Councillors in the dark over new store
DISCOUNT retail chain Lidl has been given the go-ahead for a new Bodmin store without the plans being discussed by Cornwall councillors.
The news has concerned members of Bodmin Town Council who were unaware of the decision made under delegated powers by a planning officer until contacted yesterday by the Cornish Guardian.
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Cornwall councillor Lance Kennedy, who represents the ward in which the retail store will be built, was also in the dark about the planning consent.
Linda Spear, chairman of the town council's properties committee, said it was "worrying'' that such a major application affecting Bodmin had gone through without discussion at a Cornwall Council planning committee.
Lidl has now moved in to demolish the former police station on Priory Road to make way for the supermarket which the company hopes will be open by next Christmas.
The retailer said it was expected up to 30 full and part-time jobs would be created.
Cllr Spear said it was a surprise to her to learn that the store had already been given the green light.
Access problems
Her council was particularly concerned over possible access problems at the junction to Priory Road.
"This is news to me. Some time ago Lidl made a presentation to the town council and we gave them a few things to think about, but I certainly didn't know that everything has now been done and dusted and they've been given approval.
"It's extremely worrying to learn that such a major application has been granted planning approval without it going to a formal planning committee to be discussed,'' she said.
It emerged this week that Lidl was given planning consent in September, but the town's business community were also unaware of it.
Surprise
Bodmin Chamber of Commerce chairman, Chris Wilkes, said although his members were broadly in favour of the new store opening, he didn't know the plans had been approved.
"It does surprise me, because I was aware there were a few niggly problems that were yet to be sorted out with the application – certainly no one has been in touch with the chamber to say approval had been given,'' said Mr Wilkes.
Cllr Kennedy said yesterday: "No, I didn't know the planning decision had been made. I was still waiting for the application to come through.
"I had concerns, like a number of people, about the potentially dangerous access junction, and it will be something that now has to be monitored.''
A spokeswoman from Cornwall Council confirmed the decision to allow the store was delegated to a planning officer.
" The delegated scheme does not require all major applications to be determined by the planning committee.
"The town council supported the scheme and there is also reference in the notes to support for the scheme from the chamber of commerce,'' she said.
9 Comments
by cheekyman, Redruth
Monday, March 15 2010, 10:11AM
“John - don't forget the plethora of over priced coffee shops in Truro as well...I used to love going to Truro...but I've stopped going ever since it became the same as every other struggling English town...what was once a great town has now just become pathetic...it's very sad, but the same everywhere in Cornwall...”
by John, Truro
Friday, March 12 2010, 1:44PM
“Maria we have the same problem in Truro, No toy shop like Toys r Us, do decent size cinema like a Warner Village only phone shops, charity shops and food shops!”
by maria, bodmin
Friday, March 12 2010, 8:44AM
“The employment aspect is great but really do we need another food supermarket with the recent arrival of iceland...yet another shop that only sells a small variety of a weekly shop? when are we going to get something useful....like oh i dont know a decent clothes shop?”
by neil, wadebridge
Thursday, March 11 2010, 3:31PM
“I wish they'd push Sainsburys in Wadebridge through this quickly!”
by Brenda Lana Smith R af D, Bodmin
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 2:53PM
“@cheekyman, Redruth
On the flip side of your valid green concern, Cheekyman¿ lots of us Bodminite LIDL shoppers will no longer have to motor back and forth to Wsdebridge to satisfy our LIDL only available needs¿”
by cheekyman, Redruth
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 2:37PM
“I think the worrying thing is that this area is part of the Air Quality Management Area in Bodmin, as the increase in cars travelling along the road will almost certainly impact on Dennison Road which is one of the most polluted roads in Cornwall (so I'm led to believe).”
by Brenda Lana Smith R af D, Bodmin
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 2:03PM
“From my MacJournal:
2008-08-19, Tuesday...
21.30 Pleased to read online that LIDL has bought and plans to knock down the present Bodmin police station and build a supermarket there the size of their Wadebridge store... I figure that the earliest opening will be late 2009 or early 2010... either way I look forward to shopping there...
UNQUOTE¿
Brenda Lana Smith, R.af D.
Bodmin”
by Steve, PZ
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 1:55PM
“How dare Lidel go ahead without giving the Bodmin council their drink.”
by Nick Walter, Bodmin
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 1:25PM
“Great to see all the usual democratic channels conveniently bypassed.
A perfect example of why residents feel totally disenfranchised by "the system." What is the point of elected representatives if they are completely powerless? Why have those elected representatives not been keeping up to speed with the Lidl planning application? Surely if they had been doing what we elect them to do, questions could and should have been raised much earlier.
In my experience, if you wait until you are told you wait until its too late and it now seems too late to make any amendments to the application.
Rather than our elected representatives throwing up their arms in disbelief that they knew nothing, we need them to take responsibility , act on our behalf and not let these situations develop. It all rather smacks of gross unprofessionalism and a total disregard of residents.
Lastly, I must say I thought (judging by the coverage in the Cornish Guardian last year) that Lidl coming to Bodmin was a "done deal", so this is all very surprising that so many people feel, well, surprised!
Looking forward to Lidl's arrival, but sad and sick to the pit of my stomach at yet another blow to local democracy.”