Wednesday 18 November 2009

Public Inquiry

Recent news about the Tesco fiasco is that the plan has been 'called in' by the Secretary of State, which means it will go to a Public Inquiry. This will of course give time for the many people who object to the plan to expand the information campaign, to help create a well-informed majority.

Some people may be asking why the plan has been 'called-in'.

It seems that the plan has contravened planning laws by its lack of provision for proper access, including no pedestrian or bicycle access, an access road which adds 0.5 km each way to the journey (calculated as averaging 700,000 kms per year), and the need for the widening of the Street Road (cutting into Wearyall Hill) which must be paid for. All of these aspects go against the aspirations of 'Transition' Somerset and of course are against the general policy of reduction of consumption and emissions, especially of fossil fuels.

More about this issue as it comes in...

1 comment:

  1. Full text of the Central Somerset Gazette article:

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    Controversial Tesco plan is called in for public inquiry

    Laura Linham, Central Somerset Gazette central@midsomnews.co.uk

    The Secretary of State [for DEFRA] is to have the final decision on a flagship Tesco store on the outskirts of Glastonbury.

    Speaking at a meeting of Glastonbury Town Council this week, Councillor Jim Barron reported that decision had been "called in" by the secretary of state [for DEFRA], Hilary Benn.

    Most planning applications are decided locally by the district or other council, but Mr Benn has reserve powers to direct the council to refer an application to him for decision - a 'called-in' application.

    Each year many thousands of applications are made but the secretary of state only calls in about 50.

    Generally, he will only call in an application if he thinks there are planning issues of more than local importance.

    These include a development conflicts [sic] with national planning policy on important matters, or a development that could have wide effects beyond its immediate locality.

    Tesco's application for a store on the site of the Avalon Plastics factory in Beckery New Road [sic] was approved by Mendip District Council's planning board in August, despite continued fears for the impact it would have on local businesses in both Street and Glastonbury.

    The Planning Board voted 11 to one in favour of the new development - against the recommendation of their own planning officer - on the current site of Avalon Plastics at Beckery New Road, near the B&Q store.

    The move allowed Avalon Plastics could move next door [sic] to the Morlands Enterprise Park, securing the jobs of 150 employees and allowing for further expansion and investment.

    The proposed new Tesco would include 41,000 square feet of shop floor space built on stilts, with 324 parking spaces underneath.

    A spokewoman for Mendip District Council confirmed that the application would now go to a public inquiry, but added that the Government Office for the South West had not yet organised a date for the hearing.

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