Legal action threatens Truro Waitrose plans
Plans for a new supermarket and park and ride site in Cornwall are almost certain to face a major legal challenge that could stop the scheme in its tracks.
In addition to the new Waitrose store and parking, the Truro Eastern District Centre (TEDC) also includes plans for more than 100 houses and a recycling centre.
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Waitrose
But the controversial multi-million pound project is facing a major threat in the form of legal action from Truro City Council.
It has now been given permission by the High Court to pursue a Judicial Review into the planning approval for the scheme granted by Cornwall Council.
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The project is backed by Waitrose, the Duchy of Cornwall, Cornwall Council and Taste of Cornwall which accused the city council of being "out of touch with the electorate".
Roger Gazzard, clerk of Truro City Council, said: "It would be an example of how not to develop on the edge of a precious rural market town that has a beautiful agricultural landscape setting and a fragile retail economy.
"Cornwall Council, the Duchy of Cornwall and Waitrose would produce, in a beautiful valley in open countryside, an isolated suburban ribbon of development."
The city council has agreed to set aside £45,000 for legal battles in this year's budget and is also considering a Judicial Review against the planning permission for 1,500 homes near Threemilestone.
Elwyn Jones, chairman of Taste for Cornwall and a partner in the proposed TEDC, said: "I am naturally disappointed on behalf of Cornish agriculture when we are trying to satisfy the current accelerated demand for local produce and feel that TCC are completely out of touch with their electorate and their attempts to frustrate the democratic planning process do not serve their electorate well."
A spokesman for Cornwall Council said: "Cornwall Council welcomes the High Court's decision to bring forward without delay the hearing into Truro City Council's judicial review in respect of the Truro Eastern District Centre.
"We are confident that the decision to award planning permission is lawful and we will be robustly defending the application."
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by Gurnards_Head
Monday, March 11 2013, 8:53PM
“THE DUKE OF CORNWALL STATED ON COUNTRYFILE YESTERDAY THAT THE COUNTRYSIDE IS MORE PRECIOUS THAN ANY CATHEDERAL... MOST RIGHT THINKING PEOPLE WILL AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH HIM... THEREFORE COULD HE PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY THE BEAUTIFUL TREGURRA VALLEY ON THE EASTERN OUTSKIRTS OF TRURO THAT HE HAPPENS TO OWN IS TO BE SACRIFICED TO BUILD A SUPERMARKET... MANY OF US COULD BE FORGIVEN FOR THINKING THE DUKE IS BEING A TAD HYPOCRITICAL WHERE PROFIT FROM THE SALE OF A BLOCK PRISTINE FARMLAND HE OWNS FOR DEVELOPMENT IS CONCERNED WHEN ANYONE ELSE WOULD PROBABLY BE CASTIGATED BY THE DUKE IF THEY DID THE SAME... DOUBLE STANDARDS... OR NOT?”
by josdave
Monday, March 11 2013, 10:47AM
“This is vandalism of the countryside on a large scalke and will do nothing to improve the lot of anyone in or around Truro. The country does not need any more supermarkets as there are more than enough already. The government consistently tells us that the small businesses are the backbone of the retail trade and at the same time allowing supermarkets to sprout up wherever they please and drive small businesses out. On top of that they want food production to increase while allowing good arable land to be built on while at the same time ignoring all the thousands of brownfield sites available.”
by dee_2
Monday, March 11 2013, 10:40AM
“Well done Truro City Council. It's a great pity that other town and parish councils do not do more to protect 'their' land. If they don't do it, who will? One thing is for certain: Cornwall Council will be doing its best to develop every last field. Planning applications and Section 106 agreements are about its only way of raising money to remunerate overpaid officers and councillors. They were bad enough before the LibDemCon government decided to cut Cornwall's income.
Keep up the good work, Truro.”
by MarjProops
Monday, March 11 2013, 9:45AM
“More tax payers money being wasted for the sake of a few niby's...”
by max5500
Sunday, March 10 2013, 9:23PM
“I'm not so bothered by the new Waitrose, choice is good and it will create pernament jobs. I strongly object to the 100 new houses. There are no jobs in Cornwall so what are the people living in these new houses going to do? Also, the development only creates temporary jobs for the developers, and the ones who make the most money don't even live in Cornwall. The most outragious thing is that this development cuts right through the green belt and creates huge urban sprall. These regulations and rules are what we 'the little people' have to comply with. But not Cornwall Council, the ones who set the rules. Anything can be built anywhere as long as their huge salaries are topped up abit. I prey this development, or atleast the housing element of it is stopped.”
by Dantwo
Sunday, March 10 2013, 7:10PM
“Any adverse comment regarding HRH is treason. The world's greenest man is currently on Countryfile telling us all how, er, green he is.
Let's be clear about this: Cornwall is inundated with supermarkets, we don't need any more.
And we certainly don't need all the new houses proposed by our friends in the Duchy aided and abetted by Cornwall Council.
Meanwhile our precious irreplaceable landscape is being whittled away, bit by bit. One day, hopefully, the nation will wake from its deep sleep.”
by kernewekonan
Sunday, March 10 2013, 3:43PM
“seems to me that truro city council are anti supermarket. not long ago they stuck their noses in the affairs of st, austell over sainsburys and m&s.”
by Trecurnow
Sunday, March 10 2013, 3:15PM
“In Penzance Cornwall Council planning department thought it was acceptable to have a third (unwanted) supermarket on the site of the lifeline heliport link to hhe Isles of Sciily carrying almost 100000 passengers per annum.
I am afraid that until we get rid of them there is no hope - they must be in some secret deal with the supermarkets.”
by MikeH
Sunday, March 10 2013, 11:57AM
“Charles is an environmental vandal and utter hypocrite who has no right to sell/develop land that belongs to the people for his own profit..
From the BBC today:
Prince Charles urges 'harmony with nature'
Britons must "work in harmony with nature" to preserve rural areas for the benefit of "our successors, particularly grandchildren", the Prince of Wales has told the BBC.
http://tinyurl.com/ayhuakf
Cornwall has enough brown field ex industrial sites perfect for development without tearing up even more of our beautiful countryside.”
by Travis512
Sunday, March 10 2013, 1:21AM
“I would like to know how many of the people objecting to this development ever stopped to appreciate this site prior to the announcement of the development?
I also feel that supermarkets provide an extremely valuable service to the public. There will always be a place for the farmers market that will continue to be supported by those who want to support the local farmers, but for me, I quite frankly don't have the time. There is a reason why the supermarkets are so successful. If I had a choice, and both the supermarket and the farmers market we're on the same site, I would choose the supermarket every time, and I suspect many more would too.
It is also a pity that the many who will benefit from these changes and development are also too busy being productive to voice their support.
I you don't support the project because you want to continue shopping at your local famers shop, then continue buy from them in the future, but please don't deprive others of the choice.”