Latest pod plan gets thumbs down from councillors
Wednesday, 22nd October 2014.
Town councillors are objecting to the latest plan for a retail pod in a town supermarket car park.
Haverhill Town Council objected to a plan for four pods at Tesco last month, a plan which was later withdrawn by the applicants.
The latest one has come from Sainsbury's, who applied to St Edmundsbury Borough Council for a single pod in their car park, for Timpsons, dry cleaners, shoe repairers and key cutters.
The pod would result in the loss of three car parking spaces, town council members heard at their meeting on Tuesday.
Earlier they had heard a strong plea during the public forum from resident Edel Pinnock, who said there was a key cutting and shoe repairing business altready established in Queen Street since 1970.
There had also been a dry cleaning business in the town since 2008.
He predicted Timpson's would lower their prices untilthe established businesses had to close and then raise them once they were the only ones left.
"We should not allow this to happen in our town," he said. "The community should stand up and support local businesses."
When they came to debate the plan, members agreed with Mr Pinnock. Cllr Barry Robbins said they should support the local traders and Cllr Phillip French said they could not say no to Tesco and then say yes to Sainsbury's.
Cllr Pat Hanlon said they clearly wouldn't be able to do the dry cleaning in a pod so presumably it would involve lorries coming to pick the clothing up and bring it back.
Cllr Ernie Goody said he had no objection to the pod itself, but they had to protect the high street.
Committee chair Cllr Mary Martin said they had to protect the vitality of the town centre and this proposal would be detrimental to it.
Councillors agreed to tell the borough council of their objections.
Haverhill Town Council objected to a plan for four pods at Tesco last month, a plan which was later withdrawn by the applicants.
The latest one has come from Sainsbury's, who applied to St Edmundsbury Borough Council for a single pod in their car park, for Timpsons, dry cleaners, shoe repairers and key cutters.
The pod would result in the loss of three car parking spaces, town council members heard at their meeting on Tuesday.
Earlier they had heard a strong plea during the public forum from resident Edel Pinnock, who said there was a key cutting and shoe repairing business altready established in Queen Street since 1970.
There had also been a dry cleaning business in the town since 2008.
He predicted Timpson's would lower their prices untilthe established businesses had to close and then raise them once they were the only ones left.
"We should not allow this to happen in our town," he said. "The community should stand up and support local businesses."
When they came to debate the plan, members agreed with Mr Pinnock. Cllr Barry Robbins said they should support the local traders and Cllr Phillip French said they could not say no to Tesco and then say yes to Sainsbury's.
Cllr Pat Hanlon said they clearly wouldn't be able to do the dry cleaning in a pod so presumably it would involve lorries coming to pick the clothing up and bring it back.
Cllr Ernie Goody said he had no objection to the pod itself, but they had to protect the high street.
Committee chair Cllr Mary Martin said they had to protect the vitality of the town centre and this proposal would be detrimental to it.
Councillors agreed to tell the borough council of their objections.
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