Lewes MP and Transport Minister Norman Baker has slammed the decision by Lewes District Council to grant planning permission for a new Asda store in Newhaven and to refuse the application for a new Tesco store.
Asda won the decision over the Arrowcroft development following a council meeting last Wednesday.
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Norman Baker at Newhaven Port
Mr Baker whose Lewes parliamentary seat includes Newhaven warned that the decision may be "an error of historic proportions" wvhich could have serious implications for the town.
Mr Baker says that by favouring the Asda site the decision could undermine the commercial viability of what is left of the retail sector in Newhaven.
Mr Baker said: "Newhaven is at a crossroads and the council's planning committee has chosen absolutely the wrong turning."
He believes that job prospects in the town will suffer by allowing housing and retail developments to be built on industrial land that had previously been protected and that the decision will divert planning resources towards a dead-end road that Newhaven Port says it does not want or need.
Mr Baker says that this will undermine a masterplan for the port which could threaten the port's future which is a vital part of the local economy.
Mr Baker said: "I generally do not comment on planning decisions, as these are properly a matter for the elected local council, but I cannot stay silent on this one. The planning committee has ignored its own officers' recommendation to defer the decision for two months, and taken a bizarre decision which I fear may be very harmful for the future of the town and for the port in particular. They have made an error of historic and far-reaching proportions."
Lewes District Council were asked to comment on the decision but were unable to respond in 24 hours.
Source: www.thisissussex.co.uk
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