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Published:
October 9, 2008
Fears
raised over impact of garden centre expansion on Burnham's trade
 Town
councillors have this week expressed concerns about controversial
plans by a local garden centre to expand its store by more than
35,000 square feet - but they delayed making a decision on whether
to formally oppose the scheme.
Burnham-On-Sea.com
broke the news in
March that Sanders Garden World at Brent Knoll wants to extend
its premises as part of a multi-million pound expansion programme.
A
formal planning application was recently registered by the store's
owners, Wyevale, and, if approved, the extension could generate
over 100 new jobs.
However,
the plans have concerned businesses and councillors in Burnham-On-Sea
who fear that such a large out-of-town garden centre with a wide
product range may take away trade from the town.
The
scheme was reviewed by members of Burnham and Highbridge Town
Council's Planning Applications Committee this week when the concerns
were aired.
 Town
Clerk Eileen Shaw told the meeting: "There are concerns that
the retail assessment document prepared by Wyevale in support
of the application may have had several inaccuracies and this
is still being assessed."
Burnham
Chamber of Trade Chairman Alex Turco first raised questions about
the accuracy of the retail assessment study, which claimed the
impact on Burnham would be minimal, in
August.
He
also claimed that if the plans are approved, Burnham town centre
businesses could lose £4 million of trade.
Cllr
Pauline Pollard said at this week's meeting: "I'm concerned
that the wide range of products that could be sold at the centre,
such as arts and crafts, will hurt similar shops in Burnham. It
would be horrible to lose them."
The
Planning Applications Committee agreed to examine the impact in
closer detail at its next meeting later in October.
Wyevale
plans to increase the size of the store's covered building to
63,000 square feet and to leave the remainder of the outdoor sales
area in its existing state. The proposal would also see the number
of car parking spaces rise from 369 spaces to 411, and a new roundabout
introduced.
RELATED
LINKS:
Plans
for £4m garden centre expansion go on show
Exhibition
to be held by growing garden centre
Revealed:
Garden centre to unveil expansion plans
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