Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Tesco Appeal Dates set

Dates have been set for the Tesco appeals against failure to get planning permission for the extension to their proposed store on Mill Road. There are two appeals although both for the same thing (the extension application), one due to the Council's failure to determine the application in time, the other after the application was finally refused.

Presumably due to public interest in the case, the appeal will slightly unusually be heard at a Public Inquiry to be held in The Council Chamber at The Guildhall. The Inquiry will commence at 10:00 am on Tuesday 30th September 2008 and is currently scheduled to last 3 days.

An Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions will determine the procedure at the Inquiry and will decide the appeal.

All original comments on the application have been sent to the Planning Inspectorate, however members of the public may attend the Inquiry, and at the discretion of the inspector, express their views. You will need to let the Planning Inspectorate know that you wish to appear and you should tell the Inspector if you wish to speak when they open the Inquiry.

So the No to Mill Road Tesco campaigners will get another chance to explain their case - which against the extension proposals to my mind has some very valid transport and delivery related concerns.

Interestingly, I don't think Tesco have yet appealed against refusal for the refrigeration plant needed to open a smaller store - you would have thought they might have done this as an insurance policy in case they lose the appeal for permission for the extension...

1 comment:

Ruth said...

Hi Chris,
I've just seen this (been on holiday - a much less energetic one than your cycling holiday, I have to admit).

As I understand it, Tesco have 6 months from the date of the last decision in which to appeal. My guess is that they are waiting to see what happens with the current appeal before making a decision on another one. But they may well not appeal either way: if they win this time round, they won't need to bother and if they lose then they have the same old problem of no extension and very little hope of an alcohol license - in other words, no prospect of an economically viable store.