Hadleigh council refuses to back Tesco
Tesco's goal of building a new store in a town has been overwhelmingly rejected by a town council.
Hadleigh councillors voted 12-1 against Tesco being allowed to build a superstore on the former Brett Works site.
During a volatile debate in the Guildhall on Tuesday, residents appealed to councillors to reject the proposals.
Some also objected to Babergh District Council having the final decision on the planning application, as it sold the land to Tesco last year.
Amid claims the supermarket would be "monstrous and damaging" to the town and the environment – the planning application was given the thumbs-down.
Penny Cooke, town councillor and chairman of its planning committee, said: "It is totally in the wrong place – the area might be an eyesore at the moment, but a supermarket will not improve it and I have great concerns about the traffic problems."
She said claims by Tesco that more shoppers would visit the High Street were groundless.
"Tesco is a one-stop-shop, that's the whole point of it," she added.
Town councillors voted 12-1 against giving their backing to all three planning applications needed for the proposed store:
No to the demolition of Bridge House for an access road;
No to the removal and realignment of a retaining wall on Iron Bridge to create more room for delivery lorries; and
No to the development of a 3,055-sq-metre and a 142-square-metre retail unit on the Brett Works site – including relocation of allotments and part of the Bridge Street car park.
The council's views will be forwarded to Babergh.
Keith Grimsey, a town councillor, was the one backing the plans.
He said: "Hadleigh is a low-wage area – especially in the north of the town – and the investment in jobs will be vital for a town that is growing.
"People here have the right to cheap food without having to drive to other towns to get it."
Babergh is due to make the final decision on Tesco's planning application later this year.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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