Cllr slams planning system after being prevented from blocking Tesco plan

12:30pm Friday 15th February 2013 in News By Simon Farr

Tesco Express will open here, the old Platts Garage in London Road. Tesco Express will open here, the old Platts Garage in London Road.

A SENIOR councillor has slammed the planning system after members were effectively prevented from rejecting plans for a new Tesco Express.

Cllr Ian Bates questioned why Wycombe District Council's Planning Committee existed after officers told members they had no grounds to refuse the proposals to convert the former Platts Garage in Wycombe.

Councillors said the store would cause chaos on the busy A40 London Road and the proposed nine car-parking spaces were inadequate.

Planning officers said the car-park arrangements fall in line with WDC’s Car Parking Standards from the authority's adopted Local Plan.

And added Buckinghamshire County Council had raised no objections, after its database which calculates traffic volumes predicted no significant increase in traffic movement.

To which Cllr Bates said: “It seems the Highways Authority’s evidence is unchallengeable and all of our objections are not significant.

“It seems planning applications are determined on formulas which begs the question, why does this committee even exist? Why do we bother?”

A number of traders – fearful of the affect the Tesco Express will have on their own businesses – listened to Wednesday’s debate.

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Cllr Trevor Snaith, ward member for Ryemead, made an impassioned plea to members to find a way to reject and prevent the supermarket giants from “running riot on the Wycombe Marsh”.

Cllrs Alan Hill and Jean Teesdale also raised fears about parking and the impact Tesco would have on neighbouring convenience stores and takeaways.

BCC's prediction that only 12-18 new vehicle movements would visit Tesco every day - after subtracting the trips made to the site in its former guise as a car dealership - was ridiculed by Cllrs Ray Farmer, Alan Turner and Steve Lacey.

Cllr Lacey said: “Cars regularly backup along London Road in both directions past Hammersley Lane and the Cricket Club.

“It’s also a very busy junction, not just with the retail park, but also the other shops, the takeaways and there’s also the pedestrian crossing.

“This will create a nightmare, not just for the people that live around there but the whole town.

“I’ve worked in the transportation business for 40 years and BCC are talking out of their backsides. They should come down here to get a good idea [of the traffic] instead of pushing a pen sat behind a desk.”

But councillors, many with “heavy hearts”, ultimately voted nine votes to six in favour of the Tesco Express store on the advice of officers.

Tesco also plan to move into the former Golden Fleece pub in Hatters Lane.

Comments (11)

1:20pm Fri 15 Feb 13

LivingtheDream says...

The UK's biggest supermarkets are grappling for ever greater market share. Small independent stores and suppliers, and ultimately consumers, are paying a direct price in the face of unfair competition. Its all well and good being cheaper than the shop across the road but is it ethically acceptable and what is the eventual price the public consumer will have to pay!
The UK's biggest supermarkets are grappling for ever greater market share. Small independent stores and suppliers, and ultimately consumers, are paying a direct price in the face of unfair competition. Its all well and good being cheaper than the shop across the road but is it ethically acceptable and what is the eventual price the public consumer will have to pay! LivingtheDream

1:21pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Phredd says...

If you watched The Planners on TV last night, and saw how Rochdale Councillors completely ignored their own planning department, and rode roughshod over thier own policies, without allowing any discussion the, perhaps, ours isn't so bad.
If you watched The Planners on TV last night, and saw how Rochdale Councillors completely ignored their own planning department, and rode roughshod over thier own policies, without allowing any discussion the, perhaps, ours isn't so bad. Phredd

2:12pm Fri 15 Feb 13

BOOKERite says...

Once again WDC employees making decisions that should be made by our ELECTED representatives.What is democratic about that? Come on Steve Baker, do something about this situation, there definately needs to be a change in the law.
Once again WDC employees making decisions that should be made by our ELECTED representatives.What is democratic about that? Come on Steve Baker, do something about this situation, there definately needs to be a change in the law. BOOKERite

2:28pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Judge 2 says...

When this site was a car dealership, I would assume the volume of traffic would have been greater then a potential tesco?

What we got to understand is if this was rejected and Tesco's appealed to secretary of state, the likelyhood is it would get approved on appeal, wasting more of our tax payers money.

I am not in favour of a tesco here but i don't think the application could have been rejected.
When this site was a car dealership, I would assume the volume of traffic would have been greater then a potential tesco? What we got to understand is if this was rejected and Tesco's appealed to secretary of state, the likelyhood is it would get approved on appeal, wasting more of our tax payers money. I am not in favour of a tesco here but i don't think the application could have been rejected. Judge 2

2:30pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Judge 2 says...

The impact on other shops and takeaways cannot be considered a reason to reject the application.
The impact on other shops and takeaways cannot be considered a reason to reject the application. Judge 2

5:00pm Fri 15 Feb 13

townraider says...

"Cllrs Alan Hill and Jean Teesdale also raised fears about parking and the impact" ...
At least Hill voted against it !!!
Teasdale as usual says one thing and does another -- Rural Tories speak with forked tongue!!
"Cllrs Alan Hill and Jean Teesdale also raised fears about parking and the impact" ... At least Hill voted against it !!! Teasdale as usual says one thing and does another -- Rural Tories speak with forked tongue!! townraider

6:23pm Fri 15 Feb 13

YorksDavey says...

I live right next door to this site. It's hard enough parking there as a resident as it is, now its just gonna be a nightmare. Thanks planners, or rather spanners!
I live right next door to this site. It's hard enough parking there as a resident as it is, now its just gonna be a nightmare. Thanks planners, or rather spanners! YorksDavey

7:25pm Fri 15 Feb 13

yog says...

The traffic is just going to be a nightmare and now the Tories want to spend £220,000 on a crossing in Abbey Way with yet more traffic lights!!!

They will not stop until Wycombe is a car park.
The traffic is just going to be a nightmare and now the Tories want to spend £220,000 on a crossing in Abbey Way with yet more traffic lights!!! They will not stop until Wycombe is a car park. yog

7:56pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Mr Totterdge Hill says...

Sorry... parking for only 9 car's... no wonder they died as a car sales pitch!

When I built my loft extension they insisted I had parking (off road) for 3 vehicles... I don't quite get it...

However nextdoor was able to build 2 detached deluxe sheds for his needs/wants without any building or planning regs... so why not Tesco's?
Sorry... parking for only 9 car's... no wonder they died as a car sales pitch! When I built my loft extension they insisted I had parking (off road) for 3 vehicles... I don't quite get it... However nextdoor was able to build 2 detached deluxe sheds for his needs/wants without any building or planning regs... so why not Tesco's? Mr Totterdge Hill

3:34am Sat 16 Feb 13

X3SGR says...

Can't wait to start shopping in Tesco's when does it open. Bye bye Cost cutter
Can't wait to start shopping in Tesco's when does it open. Bye bye Cost cutter X3SGR

10:30am Sat 16 Feb 13

HairyJohn says...

How much of this opposition by councilors is just lip service paid to the current and potential voters? Or am I being a bit cynical?

What causes traffic problems round there is the traffic light system at the crossroads with the retail park, itself being incredibly busy at the weekend.

At least there will be nine parking spaces for the new Tesco, unlike the Costcutter which has none.

I'm with X3SGR. The sooner it opens and that empty dealership has been knocked down, the better.

If any of you don't like the idea of a new Tesco there, don't use it.
Just like the residents of Flackwell Heath who were against the new Sainsbur store, I'm sure you won't use it. Oh hang on a minute, loads of them are....
How much of this opposition by councilors is just lip service paid to the current and potential voters? Or am I being a bit cynical? What causes traffic problems round there is the traffic light system at the crossroads with the retail park, itself being incredibly busy at the weekend. At least there will be nine parking spaces for the new Tesco, unlike the Costcutter which has none. I'm with X3SGR. The sooner it opens and that empty dealership has been knocked down, the better. If any of you don't like the idea of a new Tesco there, don't use it. Just like the residents of Flackwell Heath who were against the new Sainsbur store, I'm sure you won't use it. Oh hang on a minute, loads of them are.... HairyJohn

Comments are closed on this article.

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