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   Fighting to preserve our community

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March 15th 2010

Click here for an example of some of the points you could make in a letter to Mr. Fletcher in reply to the lettter of 5th. March 2010 from Martin Forth..

A small band of SCF volunteers regularly brave the elements and pick litter in Manningtree. Our thanks to them for helping to make Manningtree a better place. Pictures

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Members of Stour Community First litter picking on the sea wall

An example of some of the points you could make in a letter to Mr. Fletcher in reply to the lettter of 5th. March 2010 from Martin Forth..

Mr Peter Fletcher
Planning Department Tendring District
Council Council Offices Thorpe Road
Weeley CO16 9AJ
 

Dear Mr Fletcher    

Re: planning application 08/00603/FUL

I wish to reinforce, in the strongest possible terms, my objection to this application. My objections, lodged in response to the original application, still stand. Indeed, they still form the basis of why I consider this application should be refused permission. This application:

• is contrary to policy in the adopted Local Plan, particularly Policy ER3 (Protection of Employment Land);
• would create additional retail floorspace that has been assessed as not being necessary;
• would have a negligible net effect on employment in Manningtree;
• would have an unacceptable impact on traffic flows in the area; and
• would have an unacceptably detrimental effect on the existing retail businesses in the High Street, as those shopping at the new supermarket would not then go to the High Street to undertake further shopping.

This latter point is relevant to the revision to the application on which you are consulting. Just because the store has been repositioned on the site does not mean that people shopping at the Tesco store will choose to then go to the High Street. Clearly a supermarket of the size proposed will aim to sell all convenience goods, thereby rendering a visit to all bar the most niche stores in the High Street unnecessary. This would threaten, amongst others, the fruiterers, the bakers, the florists, the delicatessens and the twice-weekly market. One of the fundamental principles of national planning policy is to protect the vitality and viability of town centres. It simply cannot be argued that a supermarket of the size proposed will have anything other than a significantly detrimental effect on the High Street. In the short term it will affect the businesses named above and, in the long term, the remainder of the businesses as the lack of investment and footfall through the town will compromise the already fragile economics of small retail businesses, under constant attack from major supermarkets. The new store may face the town, but multinational retailers such as Tesco have little interest in supporting the continuing prosperity of local businesses selling the same goods as them; after all, such prosperity represents spending not going through their tills.
These changes represent nothing more than superficial design alterations and do not alter the fundamental concerns with the application as a whole. I therefore urge you to recommend refusal of this application.
 

Yours sincerely