Supermarket Applications
Following the Chamber-run meeting at the Kings Arms in November, the Chamber received a mandate to respond to the supermarket plans. On behalf of the RETAIL section of our members, we have advised both supermarkets that we will oppose either application.
In more detail:
Sainsbury’s
We feel that the size and range of products on sale at Sainsbury’s will adversely effect the High Street. They have agreed to reduce the non-food sales area to 12.5% of the total, but that still represents a store the size of Knees. We also would expect that this area would ‘grow’ once the store is open.
We do not believe that the ‘hopper’ bus will bring shoppers from the store to the town.
In addition, the extra work units which are currently B1/B2 use (light industrial) may well be changed if the main application is granted, to A1/A2 (retail) and further affect the High Street.
The car park at Sainsbury’s will not improve the parking problems of Malmesbury in any way.
At the meeting, there was no support at all for the Sainsbury’s application.
Your Chamber is also writing to the Planning Dept at WCC to request a two week extension to the period of public negotiation as due to the application being submitted on 22/12, time was ‘lost’ over Christmas.
Waitrose
Although we oppose this application as well, the meeting did vote that this was the better of the two applications, and would be more acceptable to the High Street.
The reasons are simple, it’s a smaller (more commensurate with the size of Malmesbury) food-only store, the car parking would include some long term stay on the south side of the town (where there is none currently), and it is within a 15 minute walk of the town.
The question of who controls the car park, and whether it would be charged at the extortionate rates of the Wiltshire run Station Road, is an argument we will be having with the planners.
HOW IS YOUR CHAMBER WORKING ON THIS ?
Neighbourhood Forum
We are the only business representative on the Neighbourhood Forum. We have attended three meetings so far, and will attend all future ones.
This group of 21 ‘interested parties’ is charged with designing the Neighbourhood Plan (NP) for Malmesbury and its surrounds.
Briefly, the Localism Bill passed recently by Parliament, mean that planning is devolved to the county councils, who have to adhere to an overall ‘Core Strategy’. How they do this is up to them, but they have to deliver certain elements (housing, roads, education etc) by an agreed date (2026).
To do this they can allow areas to develop their own Neighbourhood Plan, in which that area must deliver their ‘share’ of the Core Strategy. If an area does not have a NP, then they will be forced to do whatever the County Council tells them.
So its important.
Malmesbury has applied for, and got, ‘Front Runner’ Status, which means that Malmesbury gets support in being one the first areas in the UK to develop its own NP. The government is providing funding to allow the foundation to specifically support http://simonkillane.mycouncillor.org.uk/house-building-plans/vanguard-neighbourhood/">Front Runners.
The Neighbourhood Forum will prepare this plan, and your Chamber will be part of that.
In order to assist the Forum, we have now agreed to work with the http://princes-foundation.org/">Princes Foundation For The Built Environment (at no cost to the town or the Forum). These are a team of experts in all aspects of planning, and will ‘guide’ the Forum. Here is a link to the memorandum of understanding that we have agreed with them. http://simonkillane.mycouncillor.org.uk/files/2011/12/MOU-Malmesbury_CLG_21-12-111.pdf">MOU- Princes Foundation & Forum – 21-12-11
The will look at Malmesbury with sympathetic, unbiased, eyes, without any of the baggage or pre-conceptions that other organisations may have. This has given us a great chance to get invaluable support with our neighbourhood plan.
In order to prepare this paper, they will be carrying out a 3½ day fact finding exercise including workshops with all interested sectors, including business and retail,. Here is a link to the Princes Foundation http://youtu.be/06NfOESMGNs">Enquiry By Design process. This is the process that we will use
The initial public meeting will be on 24th Feb (DATE FOR YOUR DIARY), in the evening, and the business workshop will follow on either 25th or 26th February. The Chamber will be involved and would strongly suggest that if you have a view you also attend.
Minutes of the meeting and more details can be found here Please note that 2 are in draft form and will be officially approved at the next meeting.
http://simonkillane.mycouncillor.org.uk/files/2011/12/Malmesbury-Neighbourhood-Planning-Forum-DRAFT-minutes-08-12-11.pdf">Malmesbury Neighbourhood Forum notes - 08-12-11
http://simonkillane.mycouncillor.org.uk/files/2011/07/Notes-Malmesbury-Neighbourhood-Planning-Meeting-11-0ctober….pdf">Malmesbury Neighbourhood Forum notes – draft -11-10-11
http://simonkillane.mycouncillor.org.uk/files/2011/01/Malmesbury-Neighbourhood-Planning-Forum--09-01-12.pdf">Malmesbury Neighbourhood Forum notes – draft – 09-01-12
http://simonkillane.mycouncillor.org.uk/files/2011/07/Draft-Malmesbury-Neighbourhood-Forum-Terms-of-Reference-No….pdf">Malmesbury Neighbourhood Forum Terms of Reference draft
