Store set for refusal as protest group pushes alternative site

Plans by the supermarket giant for the new store on the Humber Growers site at Welton were due to be discussed by councillors last September.

But the meeting was delayed by proposals being submitted for the £100m Brough South development on Skillings Lane, Brough, which includes 800 new homes, hotel, business premises as well as a food store.

Residents fighting the Welton plans believe the store would be better located on the Brough South development, as do the agents for the Brough South site, being developed by Horncastle Group and Redrow Homes.

But Tesco says the site has issues of access and flood risk and have appealed on the grounds of “non-determination”.

A planning inquiry will be held sometime between the end of May and mid-July.

Councillors attending a planning committee meeting on Thursday will be asked to confirm reasons for refusal set out by planners “which will form the basis of the council’s case on appeal.”

Susan Attisha, from Welton Tesco Fighters, a 30-strong group, which set up last year to fight the proposals, said: “It’s just the wrong location, Tesco have tried all over the country to build these out-of-town supermarkets and they have a lot of clout but they don’t always get their way.

“If there was a supermarket in Brough South it would be more linked to the town centre. Putting a garden centre, a sixth-form annexe for nearby South Hunsley School, even housing would be more preferable to a huge supermarket with tankers.

“Our main objection is the traffic, because of the petrol station and the café. All the lorries heading for Europe would stop there – it is just not right for it.”

Four parish councils are objecting, saying the extra traffic will make the A63 and the junction even more dangerous.

Elloughton-cum-Brough parish council says schoolchildren could be tempted to cross the A63 and building a store outside Brough would have a detrimental impact not only on Brough, but also on Welton and Elloughton “resulting in the loss of local shops and jobs.”

Resident David Johnson, a member of WTF, said earmarking a Tesco for a site immediately opposite the village cemetery showed a lack of respect.

He said: “A Tesco at Welton is totally unsuitable. Horncastle (the Brough South developers) are addressing the local roads and they are also putting in facilities, a health centre, hotel and car showroom.

“Yes, I am not sure 800 houses are totally desirable, but we understand that brownfield development is what the Government wants and we have to be mindful of development rather than saying no to everything.”

Agents for Brough South development claim their site is suitable for a Tesco being closer to the centre of Brough. They say a foodstore could open as early as 2013 and a £4m flood risk scheme is nearing completion.

But Tesco has told the council highway improvements and the third phase of the Brough relief road would cost as much as £2m and the store would be in a high risk flood area.

Tesco says there is “an urgent need for an additional foodstore to serve the shopping needs of Brough and that as a result of the access and flood risk issues..the BAE site cannot be developed in the short time to meet this need.”

The store “would reduce the amount of travelling people undertook for their weekly shopping trips and the additional 250 jobs ... would be warmly welcomed.”

A spokesman said: “We believe that our site at Humber Growers is right for customers and residents, and will bring the improved shopping and new jobs quicker and with better access than alternative sites in the area.