Rishton Co-operative shop plan rejected (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Rishton Co-operative shop plan rejected
1:00pm Thursday 13th October 2011 in Rishton
Rishton Co-operative shop plan rejected
FEARS of traffic chaos on a key Rishton junction has seen plans to open a Co-op shop there thrown out.
Hyndburn councillors scrutinising the scheme for the former Bentley garage said the increase in traffic and congestion would overwhelm the junction with Blackburn Road, which serves a number of local schools.
The Co-operative group had submitted the plans through an agent, Hurstwood Properties, who said their client was looking to open a 430-square metre store.
Initially the bid was thought to be from Tesco leading to a local campaign amongst traders who feared losing business.
However, Hurstwood revealed the Co-operative were behind the plans in a bid to move from their current site in Rishton’s High Street.
Councillors said the effect on parking and congestion would see an accident happen if the bid was approved.
At a meeting of Hyndburn planning committee yesterday, Coun Clare Cleary, who addressed the meeting on behalf of residents, said the issues regarding traffic in the area were ‘plain to see’.
She said: “We have had two public meetings in Rishton and feelings are very strong on this matter.
“There are three primary schools here and traffic is already a problem.
“Residents are very concerned about the effect of shoppers parking on this strectch and large lorries making deliveries here.”
Speaking on behalf of the applicant, Hurstwood Properties, Steven Hartley said: “Our client is the Co-operative, not Tesco as had been rumoured.
“They are planning to move from their existing location in the borough to this site.
“They have a very loyal customer base, which would improve footfall here.
“The suitability of the parking we would provide in the car park has been assessed by experts and we have made those reports available”.
Coun Dave Parkins said: “I can see an accident waiting to happen should we approve this.
“It just isn’t in the right place.
They are better off staying where they are it seems to me.”
Councillors voted to turn down the application on the grounds of highway safety.
Comments(19)
Dave139
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7:27pm Thu 13 Oct 11
Slimplynth
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11:18pm Thu 13 Oct 11
Si_Nick
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2:17pm Fri 14 Oct 11
Surely the reports that have been submitted and reviewed by planning experts before the council would have indicated any issues and a business as large as the Co-Op would have researched this before a planning application was made?
Strange decision when it would create more jobs for the area as this would be a bigger store. Also surely the peak times of these convenience stores are when people finish work/in the evening and at the weekend when the schools aren't there?
ex-rishtoner
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2:43pm Fri 14 Oct 11
susie rishton
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12:41pm Sat 15 Oct 11
susie rishton
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12:41pm Sat 15 Oct 11
Cllr Ken Moss
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2:19pm Sat 15 Oct 11
susie rishton wrote:Fairly serious accusations there, Susie. Since I am on the Planning Committee that made the decision then I will assume you feel that I am corrupt, taking backhanders and don't have Rishton's interests at heart either? Feel free to put that in writing to the Legal Department at HBC.
Sounds like dodgy dealings with the corrupt councillors and local traders, must have been some back handers traded, Mrs Cleary obviously doesn't have the residents of Rishton best interests at heart. Get real Clare most main roads are busy at peak times.
Public meetings were held to ascertain views on this and not one person came forward in support of the application as it stands. Harwood Road, Brook Street and Norden Court all have existing parking problems which would only be made worse by a car park that is clearly insufficient on the application form. I suggested that the garage behind is knocked down and made into a larger car park which will get around the problem, whether the plan is resubmitted with those changes remains to be seen.
Slimplynth
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11:51pm Sat 15 Oct 11
Re. people coming forward, well i was unaware of a meeting.. i'll quite happily speak up in favour if given the chance. Just make the time and date as public as possible.
Thanks
Legend86
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9:15pm Tue 18 Oct 11
He also brushed off the idea of the houses at the bottom of Spring Street being knocked down because they'd create an eyesore and would be worse than what i had compared to a scene from London's Burning.
That said, i had a wander down Spring Street on Saturday evening and must say that i prefer the new version!
volvowoman
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12:26pm Wed 19 Oct 11
let the COOP have it we need to have positive things happening in Rishton driven by positive people, Just look at the money going into gt harwood .......
Cllr Ken Moss
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4:37pm Wed 19 Oct 11
Legend86 wrote:I said this when, exactly? Either renovation or demolition were the only options and I said that I would have preferred renovation in an ideal world. Regrettably, we don't live in one.
Susie Rishton, i would take Councillor Ken Moss' comments with a pinch of salt. He also brushed off the idea of the houses at the bottom of Spring Street being knocked down because they'd create an eyesore and would be worse than what i had compared to a scene from London's Burning. That said, i had a wander down Spring Street on Saturday evening and must say that i prefer the new version!
I have never thought that knocking down the houses would create an eyesore, how could it possibly be worse than what was there before?
Legend86
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6:09pm Wed 19 Oct 11
To be honest, I thought it was a joke at first. So I took the conversation no further. But it appears you are who you claim to be and are for real.
However Ken, I do completely agree on the ideal world and renovation. That would have been better. But there is no doubting what is there now is better than before.
Hopefully what it becomes will be something to behold.
Legend86
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6:14pm Wed 19 Oct 11
To be honest, I thought it was a joke at first. So I took the conversation no further. But it appears you are who you claim to be and are for real.
However Ken, I do completely agree on the ideal world and renovation. That would have been better. But there is no doubting what is there now is better than before.
Hopefully what it becomes will be something to behold.
susie rishton
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10:35pm Thu 20 Oct 11
Legend86
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10:05am Sat 22 Oct 11
I also do not imagine that there is such booming business in general, in a town going downhill that it could possibly keep a lap dancing club running for any amount of time. That is without even considering the kind who would be employed there.
As you say, it is all very convenient. Some might say it is so convenient that our local bumbling political scene could leave the town hall from their latest (excuse for a) meeting, cross the road and spend their well earned back handers.
Cllr Ken Moss
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10:55am Mon 24 Oct 11
susie rishton wrote:The old garage has already been passed for change of use to a supermarket and I would welcome it to be used as one, but not with the parking facilities in place at the moment, it is asking for trouble for Harwood Road, Norden Court and Brook Street at the very least. Knock down the garage unit at the back (which wasn't planned to be used as anything other than a garage) and open up the back entrance on School Street as well, then they have my full support. As it stands, no way.
Mr Moss, are you on the planning commitee for Hyndburn or just Rishton, I assume Hyndburn but if wrong I apologise in advance. So planning permission has been rejected for a small supermarket in Rishton, despite elderly residents in that area crying out for a shop nearby. Yet plans have been passed for a lap dancing club in Accrington, very convenient seeing as though it's going to be located across from the town hall. By the way Legend86 I remember that comment around 12 months ago .
And I'm still waiting for someone to tell me when I said that knocking down the Spring Street derelicts would create an eyesore.
Legend86
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9:18pm Tue 25 Oct 11
Cllr Ken Moss
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7:46am Wed 26 Oct 11
Legend86 wrote:I'd like the quote and where I said it, if possible. I don't ever remember implying that knocking those houses down would create an eyesore. I have said at some point in the past that it would be better to renovate than have a war wound of an empty space but that's how I feel about terraced houses in general.
Tuesday 14th October 2010. Would you like the time as well?
In this instance, knocking down was definitely the right thing.
QuarryGang78 says...
1:39pm Thu 13 Oct 11