ASDA plans for Belvedere rejected by councillors (From This Is Local London)

ASDA plans for Belvedere rejected by councillors

9:16am Monday 6th February 2012 in Where I Live By Jim Palmer

ASDA plans for Belvedere rejected by councillors

A BAD result for ASDA left traders celebrating as controversial plans to bring the superstore to Belvedere were knocked back by councillors.

Bexley Council’s planning committee went against their officers’ recommendations on Thursday and emphatically opposed plans for ASDA to take over half of the B&Q store off Lower Road because of the impact it will have of local trade and traffic.

Council officers will now re-examine the application and produce another report, including possible reasons for refusal. The report will then be considered at another planning committee meeting and a final decision made.

Spokesman for campaigners Belvedere Against ASDA Development (BAAD), Amit Patel said he was ‘ecstatic’.

Mr Patel, who has run Belvedere News, Food and Wine in Gilbert Road for five years, said: “As a retailer I am very pleased but as a resident of Belvedere for more than 25 years, I am delighted.

“It means survival. It will be able to earn money to support my family, which is what we all aim to do.

Mr Patel said he hoped the same conclusion is reached when the matter comes back up after officers have re-examined the application.

He said: "The planning committee obviously had a strong coase to reject the ASDA development. They need to stick to their guns."

Despite ASDA’s pledge of 300 jobs and greater consumer choice, the plans attracted 375 letters of objection and a petition with 409 signatures from people fearing the development could wreck local trade and bring traffic chaos.

ASDA said its consultation revealed 90 per cent of people supported the plans, which were first announced last July.

Council officers said a ‘robust assessment’ showed traffic levels would be acceptable and studies showed the plans ‘would not harm the vitality and viability of surrounding shopping centres’.

BAAD protests included leafleting residents, putting up posters and encouraging people to write to the council.

At the meeting which attracted more than 40 members of the public, Mr Patel, 35, said: “Traders up and down the country are being forced out by supermarkets. We cannot beat them on price.

“ASDA will create jobs, but for how long?

“How many jobs will be lost and how many livelihoods will be lost?”

Councillor John Davey described the jobs promise as a ‘red herring’.

He said: “The people of Bexley can only eat so much food. They are not going to eat more as a consequence of this being built. There will be a loss of employment elsewhere to make up for the loss of people going to other shops.”

Councillor Margaret O’Neill added: “I am absolutely concerned that ASDA will be the death knell for a lot of shops.”

ASDA said it would improve the junction at Picardy Road to allow vehicles to turn left easier and incorporate pedestrians better, as well as extending traffic islands to prevent illegal u-turns in Lower Road.

Councillors remained concerned. Cllr O’Neill said: “I think the increase in traffic will overwhelm the population.”

ASDA’s senior property communications manager, Chris Martin said he was disappointed. He added: “By rejecting our plans they have deprived the local community of 300 new jobs, increased shopping choice, road improvements and wider community benefits.

“They have also ignored the support we received from across the community including residents, businesses and those seeking jobs.

“Their decision was made despite the fact that the Council's own officers recommended approval and gave our plans a clean bill of health.”