I can think of a lot things that would be worse. I think the point is, are any of the 500 objectors coming up with alternatives and (most importantly) are they prepared to put their money where their mouth is? I would love to see a gastro-pub there, I would use it for sure and I'm sure many others would as well but enough people to cover the rent and turn a decent profit? Probably not and that is presumably the view of other people who have been looking at that site for some time.