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Published:
September 1, 2006
Burnham-On-Sea
Tesco store's expansion bid is rejected
 Supermarket
giant Tesco is NOT to be given permission to expand its Burnham-On-Sea
store in Love Lane.
On
Friday morning (September 1st), the Department of Communities
and Local Government published its report into the supermarket's
bid to double the size of its store - and it was bad news for
Tesco.
Tesco
spokesman Phelix Gummer told Burnham-On-Sea.com the company was
"very disappointed" by the ruling.
"We
were looking forward to increasing our investment in the town
and this decision unfortunately means this cannot now go ahead."
He added that the store would now be "considering its options."
Tesco
had wanted to double the size of its store from 14,714sq ft to
35,335sq ft and increase the number of car parking spaces from
166 to 382 in addition to introducing a new petrol station and
cafe.
Despite
Sedgemoor planners approving Tesco's plans in March 2005, the
proposal was 'called in' by the Government Office of the South
West because it contradicted the council's planning policy.
A
public inquiry was then held at Burnham's Princess Hall in May
this year, where government planning inspector Andrew Pykett heard
arguments for and against the expansion.
On
Friday morning (September 1st), town councillor Neville Jones
told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "Many people in the town will be
disappointed by this decision, particularly those that were hoping
this application would lead to the completion of the Frank Foley
Parkway as a planning gain."
It
is the latest twist in a long-running rollercoaster ride of events
that is likely to be welcomed by rival supermarket chain Asda,
which is building a huge 40,000sq ft store in nearby Highbridge
on the site of the former Woodberry Bros and Haines factory.
RELATED
LINKS:
Council
leader says Tesco decision is 'no surprise'
Seven
month delay for inquiry 'astonishes' Burnham council leader
Tesco's
expansion put on hold as inquiry begins
Tesco gets the go-ahead
to expand Burnham store
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