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From left to right: Poynton Parish Councillor Laurence Clarke with Poynton Against Tesco campaigners Keith Lambert, Michael Durban, Steve and Meg Marsden, and Trevor Blueman
Tesco is no match for people power
5/ 3/2008
JUBILANT campaigners were celebrating "a victory for common sense" this week as Tesco’s plans for a Poynton store were rejected by the borough council.
Poynton Against Tesco (PAT) made their stand at Macclesfield Town Hall for the climactic planning committee meeting on Monday (March 3).
And, once all the facts were laid on the table, councillors unanimously voted to reject the supermarket’s application to build on London Road South.
Michael Durban, of PAT, said: "It’s a victory for common sense. We haven’t played the David and Goliath card or tugged on heart strings.
"We have stuck to the issues and conducted ourselves within the rules and made our feelings known."
In the meeting, Poynton parish councillor Laurence Clarke opened the representations against the store, and said: "This is the highest level of concern we have had for 20 years, maybe longer, for a planning application in Poynton."
Coun Clarke said the shop would increase traffic at "already one of the busiest junctions in Cheshire" and would not fit in with much of the surrounding architecture.
Mr Durban told the councillors that Tesco would "dwarf other small-scale retail units" in the village. He added that there were no "personal objections" to Tesco, but all large supermarkets which would threaten the area.
At the meeting, Steve Edgeller, for Tesco, said that two surveys each revealed that 70pc of shoppers drive out of Poynton to do their weekly shop, and this would keep them in the area.
Coun Roger West asked Mr Edgeller why a retail impact assessment – to evaluate the effects on other traders – was not carried out and submitted to the council, as requested.
Mr Edgeller replied that "perfectly enough information to make a decision was given to the council".
Outside the town hall, Keith Lambert, of PAT, said: "What’s nice is that the feelings of the community have been placed as a higher importance than the views of a big store like Tesco.
"I don’t think it’s just one thing that worked in our favour. It was the support of the community, the 7,000 name petition, the press coverage, everything really."
Meg Marsden, of PAT, added: "I’m delighted. I hope that the implications will be seen in other, similar towns where Tesco are trying to build."
After the decision, a spokesman for Tesco would not say if the multinational would appeal the decision, but said: "We are very disappointed and will wait for the full planning officer’s report before we can make any more comments."
Now Waitrose submit their plans - see this week's Macclesfield Express.
Most recent 2 of 2 user comments
Lionel Ash
5/03/2008 at 19:53
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