Padiham Tesco battle could cost council £250,000 (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Padiham Tesco battle could cost council £250,000

8:00pm Tuesday 1st June 2010 in

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A LEGAL battle over a controversial proposed supermarket in Padiham now has around £250,000 at stake, the Lancashire Telegraph can reveal.

Retail giants Tesco are fighting the refusal of planning permission for a new store on part of the former Baxi site, off Wyre Street, by Burnley council’s development control committee in March.

Lawyers representing the authority and supermarket chain will do battle at a four-day public inquiry in July over the issue.

An initial estimate of £100,000, to marshal the council’s case at the inquiry, was given by planning officials.

But a secret report to borough councillors has outlined that the overall bill could now reach £250,000.

This would cover the cost of hiring planning consultants and a barrister for the appeal and any potential award of costs by a planning inspector, if the council’s case was thrown out at its conclusion.

The store was turned down by councillors because of the impact it would have on fellow traders in Padiham town centre and the amount of traffic it would generate.

About 900 letters were sent in opposition to the blueprints by Padiham residents and traders, ahead of the March meeting.

Traders are considering their next move in response to the inquiry being called and are expected to take part in the hearing.

But not everyone in the market town is against the Tesco plans.

Town councillor Bob Clark said: “It is absolutely split down the middle regarding Tesco, depending on who you talk to.

“There are the traders who say that Tesco is going to have a major impact on their businesses, and there are a lot of empty shops. "But there are also people who would look forward to it coming to Padiham.”