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Fighting to oppose an out-of-town Sainsbury's supermarket
24 out of the 84 local businesses which signed a petition to Uttlesford District Council opposing to a new Sainsbury's supermarket outside Saffron Walden See photographs of all 84 businesses Original petition to Uttlesford District Council In late 2009 Sainsbury's applied for planning permission to build a very large out-of-town supermarket on the Thaxted Road by the re-cycling centre some 2 kilometres from the town centre. At the same time Tesco applied for planning permission for a large extension to their existing store in Radwinter Road on the edge of Saffron Walden. At an Uttlesford District Council Planning Committee meeting on 9 December 2010 the Sainsbury's application was refused and the Tesco application was accepted. Since then planning permission has also been granted to Waitrose to extend their existing town centre store. Sainsbury's have appealed to the Planning Inspectorate over the rejection by Uttlesford District Council of their original planning application and at the same time have submitted to UDC a new application for a slightly smaller store. It is important to note that these two applications are treated entirely separately and so it is necessary to write two separate letters of objection. The key issues are the impact on the town centre, the huge increase in traffic and the associated increase in air pollution that a new store would bring. To view the new planning application go to Uttlesford District Council and search for UTT/0787/11/FUL. To object to the new planning application send an email to planning@uttlesford.gov.uk quoting reference UTT/0787/11/FUL. The formal closing date for comments has now passed but UDC will still take into consideration late comments so please write. To object to the appeal against the refusal of the first planning application you need to write to the Planning Inspectorate rather than Uttlesford District Council. Either email Alan.Ridley@pins.gsi.gov.uk or comment on their website using case reference 2152457. The closing date is 17 July. Either application would have a devastating effect on the Saffron Walden town centre in particular and also have a major impact on stores and petrol stations in Thaxted, Debden, Wimbish, Clavering, Newport and the surrounding area. Save Walden Town Centre is fighting both applications and welcomes your support. As well as your writing letters of objection we need your support financially to enable us to engage external consultants and lawyers. Donations should be sent to Peter Riding, 30 Castle Street, Saffron Walden CB10 1BJ in favour of "Save Walden Town Centre". 10 REASONS FOR OPPOSING THE TWO PLANNING APPLICATIONS 1. Either application would have a devastating effect on the local town centres, particularly Saffron Walden and Thaxted. UDC's retail expert's report on the first Sainsbury's application predicted that, on a conservative basis, at least 78% of Sainsbury's turnover would be trade diverted from Waitrose, Tesco and the other town centre food stores. They also predicted that more than 40% of the Saffron Walden town centre's food spending would be lost to the new Sainsbury's. 2. 30% of Sainsbury's retail space would be devoted to non-food sales; their predicted non-food turnover would be equivalent to 20% of the total existing non-food spending in Saffron Walden (excluding DIY) and they would compete with most of the town centre shops. 3. By taking 40% of Waitrose's customers away from the town centre UDC retail expert predicted that a new Sainsbury's would "give rise to a significant loss of footfall in the town centre". As well as the direct competition from Sainsbury's this loss of footfall would have a major indirect impact on all town centre businesses. 4. Tesco have now been given permission for an extension which alone is the same size as the current Waitrose. 70% of the Tesco's extension will be for non-food items, competing directly with the town centre. This alone will have a significant impact on Saffron Walden town centre, even without the cumulative impact of a new out-of-town Sainsbury's. 5. Research data contradicts Sainsbury's claim that a new out-of-town supermarket would attract new shoppers to the town centre. This research shows that any new shoppers are attracted only to the supermarket and in general they do not make "linked trips" into the town centre. See The Impact of Large Food Stores on Market Towns and District Centres. 6. There would be a huge increase in traffic. Even Sainsbury's predict that their revised, smaller, store would result in 1,200 - 1,500 car trips every hour at peak times and a doubling of traffic along the most affected roads such as Peaslands Road and Mount Pleasant Road. 7. The air quality in the town, already at or above national safety limits in four key areas, will get worse because of the extra traffic generated. 8. Research shows that there is likely to be a negative impact on employment in the town with more jobs lost than created. 9. Most of the Thaxted Road site is reserved for industrial and commercial use, not retail. 10. Both applications are contrary to national, regional and local planning policy, which require that retail development is focused in town centres and emphasise the need for sustainable development within local communities.
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THE NEW PLANNING APPLICATION
See also the Previous Applications
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