic downtown.

The Committee, ably chaired by Athol Hart, gave a long list of reasons why they considered the development inappropriate. It manifestly did not fit with the Town’s Heritage Conservation District policy and there was a real danger that construction would damage the structure and fabric of other important buildings in the area.

The views of the influential advisory committee - whose members include Ward 4 councillor Tom Hempen - will now be reported to the Town’s Committee of the Whole which is expected to consider the Clock Tower application on 18 April.

When the vote was taken members of the public spontaneously burst into a round of applause.

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