COUNCILLORS have thrown out plans to build a new Tesco.
And they cited traffic concerns as the main reason, saying the roads around the development site couldn’t cope with the extra traffic.
Opponents of the proposed Holmfirth supermarket clapped as the vote was taken at Huddersfield Town Hall yesterday afternoon.
Thirteen of the 14 members of Kirklees Council’s Huddersfield Planing Sub-committee voted to refuse permission for the Tesco development at the former Midlothian Garage site following a three-hour debate.
The company’s plan to build a supermarket on the derelict land off New Mill Road had divided opinion in the Holme Valley town, with 15 speakers for and 15 against at yesterday’s meeting.
Kirklees officers had recommended refusal, saying the roads around the site couldn’t cope with the increased traffic.
They predicted that a new Tesco at the Midlothian site would increase traffic on nearby Heys Road by 109% at peak times. Luke Lane would see a 71% rise and Miry Lane would have to cope with 26% more vehicles.
The officials accepted that the Holme Valley needs a new supermarket – but said there was a better site on land off Woodhead Road in Honley currently occupied by Keith Drake’s agricultural merchants and Kirklees Highways department.
Click here to see our gallery of those 'for and against'.
Alex Bray, who lives on Heys Road near Midlothian, told councillors that he would leave Holmfirth if the development went ahead.
“I wouldn’t really want to bring up a family in an area where, every time you step outside, you are threatened by traffic,” he said.
“It would drive me to live somewhere else.”
Martin Smith, of environmental group Holmfirth Transition Town, called the Tesco plan “mediocre and risky” and predicted it would “promote traffic congestion”.
Keep Holmfirth Special chairman Margaret Dale told the meeting that her group didn’t oppose supermarkets, but believed the Midlothian site was unsuitable.
“The traffic level will be intolerable,” she said.
“Congestion will deter people from visiting the area.”
Mark Lewis, chairman of Wooldale Co-operative Society, predicted that a new Tesco would cause his shop to lose 20% of its trade – about £400,000 a year.
“I’m very pessimistic about our ability to continue trading if this development succeeds,” he said.
Brian Rooks, of pro-Tesco group Holme Valley Voices, told the meeting that his group spoke for “at least 60 to 70%” of people in Holmfirth who backed the Midlothian plan.
Source: www.examiner.co.uk
Sussex's Luke Wright thrilled by England T20 call-up - BBC News
Sussex all-rounder Luke Wright is delighted to have been named in England's 30-man provisional squad for the World Twenty20.
The 27-year-old has not represented his country since June last year.
He told BBC Sussex: "It's been a while that I've been out of the reckoning so it's nice to be noticed again.
"I'd have been disappointed if I wasn't in it after doing well for the last year. There's a lot of good names so it'll be tough getting into the 15."
Wright has played 30 Twenty20 internationals for England but has not appeared since the nine-wicket defeat by Sri Lanka in Bristol over a year ago.
The Grantham-born player missed the second half of the 2011 campaign after undergoing surgery on a knee injury.
With England ranked as the top Twenty20 side in the world by the ICC, Wright is aware he has a battle to regain his place in the national side.
"I got injured and other players take your place," he continued.
"England have done so well over the last year or two and it's a very tough team to break into, which is a good thing for England.
"I'm desperate to get in there but I understand why people are playing there.
"It's up to you to put pressure on them and if they slip up, then hopefully you get a go."
Luke Wright“It would be lovely to go out to Sri Lanka and defend the title. It would be a great opportunity”
Wright, who was a part of England's title-winning team in 2010, has been in impressive form with the bat in T20 since his return to full fitness.
He hit a century off only 44 balls for the Melbourne Stars in the Australian competition, and has averaged 44.00 in this season's domestic tournament with the Sussex Sharks.
Wright says he will focus on his form with Sussex in a bid to make England's final 15-man squad, which must be decided by 18 August.
"There's plenty more games to put in a few more performances and try and push my name forward even more," he continued.
"First and foremost, it's trying to win a trophy for Sussex.
"As soon as you get too far ahead [of yourself] that's when you start to struggle.
"That's why I've done pretty well over the last year. I've been in my own bubble by going out and trying to enjoy games."
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Tesco pulls out of plan for new Northampton store - Northampton Chronicle
The supermarket giant had been in talks with Royal Mail to take over the abandoned Northampton building since the beginning of 2010.
But just days before the development was due to be given planning permission by Northampton Borough Council, the company yesterday made the shock announcement that it was no longer interested in the scheme.
A statement issued to the Chron last night said: “Following detailed discussions with Royal Mail, we have decided not to proceed as tenants for the proposed Barrack Road store.
“We understand this news may be disappointing but were keen to announce our decision prior to the application being considered by the council.
“We will continue to serve our customers to the best of our ability from our existing stores across Northampton.”
The news has been met with shock by local politicians, who had hoped Tesco would rejuvenate the dilapidated area around the sorting office.
Councillor Winston Strachan (Lab, Castle) represents the Barrack Road area on Northampton Borough Council.
He said: “It’s a real disappointment because I really wanted something positive to happen there. Unemployment is high in that area and there’s not much happening there so I thought Tesco opening up would have really helped.”
The sorting office closed in 2003 after a major fire swept through the building.
Councillor Strachan said: “It looks terrible now, just like a prison with barbed wire and fences all around it. I hope it won’t stay like that for another 10 years.”
Royal Mail last night told the Chron they were “disappointed” with Tesco’s decision.
The Chronicle & Echo first revealed in January 2010 that Tesco was in talks with Royal Mail to redevelop the site of the former sorting office in Barrack Road, which was hit by a fire in 2003.
In June 2011, Royal Mail confirmed a deal had been signed with Tesco to redevelop the site.
The scheme was due to be given planning permission by Northampton Borough Council during a meeting at the Guildhall next week.
Only 12 members of the public had objected to plans for the Tesco development. They had raised concerns about the impact of traffic from the store.
Source: www.northamptonchron.co.uk
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