Council’s ‘NO’ to Sainsbury’s

Mar 13, 2012 Peter Rabbit General News Comments Off on Council’s ‘NO’ to Sainsbury’s

March 13, 2012 The Gazette *UPDATED BELOW*

An action group in Thame says the plans put forward by Sainsbury’s do not provide sufficient space, flexibility or dedicated parking.

THAME Town Council has voted unanimously against Sainsbury’s planning application for a store at the cattle market site.

At a meeting of the town council on Tuesday night, while Sainsbury’s and farmers spoke in favour of the application, residents, representatives from local businesses and market traders voiced their opposition insisting they want to ensure any new development would include a community building suitable for use by non-sporting groups and clubs.

An action group in Thame says the plans put forward by Sainsbury’s do not provide sufficient space, flexibility or dedicated parking.

Val Jonas from Thame Cattle Market Action Group (CMAG) said: “The community building submitted in the plans is totally inadequate. It’s basically just a room with toilets and an office.

“There is no foyer space, nowhere for parents to wait when they are picking up their children. There is no parking specifically allocated to the community building, no changing facilities.

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*UPDATE*

FOLLOWING last night’s news that Thame Town Council unanimously recommended refusal of a plan from the supermarket chain, Sainsburys, full details of the **Motion it voted on are now available, reflecting most of the feelings expressed by the public at the meeting.

THE SUPPORTERS

Two people spoke in favour of the plans, Andrew Duffy, Area Secretary of the NFU (National Farmers Union) and Paul Vicary of GKA, on behalf of Sainsburys.

Andrew Duffy spoke about the inadequacy of the current Cattlemarket with regard to size and the fact that the facilities are out-dated. His view was that by moving onto the Thame Show Ground, a bigger, better cattlemarket could be provided and that there would be advantages for the annual Thame Show.

Paul Vicary maintained that a bigger Sainsburys would offer improved shopping choice, prevent people from travelling out of town to shop, secure the future of the cattlemarket and remove the threat of an out of town superstore being build on the DAF site.

THE OBJECTORS

Rob Wheal, a Thame resident however, said that he was “deeply cyncial” about the claim that by not accepting this proposal, the door would be opened for an out-of-town superstore.

“Tesco tried and failed,” he said, “and such store are unlikely ever to become accepted policy as they destroy town centre.”

He also questioned Sainsbury’s claim that the store would increase employment in the town.

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