Several of those who made submissions took up the opportunity to address council prior to their consideration of the applications at Wednesday’s council meeting.

The Chamber of Commerce addressed council in relation to both the Five D and Garner projects, while the Gloucester CWA and Andrew Lister of Hopkins Consultants addressed council in relation to the Five D project.

Chamber spokesman Geoff Marshall said while the Chamber embraced competition and new developments it was concerned about the location of the Five D project that it was separate from the current town centre and the sheer size of the project.

Mr Marshall said the chamber believed the project could have a dramatic impact on existing retailers.

“Currently the CBD is bookended by businesses” and he said local retailers befitted from foot traffic between the two.

“Because of its (the Five D project) separation from the town centre it will lead to a loss of foot traffic in the CBD.”

CWA representative Christine Bolton said the CWA had concerns about the impact of traffic flow and any potential loss of parking in Church Street near the CWA Rooms, and for other residents living in that area.

Hopkins Consultants representative Andrew Lister questioned the validity of council being able to approve the application given that part of it was on land zoned scenic protection 7(d).

The Chamber of Commerce was the only group to speak in relation to the Garner project with spokesmsan Geoff Marshall saying the application was “one of the most significant developments in the town centre in the past 50 years”.

Mr Marshall said a number of the chamber’s concerns in relation to traffic and the scale of the project had been addressed in the presentation to the council the previous afternoon.