People power hailed for Tesco rejection (From Bucks Free Press)

People power hailed for Tesco rejection

10:29pm Wednesday 13th August 2008 in News By James Nadal

THE rejection of a proposal for a new Tesco convenience store has been hailed as a victory for people power by the chairman of Bourne End Residents Association tonight.

An amended plan to redevelop the old police house in the Parade, Bourne End, with a Tesco express and four flats was turned down by Wycombe District Council.

Chairman Jim Penfold who has campaigned against the proposal since it was first put forward said: "We have got the end result we wanted but only as a result of intense pressure from the Bourne End residents.

"Clearly I'm very happy that it has been refused but I felt, as was pointed out by councillor Fowke and Pollock, that the refusal needed to be as robust as possible. The people of Bourne End feel very passionately about it and this is a victory for them."

He added that he thought the county highways report was not consistent with its findings from a previous application that recorded four traffic related injuries.

District Cllr Simon Fowke, who represents Bourne End said: "I'm very pleased that the officers have to come to this decision in respect that there's not a need for it."

He said traffic and road safety were important issues and that he found it "bizarre" that an officer involved in the highways report from Buckinghamshire County Council had taken "umbridge that an independent survey was carried out."

Bourne End residents hired an independent consultant because it was unhappy with the conclusions of the county council.

The supermarket giant had initially proposed eight flats in October 2007 but reduced the number after concerns were raised.

Officers recommended the new application be rejected because "the council is not satisfied that there is a quantitative need for any additional convenience store of the suggested proposal to serve Bourne End."

Their report also said it "could result in the closure of existing stores in the district centre which is likely to have an additional impact on the vitality and viability of the Bourne End local district centre."

However, Cllr Clive Harriss warned that it might not be the final chapter in the story.

He said: " My one concern is that we have here before us another application from a substantial company which will come back and come back until they get it right."