Newport supermarket plan could still be passed
Plans for a discount food store in Newport which council planners claim could hit the town's "fragile" economy could still get the go ahead because it will now go to a public inquiry, it has been revealed today. Plans for a discount food store in Newport which council planners claim could hit the town's "fragile" economy could still get the go ahead because it will now go to a public inquiry, it has been revealed today. Telford & Wrekin Council planning officers along with several other objectors are against the proposals for land at Mere Park off Stafford Road but the matter is now out of the authority's hands. The borough council failed to give a decision on the application within 13 weeks as it is required to by law and so the plan is now to go to a public inquiry on August 10 when a Government inspector will decide the outcome.
Plans for a discount food store in Newport which council planners claim could hit the town's "fragile" economy could still get the go ahead because it will now go to a public inquiry, it has been revealed today.
Telford & Wrekin Council planning officers along with several other objectors are against the proposals for land at Mere Park off Stafford Road but the matter is now out of the authority's hands.
The borough council failed to give a decision on the application within 13 weeks as it is required to by law and so the plan is now to go to a public inquiry on August 10 when a Government inspector will decide the outcome.
Growing Enterprises Ltd wants to build a new 1,556sq m unit on land east of and fronting Newport by-pass.
A report to a meeting of the council's plans board, which will meet on Wednesday, says the company had assessed the site as suitable for a discount retail food store, such as Netto, Aldi or Lidl.
Objections
The plans board will hear that the application has prompted a string of objections, notably from Newport Town Council which was unanimously opposed to the plan.
The town council fears the plan would mean over-developing the land which was, until a few years ago, still a greenfield site and it would also be an out-of-town location which could draw trade away from Newport High Street.
Newport Civic Society has objected on numerous grounds, along with ward Councillor Adrian Meredith, Chetwynd Aston and Woodcote Parish Council, the Newport Liberal Democrat group and the people behind a planned food store in Audley Avenue.
Eight letters of support for the Growing Enterprises proposal have been received by the borough council.
The report to the plans board says the application will now be the subject of a public inquiry as the council failed to determine the matter in time and an inspector will decide whether or not to grant permission.
The report concludes that, if the council had the say in deciding the application, it would object on a number of grounds.
By Simon Hardy