Barnoldswick Tesco plans out in the cold

1:00pm Wednesday 22nd August 2012 in Pendle Photograph of the Author By Peter Magill, Chief reporter

FAVOURED The present Hartley factory FAVOURED The present Hartley factory

SUPERMARKET plans by a Barnoldswick fabrics firm have won out in a major three-way battle between rival traders.

Proposals by Albert Hartley for their Crownest Mill site in Skipton Road found favour with the West Craven Area Committee after a four-hour debate at the Rolls-Royce Leisure Club.

Bosses have said they want to replace their outdated premises with an expanded industrial building and 3,344 square metre food store.

No details on which firm would occupy the new supermarket have been revealed by Albert Hartley bosses.

But the decision leaves an opposing bid by Tesco , in partnership with Leggett and Platt Springs Ltd and Liberty Properties, out in the cold.

Land off Wellhouse Road, part of L&P’s base, would have been given over to a Tesco store, enabling the proceeds to be reinvested into the firm.

But alongside proposals by Pendle Properties to convert former gasworks land in Skipton Road for an Aldi store, the bid was rejected because of the perceived impact on town centre trade.

More than 250 people packed out the Skipton Road venue on Monday night to hear conflicting arguments over the supermarket packages.

The decision over the Albert Hartley site will need to be referred to Communities Secretary Eric Pickles over whether it should be ‘called-in’ and examined by government officials.

Councillors were told that around 80 per cent of people did their ‘weekly shop’ outside of Barnoldswick, visiting the likes of Colne and Skipton and taking around £25million out of the local economy.

Committee chairman Coun David Whipp, attempted to secure £500,000 for ‘promotional activities’ supporting the town centre, on top of £300,000 suggested for various improvements, as part of the Albert Hartley permission.

He added: “We need to do more to draw people into the town centre and create new events and attractions.

“We should be looking at a five-year programme of promotional activity.”

But planning manager Neil Watson said the authority risked provoking a judicial review if the deal could be considered ‘disproportionate’ to the development’s impact.

Further negotiations are set to take place over the planning agreement terms for the Albert Hartley site.

An appeal over a previous Tesco application for Wellhouse Road is set to be heard in Pendle on October 2.

Comments (8)

1:43pm Wed 22 Aug 12

barlicker says...

I wonder how much of the £5-800,000 requested by Mr Whipp will be used for further schemes to ensure the Lib Dems re-electability?
Here are a group of people who will turn up at the opening of an envelope and attempt to take credit for and garner any kudos associated with any positive development within the town. I do not want to go to any event in Barnoldswick (last Sundays Ride With Brad was a good example) and expect to see prominent Lib Dems waddling about as if they are in charge of the whole event; but it happens time and again.No question, they have, over the years done a good job in the town, but they do tend to try and take over- a bit of self control wouldn't go amiss.
I wonder how much of the £5-800,000 requested by Mr Whipp will be used for further schemes to ensure the Lib Dems re-electability? Here are a group of people who will turn up at the opening of an envelope and attempt to take credit for and garner any kudos associated with any positive development within the town. I do not want to go to any event in Barnoldswick (last Sundays Ride With Brad was a good example) and expect to see prominent Lib Dems waddling about as if they are in charge of the whole event; but it happens time and again.No question, they have, over the years done a good job in the town, but they do tend to try and take over- a bit of self control wouldn't go amiss. barlicker

2:31pm Wed 22 Aug 12

Rose Rouge says...

How can this plan get the approval, when there is apparently no named supermarket linked to the scheme? Or is it now a case of Albert Hartley trying to instigate a bidding war between all supermarket chains, including Tesco and Aldi, to try and find a suitable partner to develop the site? Only in Barlick could they turn down two planned schemes with named companies behind them, and accept a third scheme no that has no tenant in place.
How can this plan get the approval, when there is apparently no named supermarket linked to the scheme? Or is it now a case of Albert Hartley trying to instigate a bidding war between all supermarket chains, including Tesco and Aldi, to try and find a suitable partner to develop the site? Only in Barlick could they turn down two planned schemes with named companies behind them, and accept a third scheme no that has no tenant in place. Rose Rouge

3:58pm Wed 22 Aug 12

Lucy Porter 101 says...

This decision is so disappointing.

It is really short sighted.

Bad news.............
This decision is so disappointing. It is really short sighted. Bad news............. Lucy Porter 101

3:58pm Wed 22 Aug 12

Lucy Porter 101 says...

This decision is so disappointing.

It is really short sighted.

Bad news.............
This decision is so disappointing. It is really short sighted. Bad news............. Lucy Porter 101

4:10pm Wed 22 Aug 12

Izanears says...

Whichever supermarket it is, I bet it won't be WAITROSE. I totally agree with barlicker about the Lib-Dems. They do the same over here in Nelson.
Whichever supermarket it is, I bet it won't be WAITROSE. I totally agree with barlicker about the Lib-Dems. They do the same over here in Nelson. Izanears

5:26am Thu 23 Aug 12

coates warder says...

think its time to change whippy and his band of merry councillors this scheme before the meeting was the one everyone said would not go through,but think about it its the one that drags and drags this saga on.it will be at least 5 years now before any supermarket comes to the town meaning the coop can carry on ripping people off with sky high prices and no choice and the shop keepers who think they have a right to no competition.its time for the libs to leave office and whippy to stop running barlick as he thinks he owns the place.i will carry on shopping out of barlick as i can save on average weekly shop in the region of £40 every week and the town centre shops who still live in the past by having half day shuttings not opening till 10am on a satarday and closing by 1pm.you cant buy decent clothes or shoes in town unless you are looking at the top end of the market.whippy its time to leave office your time is up
think its time to change whippy and his band of merry councillors this scheme before the meeting was the one everyone said would not go through,but think about it its the one that drags and drags this saga on.it will be at least 5 years now before any supermarket comes to the town meaning the coop can carry on ripping people off with sky high prices and no choice and the shop keepers who think they have a right to no competition.its time for the libs to leave office and whippy to stop running barlick as he thinks he owns the place.i will carry on shopping out of barlick as i can save on average weekly shop in the region of £40 every week and the town centre shops who still live in the past by having half day shuttings not opening till 10am on a satarday and closing by 1pm.you cant buy decent clothes or shoes in town unless you are looking at the top end of the market.whippy its time to leave office your time is up coates warder

7:41am Mon 27 Aug 12

coates warder says...

and by the way the new albert hartley has to be up and running for 2 YEARS before a supermarket can get planning for this site.so at least 5 YEARS before a sniff of one well done whippy and jenny purcell .any more info you forgot to tell at the meeting.as david whipp said at the meeting when i do my shopping in colne or skipton i see others from barlick shopping there as well.ha ha ha so a man who says shop in barlick does not shop there himself .please comment david i know you read and post on here.ps i will carry on shopping in skipton.as i work there so i wont lose anything to travel.i wait your reply
and by the way the new albert hartley has to be up and running for 2 YEARS before a supermarket can get planning for this site.so at least 5 YEARS before a sniff of one well done whippy and jenny purcell .any more info you forgot to tell at the meeting.as david whipp said at the meeting when i do my shopping in colne or skipton i see others from barlick shopping there as well.ha ha ha so a man who says shop in barlick does not shop there himself .please comment david i know you read and post on here.ps i will carry on shopping in skipton.as i work there so i wont lose anything to travel.i wait your reply coates warder

2:57pm Fri 14 Sep 12

HecticBigBoy says...

Mr Whipp building his image again? strange how we only ever hear the good from him, hold your hands up and be counted at the wrongs, you are a well paid politician basically, but we dont seem to find you very 'accountable', so many things seem to have been bent to suit your needs.

Rukes for one and rules for another??
Mr Whipp building his image again? strange how we only ever hear the good from him, hold your hands up and be counted at the wrongs, you are a well paid politician basically, but we dont seem to find you very 'accountable', so many things seem to have been bent to suit your needs. Rukes for one and rules for another?? HecticBigBoy

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