Twice as big Tesco plan is opposed
Plans to double the size of the Tesco store in Stalham received the thumbs down from town leaders.Members of Stalham Town Council voted six to two against the plans, as well as suggesting a series of changes if it were to receive approval.
Plans to double the size of the Tesco store in Stalham received the thumbs down from town leaders.
Members of Stalham Town Council voted six to two against the plans, as well as suggesting a series of changes if it were to receive approval.
They cited concerns including the health of the High Street, traffic flow, the need for a reduced speed limit on the A149 and the location of a recycling centre. There was also a key concern about part of the extension site, which is nominated as employment land by an overarching district development plan, but super-markets are counted as retail land.
The final decision on the plans rests with a North Norfolk District Council committee, which is expected to consider the application at a public planning meeting in mid-February. The town council is a consultee and its view will be one of many the district will consider.
Around 30 members of the public attended the town council's single- item meeting in the town hall last night, with many of those present expressing their views in a public participation session.
Town council chairman Tony Ross-Benham said there had been two working parties called before last night's gathering to assess what planning conditions should be requested if the application were to go ahead.
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One objector's main concern was traffic flow, adding: “No one will be able to get into Stalham, the whole thing is going to grind to a halt, it will isolate Stalham completely.”
Another said the design of a new roundabout which would be built on the A149 past the town as part of the plans was wrong and would cause traffic problems. One person said the planned building was “ugly”, while another said its size would separate the town and Stalham Staithe in the same manner as the Berlin Wall.
Several people said they felt Stalham businesses were just getting over the opening of the original store in 2002 and the last thing they needed was another hurdle.
On the subject of jobs which would be created by Tesco, several people said they would be cancelled out - or worse - by those lost on the High Street with closures.
A 1,700-name petition has been gathered objecting to the expansion.
