Decision day brings deadlock over Bridgnorth shop proposal
They may have won over councillors – but protesters are yet to win the war against a controversial shopping development.
Members of Shropshire Council's south planning committee were "minded to refuse" an application for five retail units on the Old Smithfield site in Bridgnorth, which is currently used as a car park.
But as the authority's solicitors were concerned that the reasons for refusal were not concrete – and that an appeal may be won – officers will do some more research and the committee will meet again at a later date to either confirm the refusal or accept the proposal.
They were just a fraction of the roughly 6,800 residents who signed a petition led by Bridgnorth Chamber of Commerce against the development.
Planning officers at Shirehall had recommended approval for the plans, stating that it would "claw back trade lost to other towns".
John Liggins, managing director of Ziran Land Ltd, told the committee yesterday that a previous planning application for a DIY store with 136 spaces had previously been approved.
He said: "This development will bring benefits to Bridgnorth unlike the previous application.
"This planning application has been carefully prepared, working with the officers.
"We are seeking to pay for extra spaces at Innage Lane car park and new signage in the area.
"I am aware of the petition but since it was started we have made improvements to our plans. We fully agree with officers, there are no planning grounds for refusal in this application."
Stephen Robbins, chairman of Bridgnorth Chamber of Commerce, spoke against the development at the committee.
He said: "The biggest objection is the impact it will have on parking in the town.
"The previous planning application was 10 years ago, before more recent houses have been built.
"Bridgnorth suffers from poor air quality in this location and the report states that the development will make this worse."
The chamber runs a free park and ride scheme for the public throughout the summer months, paid for by the traders.
Mr Robbins said: "It's paid for by the traders who are losing five per cent yearly if the development is built. No park and ride, no parking, no customers."
Bridgnorth Town Council had previously opposed the plans because of the lack of parking.
Town councillor David Cooper said: "The total capacity for cars in Bridgnorth car parks is 945, about 10 per cent would be lost if the plans are accepted."
Christian Lea, Shropshire councillor for Bridgnorth, said that the town would not be competing with big shopping destinations.
He said: "Bridgnorth will never be able to compete with Merry Hill and Telford. It offers something different, a personal service, along with a number of national retailers.
"Having four shops and a café will not stop people shopping out of town. We need to preserve what Bridgnorth has to offer in terms of independent retailers.
"The developers are bound to paint a positive picture of everything being positive, they will go into the sunset, money in the bank, never to be seen again."
Councillor Andy Boddington, who sits on the planning committee,
said: "I'm quite concerned about the way the case has been built, as it doesn't recognise the reality of modern shopping in specialised market towns."
But Councillor Gwilym Butler said he had been put off shopping in Bridgnorth as it doesn't have everything.
He said: "What are we delivering for people who don't have a car? If a child comes home from school on Monday night and needs new trousers they can't get to Telford before the next morning, without a car.
"I feel this is the best of a bad job."
Councillors voted to "be minded to refuse" the application, which will be discussed again at a later date.
Mr Robbins said after the committee that it was a positive outcome.
He said: "I was encouraged by the fact the majority of councillors understood that Bridgnorth is not a town that is trying to compete with Telford or Merry Hill, and that building retail units on one of the town centre car parks would jeopardise the future for independent traders in the High Street.
"It was disappointing that the officials at Shropshire Council have clearly worked with the developers to help them and totally ignored the arguments put to them by so many people who will be affected by these plans."
Sue Bailey, representative of Ziran Land Ltd, said: "Obviously we're disappointed an actual decision hasn't been made, we will continue to work with the officers to ensure that things move forward.
"We want there to be a good outcome for the town and will continue to work with all the people involved."
