Superstore plan gets council thumbs down (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Superstore plan gets council thumbs down

12:28pm Thursday 1st May 2008 in News

AN EDGE of town supermarket could sound the death knoll for some small businesses in Tewkesbury, Councillor Claire Wright told a planning committee this week.

She said, given the problems traders suffered last year, allowing a new supermarket would be adding insult to injury.

Borough council committee members agreed with her and gave an overwhelming thumbs down to an Aldi plan to build a 1,749 sq metre store on the former Warner's Garage on Gloucester Road. Plans for a slightly smaller store were turned down by the council last year.

Residents sent 42 letters and a 272 signature petition objecting to the proposals and the disruption and noise the development would create. The town council and civic society also objected on issues including traffic and the appearance of the building.

The site already has permission for 14 semi-detached houses.

Coun Alan Kyte told the meeting: "This town is desperate for accommodation - we should go with that."