Go-ahead call for supermarket project despite protest outcry

Sainsbury’s wants to build a store in a prominent location on the eastern entry into Todmorden, on the former Hope Street Mill site. The mill was demolished in 2005 and the site is now a major eyesore in the town.

The company says there will be 173 car parking spaces and the application will bring jobs and prosperity to the town – but the application has created a storm of protest.

Recently Asda/Netto obtained approval for a new store on a site in the town formerly occupied by Kwik Save, while Morrisons has secured the go-ahead for a major store in Elland. It has all led to fears that Calderdale was becoming a magnet for would-be supermarket developers.

The proposed Sainsbury’s development has aroused huge opposition in the town, Coun Ian Cooper (Con, Todmorden) even resigned his place on Calderdale Council’s planning committee so he could fight the application without the hindrance of office.

He says there is a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” for the site to be redeveloped as a marina.

Now a report by head of planning Geoff Willerton for Calderdale’s planning committee which meets on Tuesday says there have been 82 representations in favour of the scheme and 482 objections.

A petition containing more than 3,000 signatures has been received complaining about the alleged “saturation” by supermarkets in the town.

One of those objecting is Calderdale Council leader Janet Battye, (Liberal Democrat, Calder), who said the viability of the market and small shops and cafes in the town centre would be affected.

She said it would “dominate the entrance to the town centre and surrounding residential streets”, adding: “The design is too corporate and banal, it needs to be more in keeping with the town using local materials. The supermarket does not offer the town anything that is relevant or positive, just another large supermarket which the town does not need.”

Coun Cooper has also raised concerns over the development as he has doubts about the number of increased jobs that will result if the application is allowed to go ahead.

Former longstanding Todmorden councillor Olwyn Jennings is also far from appreciative of the scheme, saying: “The proposal will have a detrimental impact on the town centre shops in particular the market.

“Todmorden’s Regeneration Board is currently seeking to regenerate the town centre and the development in Halifax Road will see a shift of business away from the town centre.”

Todmorden Town Council is also against the proposal saying it has concerns about the “over-intensification of supermarkets in the town and concerns regarding the building design”.

In his report, Mr Willerton said: “Due to the complex and sensitive nature of the retail planning issues planning officers have decided that, in this instance, it was appropriate to seek the advice of an independent chartered planning consultant with expertise in this matter.”

This advice says: “There is clearly insufficient capacity in available expenditure to support the existing food stores and proposed developments at Todmorden... the current proposal would promote competition, improve choice and the quality of shopping at Todmorden.

“Impact on town centre shops would be modest but in any event the evidence points to Todmorden as being a healthy town centre and existing shops would continue to trade above expectations notwithstanding the proposed development and approved Asda/Netto.”

Mr Willerton stressed that, subject to conditions, he considers the proposal acceptable. Members of Calderdale’s planning committee will decide shortly whether to accept his advice.