Don't rush Preston Village double supermarket plan - assess safety fears first, Green candidates urge council planners

News from Brighton and Hove Green Party

Don't rush Preston Village double supermarket plan - assess safety fears first, Green candidates urge council planners

19 April 2011. Sainsbury’s have resubmitted their plans for two supermarkets in Preston Village - but local residents and Green candidates are calling on the council’s planning committee not to rush the decision when they meet on Wednesday 27 April, and instead to visit the site and assess their safety fears.

Last year, Brighton and Hove City Council planning committee rejected Sainsbury’s application to build two medium sized supermarkets on the old Caffyns site in Preston Village (A23 London Road/Preston Road). Opponents of the scheme said there was a lack of space for parking and unloading, and highlighted the dangers of big lorries unloading on the London Rd. 250 local residents and shopkeepers signed a petition opposing the plans.

This week, Paul Philo, Green candidate for Withdean said: “Sainsbury’s have submitted their plans to the council - again. However the plan is little changed, other than a travel plan that merely shows ways for shoppers to get to the site. Sainsbury’s plans do not allow enough room for their suppliers’ trucks. Articulated lorries would not have enough room when arriving to unload without endangering road safety by crossing over the centre white line in Cumberland Rd. Recently local residents saw for themselves the dangers of large lorries in crossing the London Road when they observed one attempting to U-turn across the traffic and getting stuck at the end of Cumberland Rd.”

Mr Philo added: “I fear the application is being rushed through the council’s planning committee ahead of local elections on 5 May, after which membership of the committee may change. Preston Village residents would like a postponement of the planning decision to allow a site visit by councillors to see the traffic dangers. Green candidates are calling on the Tory-controlled committee to agree to this postponement. We are still waiting to hear if they support the residents’ request.”

The Conservative-led planning committee will hold a hearing to consider the application on 27 April. The City Council’s website says it is “minded to grant” planning permission to proposal no. BH2011/00336 for change of use of 227 - 233 Preston Road, from car showroom/workshop, to two A1 retail units including external condenser unit, air conditioning units and an ATM machine.

Mr R .U. Asekaran, owner of Preston News said: “Sainsbury’s are so big and powerful they will destroy all of the small shops in the village. If this plan goes ahead people, like my employee who has worked here for 40 years, will lose their jobs. This plan is also dangerous to traffic and pedestrians.”

The Green lead candidate for Withdean Sue Shanks said: “Local Conservative councillors need to take a stand on the issue of supermarket growth. In my view the site is much better suited to small shops and housing.

“Green candidates oppose the Preston Village supermarket plan both on planning grounds - especially road safety – and also on principle. There is a place for supermarkets, but we have enough in Brighton and Hove. Local shops are closing or being replaced with chain-store clones and formula retailers, and just a few supermarkets dominate the market for groceries. Existing local government policies - for example planning rules and business rates - are not protecting local shops or small retailers, and Green candidates want to allow local communities more say. We want to involve local people in deciding the future of the site, instead of having this over-development imposed upon them. We would like to see a plan that will not destroy the unique character of the village.”

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For more information, please contact:
Lead Candidate for Brighton and Hove Green Party in Withdean ward, Sue Shanks: 01273 554139 Mobile: 07769653140
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Local Elections 2011. Brighton and Hove Green Party is asking the people of Brighton and Hove to elect the UK's first Green-led council on 5th May. We are already the second largest group on the council, along with Labour, and aim to increase our number of seats in these elections. More info and 2011 manifesto: www.brightonhovegreens.org

On 6 May 2010, the people of Brighton Pavilion elected the UK's first Green MP - the leader of the Green Party - Caroline Lucas. Visit www.carolinelucas.com to find out more.