Planning Committee – 21/6/2011 – Part 5 – APP/11/ 00065 – Townfield Close, Claughton – Demolition of an existing petrol filling station and erection of Class A1 retail unit

Cllr Foulkes said that fairly immediately after the new Tesco opened in Claughton Village, the Spar went under. The Post Office managed to survive, but its support shop went under. They had fought long and hard to keep Post Offices which were vital for the elderly and disabled. If this application was approved it would … Continue reading “Planning Committee – 21/6/2011 – Part 5 – APP/11/ 00065 – Townfield Close, Claughton – Demolition of an existing petrol filling station and erection of Class A1 retail unit”

Cllr Foulkes said that fairly immediately after the new Tesco opened in Claughton Village, the Spar went under. The Post Office managed to survive, but its support shop went under. They had fought long and hard to keep Post Offices which were vital for the elderly and disabled. If this application was approved it would probably sound the death knell for the Post Office. The Localism Bill gave more reasons regarding detriments to amenities enjoyed locally. Cllr Foulkes thought this was the wrong development for a residential area. A thousand people had put pen to paper. If it was appealed, the inspector would have to take the views of local people into account and refuse the application.

Cllr Elderton (the chair) said that six issues had been raised on which he asked officers to comments.
1) whether the conditions could be enforce on a private site
2) parking in Townfield Close
3) the added conditions regarding deliveries (and times) and how enforceable this was
4) the effect on neighbouring shopping areas
5) the viability of the Post Office
6) taking this application on its merits and not taking account of other decisions.

Cheryl Barry replied that the conditions were enforceable. She was satisfied regarding enforcement of the highways matters. She couldn’t comment regarding the parking. Regarding neighbouring shopping areas, the previous application had not had to go through that process. They had gone through the process to comply with national policy guidelines which required them to consider the impact on Town Centres and shopping areas. Examples would be the local shops and Post Office. This was a national and regional study and she agreed with its findings.

The Chair asked about the Post office, deliveries and the viability of the Post Office.

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