Amended planning application submitted by Barton Willmore on Dec 11th, 2012:
> by Feb 28th, 98.75% of Respondents say 'NO'
> on March 14th, MKC rejects the revised planning application
Between Dec 11th - Jan 25th, 132 public representation comments on the amended application were posted on the MKC Public Access website (with more to come): of these, 130 are objections. Since the original application was submitted (Jan 2011), this brings the total number of objections, as of Jan 25th, 2013, to 551, as opposed to only 7 in favour: 98.75% of local residents who have submitted comments object to the proposal.
Stony Stratford Town Council unanimously voted, at a special public meeting on Jan 10th 2012 attended by over 150 people, to maintain its objection to the revised application on grounds that it is out of scale. The Town Council recommends that the developers return with an alternative scheme, maintaining the mixed-use character of the site, and re-using the existing buildings rather than demolishing them - a Plan B ...read more >>
At the meeting of the MKC Development Conttol Commitee on March 14th, the members voted unanimously to reject the application for re-development of Cofferidge Close, on the grounds presented by the MKC case Officer, Debbie Kirk (scale, heritage, loss of the Dental Practice). Excellent presentations were made objecting to the proposal, by Rob Gifford (Chair of Stony Town Council), Phil Wharton (Stony Ward Councillor) , and Graham Benjamin (from the 'Save Cofferidge Close' group). The applicant's representatives made two rather weak presentations, which failed to convince the DCC...
98% said 'NO' at initial consultation in 2011
Of the 300 + respondents whose comments on the planning application were posted on the MK Council (Development Control) website in 2011, after 21 days of public consultation, 98% made objections.
Of the handful of supporting comments, the most significant was from the committee of Stony Stratford Business Association (SSBA), but several leading businesses in the town centre, including members of SSBA, are vehemently opposed to the plans (see 'quotes' below, from submissions made to the MK Council website). And, during the second round of consultation , on the amended proposal, the SSBA submitted a letter to MKC objecting to the proposal on gounds of the size of the proposed supermarket.
The petition signed by 373 Budgens customers and staff in February gives a similar picture of strong opposition to the plans from the local community
Of the handful of supporting comments, the most significant was from the committee of Stony Stratford Business Association (SSBA), but several leading businesses in the town centre, including members of SSBA, are vehemently opposed to the plans (see 'quotes' below, from submissions made to the MK Council website). And, during the second round of consultation , on the amended proposal, the SSBA submitted a letter to MKC objecting to the proposal on gounds of the size of the proposed supermarket.
The petition signed by 373 Budgens customers and staff in February gives a similar picture of strong opposition to the plans from the local community
Not a NIMBY response
Click to enlarge
An analysis by postcode of all the NO comments submitted to the MK Council website, plus those from the petition from Budgens staff and customers, with any duplicates removed, clearly demonstrates that only 20% of the local opposition to the proposals comes from people who live near Cofferidge Close. Indeed, over 10% of the objections came from people outside the town.
For a professional architect's response to the proposals - and someone who does not live in Stony - see the blog by Iqbal Aalam, Cofferidge Close, Stony Stratford, under threat..
For a professional architect's response to the proposals - and someone who does not live in Stony - see the blog by Iqbal Aalam, Cofferidge Close, Stony Stratford, under threat..
Out of Scale
Public comments on the planning application overwhelmingly say it is out of scale (a larger supermarket is not needed, would cause major parking and traffic problems, and would result in the loss of a pleasant green space in the town centre) :
- 81,426 words of public comment have been submitted to the MK Council in response to the proposed plans, in 337 separate letters and emails. 97.5% oppose the plans.
- of the 79,392 words of written protest to the plans for redevelopment, this diagram shows the Top 100 words used and their frequency >>>>>>>
- 81,426 words of public comment have been submitted to the MK Council in response to the proposed plans, in 337 separate letters and emails. 97.5% oppose the plans.
- of the 79,392 words of written protest to the plans for redevelopment, this diagram shows the Top 100 words used and their frequency >>>>>>>
Some quotes from representatives of local businesses
: “…Stony Stratford does not need or want a larger supermarket, at the expense of a green area. … We have Budgens, big enough for Stony Stratford residents and a large Tesco only 1 mile away … Silver Street and Church Street are too narrow to take even more large delivery lorries …” (uploaded 16/2/11)
“I read with horror the planned development of Cofferidge Close. … I cannot believe that a small market town like Stony Stratford warrants a larger supermarket than the one that is there at present. Customers that we have spoken to are of one accord, that they have got Tesco’s at Wolverton and if they want a large supermarket they go up there. Where on earth do you think the extra custom is coming from? …” (e-mail uploaded 15/3/11)
: “… we would welcome an up-dating of the store [Budgens] as it stands but are strongly against the proposed enlargement and the clearing of so many trees and gardens for car parking. … Although we as retailers in the town would welcome an influx of more shoppers some form of traffic calming … would be needed in Silver Street if the car parking was banned from this area. … A larger supermarket is not required. …” (letter uploaded 24/2/11)
: “I am a Stony Stratford businesswoman, ex-resident ... so I know the town well. Stony Stratford is admired for its charm … A supermarket 3 times the size of the existing Budgens, however, even if there was suitable space for it, would destroy the town for all the reasons already made apparent to you. … A large store will attract people who do a once a week shop for speed and cheap prices: these are not the people who will support small shops in the High Street. …” (e-mail uploaded 10/3/11)
“I wish to object to the building of a large supermarket in Cofferidge Close … for the following reasons: its size will be inappropriate for a Conservation Area; the removal of mature trees; increased road traffic and resulting pollution in the area; loss of a local NHS dental practice and Adult Education services…” (e-mail uploaded 23/2/11)
“I strongly object to the above application. I agree that Stony requires a slightly larger supermarket in the town than Budgens is now. However, I feel the road system within the proposed area is not suitable for such an increase in traffic … Since the introduction of the ridiculous one way system in Stony High Street, Silver Street area and the access into Budgens Car Park is a death trap with a very bad accident waiting to happen. It is … extremely dangerous for pedestrians and car users, not to mention the extreme congestion already there. The loss of the grass area and trees is very disturbing … I confirm I object most strongly.” (objection filed by internet, uploaded 16/2/11)
>> To read more extracts from the 550+ objections received by MKC, click to go to our HOOTs page >>
“I read with horror the planned development of Cofferidge Close. … I cannot believe that a small market town like Stony Stratford warrants a larger supermarket than the one that is there at present. Customers that we have spoken to are of one accord, that they have got Tesco’s at Wolverton and if they want a large supermarket they go up there. Where on earth do you think the extra custom is coming from? …” (e-mail uploaded 15/3/11)
: “… we would welcome an up-dating of the store [Budgens] as it stands but are strongly against the proposed enlargement and the clearing of so many trees and gardens for car parking. … Although we as retailers in the town would welcome an influx of more shoppers some form of traffic calming … would be needed in Silver Street if the car parking was banned from this area. … A larger supermarket is not required. …” (letter uploaded 24/2/11)
: “I am a Stony Stratford businesswoman, ex-resident ... so I know the town well. Stony Stratford is admired for its charm … A supermarket 3 times the size of the existing Budgens, however, even if there was suitable space for it, would destroy the town for all the reasons already made apparent to you. … A large store will attract people who do a once a week shop for speed and cheap prices: these are not the people who will support small shops in the High Street. …” (e-mail uploaded 10/3/11)
“I wish to object to the building of a large supermarket in Cofferidge Close … for the following reasons: its size will be inappropriate for a Conservation Area; the removal of mature trees; increased road traffic and resulting pollution in the area; loss of a local NHS dental practice and Adult Education services…” (e-mail uploaded 23/2/11)
“I strongly object to the above application. I agree that Stony requires a slightly larger supermarket in the town than Budgens is now. However, I feel the road system within the proposed area is not suitable for such an increase in traffic … Since the introduction of the ridiculous one way system in Stony High Street, Silver Street area and the access into Budgens Car Park is a death trap with a very bad accident waiting to happen. It is … extremely dangerous for pedestrians and car users, not to mention the extreme congestion already there. The loss of the grass area and trees is very disturbing … I confirm I object most strongly.” (objection filed by internet, uploaded 16/2/11)
>> To read more extracts from the 550+ objections received by MKC, click to go to our HOOTs page >>
> News > 4 Questions > HOOTs > Dodgies > Plan B
This site has been created and is administered by a group of independent residents of Stony Stratford
This site has been created and is administered by a group of independent residents of Stony Stratford