We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.Farmer defeats Tesco in supermarket battle
A NORFOLK farmer has persuaded local councillors to reject a bid from supermarket giant Tesco in favour of his own application to a build a store in his local town.
Clive Hay-Smith, a former city executive turned farmer, teamed up with Tesco’s rival, Waitrose, to submit a rival bid for an eco-supermarket on the proposed site at Sheringham, Norfolk.
Despite opposition from planning officers, North Norfolk District Council’s development committee has now accepted Mr Hay-Smith’s Greenhouse Community Project which he says will be more environmentally friendly than the Tesco bid and a greater boost for local producers.
The decision follows a four-hour meeting yesterday (Thursday, March 4) during which Councillors discussed an 80-page report detailing the two applications.
Mr Hay-Smith said: “It has restored my faith in democracy.”
Waitrose will run the supermarket which it says will be ‘the greenest yet’ through harvesting rainwater and using solar and wind power.
There will also be an on-site food academy, bankrolled by Mr Hay-Smith, which will have two full commercial teaching kitchens, each capable of delivering hands-on cookery experience and nutrition guidance for up to 25 students or children at a time.
A spokesman for Tesco said: “We’re surprised. Planning officers made it clear that the Waitrose application would be detrimental to Sheringham town centre and local shops.
“The councillors’ decision is at odds with government planning policy to protect the vitality of town centres.”
The council decision was made on a vote of 11 in favour, six against but it is still subject to legal advice.
Councillor Virginia Gay, Leader of North Norfolk District Council, said: “The decision raises a number of legal issues so the committee agreed that it needs to be referred to a specialist planning lawyer to ensure it is a sound decision, in planning terms.”
In technical terms, the committee gave delegated authority for officers to approve the Greenhouse Community Project and reject the Tesco plan, provided this legal advice confirms that the decision is sound.
Readers' comments (4)
Anonymous | 9 March 2010 12:39 pm
What a load of nonsense from Tesco. The project is local and will help to revitalise the town. For once the mighty Tesco could not bulldoze the opposition out of the way
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Martin Watts | 9 March 2010 5:47 pm
Quote: "A spokesman for Tesco said: Quote from Tesco “We’re surprised. Planning officers made it clear that the Waitrose application would be detrimental to Sheringham town centre and local shops."
Does this mean the rival bid from Tesco would not?!!
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Isabella Denholm | 13 March 2010 9:02 am
I'm delighted that a more varied kind of store is opening - cookery lessons - what a good idea! - which more people were active in this way.
I would like to do something similar - alas, I do not have the finance to start such a store.
Good luck for the next stage in the planning application.
I.D.
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Rosemary Marshall | 16 March 2010 5:38 pm
Delighted. Waitrose has far higher standards than Tesco, and the on-site food academy sounds and excellent idea.
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