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Search forBattle against store giant's East Devon proposal goes on
Thursday, November 20, 2008, 08:16
Members of the No Tesco Relocation action group from Honiton gave evidence during the six- day planning inquiry.
Tesco was appealing against East Devon District Council's refusal to allow it to relocate its Honiton supermarket from Battishorne Way to Ottery Moor Lane.
Inquiry inspector David Nicholson heard that the new store, covering an area of more than 50,000 sq ft, would be the company's biggest in the Exeter area and 10,000 sq ft larger than its outlet at Clyst Heath, Exeter.
Adrian Thomas, counsel for the East Devon authority, said in his closing submission that local shopkeepers would suffer greatly in lost trade.
"We have heard that there would be £1.9m in lost trade to local shops if this goes ahead," he said.
He pointed out that shopkeepers had suffered loss of business since Tesco opened a store at Cullompton and many feared a supermarket proposed by Tesco at Seaton would add to their woes.
Mr Thomas also said that land zoned for employment included Ottery Moor Lane and should be protected for future jobs.
"The Local Plan has identified 40 hectares as employment land in East Devon," he said.
Adrian Elvin, counsel for Tesco, said that the company needed to relocate because the Battishorne Way store was now too small.
"The long queues at the check-outs exacerbate the problems," he said.
"Evidence is that the opening of the present store in 1995 had no significant adverse effect on the performance of the town centre.
"Survey evidence from 1998 shows that 55 per cent of all Tesco shoppers visited the town centre once a week or more and 38 per cent intended to visit it on the same trip."
Opponents, including the town's chamber of commerce, disagreed, claiming the store took trade away.
Frank Horrell, of the action group, said that the fight would go on until the appeal decision, which could take weeks or months, comes from the Secretary of State.
Action group member Sheila McBrearty feared heavy traffic in Ottery Moor Lane.
Her worries were supported by local residents Keith and Josephine Tytherleigh, who said that a high bank in the lane would disappear and they would face traffic lights outside their home.
Rosemary Aplin was concerned that her home in Ottery Moor Lane would be overlooked if a new factory had to relocate should Tesco win the appeal.
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