Council’s ‘irrational’ move to derail store bid
Friday 18th December 2009, 11:25AM GMT.
Shropshire Council has been branded “irrational” for trying to derail a bid to bring a new supermarket to a county town in a move which could eventually cost the public thousands of pounds, it emerged today.
The council has been ordered to pay full costs to discount supermarket chain Aldi after a recent public inquiry on plans for a new shop in Whitchurch.
But mystery surrounds the exact amount Aldi will receive because the firm and the council are still locked in negotiations.
It comes after the retail giant won the planning appeal, which has paved the way for a store on land at Meadow View, Waymills.
Government planning inspector Stephen Amos held the inquiry in Wem in October and upheld the appeal – meaning that Aldi now has planning permission.
But in a report he has criticised the council for “making an irrational decision in the absence of evidence”.
It comes after the former North Shropshire District Council controversially threw out Aldi’s bid. The planning committee went against officers’ recommendations and public support.
The council then called in experts who confirmed alternative sites were unsuitable. Mr Amos said because this was accepted by the council there was no reason for refusal on grounds of suitable alternative sites.
Shropshire Council spokesman Gareth Proffitt said: “The planning inspector ruled that Shropshire Council should pay the costs of the appeal.”
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