MP URGES COUNCIL TO PROCEED CAUTIOUSLY OVER TESCO'S PLANS IN BARNSTAPLE
January 12, 2010 10:37 AM
North Devon MP NICK HARVEY has urged North Devon Council to take new planning guidance from the Government fully into account before arriving at a decision on Tesco's latest planning application for Seven Brethren bank in Barnstaple.
"There are very strong feelings in the town about the application, and it is important not only that justice is done but that it is seen to be done. The council should not proceed too quickly here.
"Concerns have been expressed to me that the council's financial crisis may provide an incentive to agree Tesco's application in order to get their hands on the financial dividend which would come from selling the land to Tesco.
"The council must do the right thing in its judgement, but it must not look as if it is doing so in a hurry or by cutting corners," said the MP.
The Government's new guidance is explained further in the following briefing:
www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/briefings/snsc-01106.pdf
It was largely written up at the time as making it more difficult for supermarkets to build new stores, but not everyone sees it that way:
http://www.brownfieldbriefing.com/news/retail-needs-test-killed-quietly-over-christmas
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