Fresh inquiry on Newport Sainsbury's store after inspector dies
A three-week public inquiry into plans for a huge Sainsbury's supermarket in a town in Shropshire will have to be restarted after the inspector hearing the evidence died.
Inspector Trevor Cookson heard hundreds of hours of evidence at an inquiry into plans for a 50,000sq ft on land off Station Road in Newport during January and February.
He was due to preside over the final two days of the hearing on April 25 and April 26. But the Planning Inspectorate has announced that Mr Cookson died suddenly on Tuesday.
The inquiry will now have to be re-run in its entirety on a new date to be confirmed. It is likely to cost the taxpayer thousands of pounds.
Telford & Wrekin Council has budgeted £1.5 million to spend on legal fees over bids for three supermarkets in Newport.
Two supermarkets at Mere Park and Audley Avenue were given the go-ahead by planning inspectors but were then challenged in the High Court by the local authority, costing more than £100,000. Both stores were given the go-ahead.
A significant amount of money was also spent on a QC to successfully oppose a village green application on the proposed Sainsbury's site in Station Road – but the bulk of the budget was for legal representation at the inquiry.
The council stands to net £21 million in land sales if the supermarket goes ahead.
A spokesman for the planning inspectorate said: "It is with profound regret that I must inform you that Inspector Trevor Cookson collapsed and died on Tuesday.
"His death was entirely unexpected and has come as a complete shock.
"Given that extensive inquiry evidence was heard by Mr Cookson before adjournment, it seems to the Planning Inspectorate that there is little alternative other than for the inquiry to be re-run in its entirety before a new inspector.
"This is because we feel that any decision taken the Secretary of State following a recommendation by a different inspector, on the basis of discussions and questioning at inquiry sessions heard solely by Mr Cookson could be challenged, whatever the decision was."
The two days of the inquiry later this month have been cancelled and all parties have been asked to work out a new timetable.
Telford & Wrekin Council is backing the plans for the supermarket, but members of the Save Newport Campaign Group claim that the store would kill smaller businesses in the High Street.
A spokeswoman for the campaign group said: "We extend our sincere sympathies to Mr Cookson's family."
