I've written a bit about the Tesco planning application.
Things have moved on since then. Mendip District Council's Planning Board went against the advice of Edward Baker, their planning officer, and gave Tesco permission to build on the Avalon Plastics site. Of course Avalon Plastics have to move off first, supposedly to a new on the adjacent Morlands site - which hasn't been built yet.
Apparently when a council Planning Board disagrees with a planning officer, the application automatically gets referred to a higher, regional instance - and so it was.
It's gone further than that. Secretary of State for DEFRA Hilary Benn has 'called in' the planning application.
Now I might be infringing copyright with this next bit, but until such time as someone informs me otherwise, I'll assume 'fair use'. It's the full text from an article in the Central Somerset Gazette, which isn't on their website (yet):
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.
Why did it get 'called in'? Probably because it goes against a Planning Policy Statement. I don't know yet.
It could be that Hilary will shame his father and rush an approval through just before
Meanwhile, I'm getting tooled up for the struggle - it's going to be a war of words. Bring it on!
This is too good not to re-post:
Oh yeah there's this too - Tesconbury. Just hope it doesn't get mired in conspiracy theories...
Your struggle in Glastonbury is disturbingly interesting.
ReplyDeleteWe struggled in Watchet against a Harbour Revision Order and finally we forced a public enquiry which felt, to say the least, a little fixed. We here ("SWAMP") raised £5,000 to employ a barrister on our behalf and ironically of course we also paid the Council's legal costs through our taxes.
The Harbour Revision Order was, however, granted and we now have a not so spanking new "marina" (boatpark) with most boats stuck in the inevitable mud, most of the time and unable/unwilling to move because of our second highest in Europe tides and nowhere much to sail to !
Part of the deal, well the real reason no doubt for the deal, was that the land beside the harbour (East Quay) was to be developed for housing - the gentrified type, not by any means locally affordable.
Dean & Dyball got the deal first then gave up the ghost to Urban Splash, but still against serious local opposition. Urban Splash have a contract to buy (or perhaps have bought - "commercially sensitive information" this - the land in question from the Council for a song and now we await glass and steel blocks of flats to go up in the middle of our ancient town.
You are probably aware of the futile (but irrestible)fights we have been having for many years over here but if not you might like to check us out - just so you know you in Glastonbury aren't alone !
I arrived at your blog through your January 2009 comments on Urban splash. There is a programme about them and their intended development in Bristol on Monday the 23rd at 7:30, BBC 1 but it's regional news so you may not be able to tune in. Tom Bloxham, founder of Urban Splash, is very matey with this government and is very influential in their thinking.
Anyway, keep on blogging, we exhausted Watchet warriors are heartened to know you care too !
The "we told you so" feeling when councils/government have finally beaten their voters into submission and achieved their unwelcome aims isn't any consolation but one has to keep on fighting against injustice and corruption so that one can live with a fairly good conscience.
I despise Tesco for all the harm it does to local communities/producers but not as much as I despise Asda (Walmart).
God help us !
A friend
Thanks for the comment and the heads-up about the Urban Splash TV spot.
ReplyDeletesupermarkets are supermarkets
ReplyDeleteI'm assuming that the new building going up right now alongside the A361 is for Avalon Plastics.
ReplyDeleteWhen that's done, they move in and Tesco gets built.
Whay happens with the money spent on the Avalon plastics building and indeed to its employees if Tesco is shelved?
This is not a rhetorical question but an economic one with massive implications for the local economy and community
It's clear that Avalon Plastics need to sell the present site in order to finance their new tin box. Tesco has probably pulled some strings here.
ReplyDeleteHere's my speculation about this:
- the Tesco application has been called in as a test case for the new planning laws, which changed last year.
- planning permission will be refused.
- Tesco will go ahead anyway, either in the run-up to, or after the general election, which has to be in early June at the latest. Of course they'll buy their way to lots of influence - on both sides maybe?
- As soon as the next government gets in (let's assume that it's a Tory one) then the favours will be called in and hey presto, we'll have a new Tesco.
It might not be quite as straightforward as that, but you get my drift.
Of course it doesn't matter that it will be bad for the community here, but since when have the Tories been interested in that? Money talks and they listen.