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Padiham traders’ relief at Tesco store ‘no go’

10:00am Saturday 6th March 2010 in

More stories about: Padiham Tesco


PLANS to open a new Tesco store in Padiham have been thrown out by the council following huge opposition from residents and traders.

The Wyre Street store was rejected by councillors on the development control committee on Thursday, despite being recommended for approval.

Planning experts told councillors they were likely to face an appeal if they rejected the scheme, potentially costing the council £50,000.

Local groups, traders and residents spoke out against the plans at the meeting, as well as around 900 letters and signatures being submitted.

Mark Jinkinson, a Padiham town councillor and businessman, said: “I am extremely pleased by the decision, common sense ruled the day.

“Despite pressure from the planning officers to accept the proposal, councillors recognised that the arguments were flawed.

“The impact in terms of traffic and the economic impact on the town would be quite devastating, which is what we were telling them all along.

“This is not the end of the story though, I am reasonably confident Tesco will appeal but believe the right decision will be made.”

The plans were rejected on traffic grounds and on the impact to other traders in the town centre.

Matt Magee, corporate affairs manager at Tesco, said: “It is natural we are extremely disappointed by the decision, especially as it was recommended for approval.

“We know that people are travelling outside of Padiham to do their big shop and this is why we had strong support for our scheme which we believe would have brought more people in the town as well, benefitting the traders.

“We will now take stock and consider our options.”

Comments(14)

Mikeee47 says...
10:59am Sat 6 Mar 10

The town is doomed, this store would have created jobs for the unemployed towns folk who have lost jobs in the past by the closure of every industry the town had , Mullards, Powerstation, Mills, Main gas, etc etc, whrere were these councilors then, fighting for our jobs, if these work places hadn't close PADIHAM would still be thriving,
It's just a case of small buisiness' scared it'll happen to them. I for one welcome the ne store, Time for PADIHAM to get up with times & stay open later for the hard working towns folk, instead this place is a ghost town at the evening & weekends.
I suppose the council will build a housing estate on the land, yet again reaping the profit.
Burnley & padiham councils your a disgrace 900 petition againt in a population of approx 5000 residents
No future for this place

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Dogsbolloxs says...
12:16pm Sat 6 Mar 10

I have got to say I agree with Mikeee. As a Padiham resident I was looking forward to the new store. As I am on a limited income I can't afford to use the small shops in the town centre, I have to go to the big Tesco in Burnley for my shopping, and the new petrol station would have been cheaper that the Texaco on the main road. Jinkinson has got a conflict of interest in this being both a councillor and a shop owner, bringing his political influence to bear when he has a vested interest in the store not being built. Shame, but I know we will see it built eventually - Come on Tesco appeal please.

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RAyzer says...
1:37pm Sat 6 Mar 10

how mad....this store would have created much needed jobs....tescos appeal,,,i know A LOT of people that wanted it...the shops in padiham are useless,they still have a 1950S half day on tuesday there that far behind......

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DaveBurnley says...
3:24pm Sat 6 Mar 10

This is nothing to Tesco. They will probably appeal, they have the legal clout behind them and can say to the local authority "If you oppose us and we win, we will claim all our costs against you".
They've done this before and can frighten local authorities with their muscle. Tesco can push this all the way. The local authority will back down eventually before the costs become frightening.

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steep says...
5:03pm Sat 6 Mar 10

Sad times. This could have brought life to the town. I understand the shopkeepers concerns, but people have to move with the times. Generations change, the local shops need to capture a niche market to draw other people in, which they just don't do in Padiham. You only have to look at the shops on the main stretch to see this. A lot of them are empty, some in a state of disrepair, hindered by the narrow street and double yellow lines, and not enough signage to direct people to the car parks. Oh well, looks like I'll have to continue to go to Burnley for the majority of the shopping.

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RAyzer says...
5:29pm Sat 6 Mar 10

what shops are there in padiham any way???theres no parking and no shops....so whats the fuss....?as for traffic pathetic excuse,they lost main gas that brought loads of extra traffic in that area....

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petestan says...
9:54pm Sat 6 Mar 10

The jobs would all be part time low paid jobs anyway so they are not exactly replacement jobs for the ex workers of mullards, etc.

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Sox says...
11:03pm Sat 6 Mar 10

petestan wrote:
The jobs would all be part time low paid jobs anyway so they are not exactly replacement jobs for the ex workers of mullards, etc.
Agree 100%, what right minded person could possibly think a Tesco shelf stacking job bears the remotest resemblance to a skilled tradesperson's job?

I'm sick of this effin jubilation everytime there is a announcement that a Tesco/Asda/Sainsbury
s/etc is going to open, like it is going save the world.

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Mikeee47 says...
1:09am Sun 7 Mar 10

wind your necks in, you already have these stores in your towns, we have jack in here, as for the jobs at mullards, most of the work was piece work or straigh forward assemby work, hardly skilled is it ? the only skilled people were the maintainance fitters & machine setters.

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Sox says...
6:51am Sun 7 Mar 10

What about the designers of the electronic components?

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suttydog says...
8:06am Sun 7 Mar 10

how many of these shopkeepers who was against tesco will now offer jobs my guess NONE.

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Mikeee47 says...
10:17am Sun 7 Mar 10

Most of the components were designed at "Phillips" in Holland, if you can remember Mullards was just a subsidery of Phillips components

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swizz says...
12:20pm Sun 7 Mar 10

How many people work in the town centre compared to the jobs Tesco's would have created? Even if it's low paid a job is still a job and any shortfalls can be reimbursed by tax credits.

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full moon says...
10:28pm Sun 7 Mar 10

Ah well, councillors will probably back plans for a mental institute on pollard moor. Tesco`s was just one that flew over the cukoo`s nest!!!

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