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September
28, 2005
Seven month delay for Tesco inquiry 'astonishes'
Burnham council leader
Tesco's
plans to expand its Burnham-On-Sea store have been dealt another
blow after it emerged that a full inquiry into the proposal will
not get underway until May 2006.
 Peter
Clayton, Leader of Burnham and Highbridge Town Council and Chairman
of the planning applications committee, told Burnham-On-Sea.com:
"I am astonished this application is going to take so long
to be resolved."
"There
have been many people for and against this expansion but I feel
sorry for the applicants in this case."
"I
think they have not been treated fairly and I will be asking questions
as to why such an important matter is being put on the shelf for
seven months."
"It
was important for Tesco to have this matter resolved in the light
of the proposed supermarket in Springfield Road. Both applications
were heard on the same day and both were contrary to the Burnham
area local plan, but in the case of the Tesco application the
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has decided to take this one
to a formal inquiry."
"As
with most applications there could be planning gains and in this
instance the planning gain could have been very significant for
the town. If this application is successful or not I think it
is unfair on everbody to be kept in limbo like this."
The
date for the inquiry has been set for May 9th, 2006.
The
latest twist in the ongoing saga comes after a meeting of the
district council's Development and Control Committee was held
in July, at which the decision to 'call in' the supermarket giant's
plans and launch the inquiry was announced.
Earlier
in the year,
the supermarket giant bowed to pressure and made several concesssions
to win the backing of planners. In March, the district council
gave the proposal the nod and work was expected to start soon
after.
When
- and if - the store's expansion gets the go-ahead, it will get
a substantial 2,368 square metrec extension, resulting in a new
store measuring 4,817 square metres.
Tesco
has already accepted a condition which would restrict durable
goods such as clothing, electrical goods, toys, CDs, DVDs, videos,
sports goods, kitchenware, household goods, and furniture to 25%
of the total floorspace.
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LINKS:
Tesco gets the go-ahead to expand
Burnham store
Burnham
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