Determination and Vigilance
During this lengthy process your executive committee,
and especially Jan and Joe Byrne together with John Bloomfield, have ensured
that the public and the decision makers have been kept well informed of the
real situation. We have presented the case through the media, from Hadleigh
Community News through to BBC Radio 4. Reports,
both written and verbal, have been researched, prepared and submitted in turn
to the Town Council, District Council, County Council and finally to the
Inquiry.
25th September 2001 -
A Hectic Day in our Chairman’s Diary
“Having waited anxiously for so long for the letter
in the post, the morning we heard was very strange. John Bloomfield got his
post first and met me on my way home from swimming at about 7.30 with the
news. A quick phone call to the
Community News enabled us to get a last minute item in, even though it was
already at the printers. Then a series of phone calls to spread the news that
we’d beaten Tesco. Our own post arrives but no letter! Arrange to photocopy
the documents (about 150 pages). Allison from the EADT rings for comments and
wants to arrange a photo at lunchtime. They haven’t received a copy of the
report either. Ring Keith (Buyright’s legal adviser) to find that they haven’t
heard either so break the news that Buyright’s application has been turned
down. Unable to speak to Buyright’s owner as he is in Australia visiting a
new grandson. Radio Suffolk rings
to set up a phone interview for late afternoon. Gather together a group for
Allison’s photographs which we do in Sun Court’s garden. A glass of “bubbly”
and then down to earth to read the Inspector’s report and the letters
setting out the reasons for refusal.”
The Balance of Judgement
In summary, the Inspector accepts that the need for a
supermarket was proved but rejects the Tesco proposals, on the grounds that
the building was of an unsuitable design, the demolition of 109 High Street
and creation of a wide entrance would not enhance the conservation area. The
proposed mono-pitched roof and high wall would be damaging to the amenities of
Sun Court.
The Inspector also considered that the proposed road
junction would create traffic problems and would not be capable of
enhancement. She was concerned that residents would suffer from disturbance by
traffic and in particular from the sound levels produced by traffic at the
access point.
In the case of the Buyright proposal, the Inspector’s
only significant objection was that the building of a supermarket adjacent to
the existing store would create a “one-stop” shopping site from which few
people would walk into the High Street. The local shops would therefore
suffer.
A Reprieve for Our High Street?
More than anything it is a reprieve for the High Street
as a vital and viable centre of our town. However, it is unlikely to be the
end of the story.
The Inspector
doubts that the Co-op improvements will be enough to claw back money currently
spent outside the town.
Babergh
planners are currently revising the Local Plan and this issue will now be back
on their agenda.
What Next?
After this somewhat unexpected decision, what happens
now? We understand that it is
unlikely that Tesco can pursue this application any further, although they
might try a new plan. However they would have to find a different access to
the site. The only possibility we can think of would be from Bridge Street,
which would present similar or worse traffic problems than the rejected
proposal.
It has been Buyright’s declared intention, should
their application be rejected, to divide their existing store in half and use
one part as a food supermarket. They do not require any further planning
consent to do this and we can only await developments.
The Co-op received permission in 1999 to extend its
store. Will it go ahead?
Clive Paine returns to The Old Town Hall on Monday 22nd
October for our next Hadleigh Society meeting.
His previous talks have been based on thorough research of local and
national sources and recounted in a manner worthy of storytellers of old. Come
and be entertained, informed and delighted, and recommend it to your friends.
Never mind the topic, but if you’re interested, it’s the Edwardian
Reformation in Suffolk. That’s Edward VI, of course.
The Hadleigh Society is one of 80 local amenity
societies in the East of England registered with the Civic Trust. These have
grouped with the active encouragement of the East of England Development
Organisation, EEDA which has access to European Development Funds.
The Second AGM, being held on Saturday 13th
October in the Old Town Hall from 2pm, will be completed by a talk from a
senior executive of the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Hadleigh Society Members are welcome to attend. With John Bloomfield as
a member of the Group’s Executive Committee the Hadleigh Society will be
showing off our town with guided tours for the participants.