Decision day looms for battle to build store on Shipman site

Netto wants to build a store and car park on the site of the former Abraham Ormerod Medical Centre, where killer doctor Harold Shipman began his career as a GP, and Olympia Centre in Burnley Road, Todmorden.

But several major national societies including the Twentieth Century Society and The Cinema and Theatre Association writing to Calderdale Council to object to the potential demolition of the cinema frontage.

Tomorrow members of Calderdale’s planning committee will be faced with two applications – one which would keep the ornate frontage of the former Olympia cinema and incorporate it into the supermarket design and another which would demolish it.

Council planners have said that either would be acceptable.

Both buildings date from the 1930s and have been identified as “key buildings”.

A recent application was made to list the Abraham Ormerod building and although the application was dismissed the report states that it is “one of a rare type of building and thus has an intrinsic degree of interest. As for the cinema it is considered to be an unusual example of a 1930s art deco building”.

The debate over the future of the buildings has been impassioned with the chairman of regeneration group Todmorden Pride, James Gregory, criticising objectors who oppose plans to demolish historic buildings in the town as “self-indulgent”.

But many locals fear the loss of two of the town centre’s iconic buildings while Netto says the scheme will be good for the town by bringing a derelict site back into use and creating jobs.

Calderdale councillor Ian Cooper, (Con, Todmorden), said: “I can understand the opinions of those people who wish to retain the art deco frontage and I respect that opinion. But on balance I am of the opinion that the application to demolish that frontage is a far better design in the longer term.

“I think it would be difficult to refuse permission for development given that it was used as a former supermarket. Those halcyon days when it was used as a cinema are approaching some 50 years ago and I think it is now time to move on.”

Later this year the committee will also have to consider an even more incendiary application for yet another supermarket in the town, in Halifax Road, submitted by Sainsbury’s.

Around a quarter of Todmorden’s population, 3,450 people, signed a petition against proposals by the company as they fear it will “destroy” the town.

Coun Cooper was so determined to fight the plans he resigned his position on the planning committee so he can speak his mind.

He said: “Sainsbury’s is a supermarket too far – I know they say they will create 150 jobs but to attempt to introduce yet another supermarket on top of the Netto proposal would be suicidal for a market town.

“I understand they are reconsidering some of the design aspects but it is not about the design or the materials they propose to use, it is much more fundamental than that.

“I believe that it is probably the only opportunity that this town will have to utilise a site which would be much better used to develop the town’s tourism potential.”

Sainsbury’s and Netto are not the only supermarkets eyeing up Calderdale as a suitable investment opportunity. Morrisons wants to build a store in Elland and in December last year the group submitted an application which if approved would see up to 300 jobs created with undercroft parking accessed off the Elland Riorges Link and pedestrian entrance via the piazza off Briggate.

Asda is also battling to open a store in the town and followed Morrisons in submitting plans for a store on Dewsbury Road which it says would create 200 jobs.