Error holds up store plan
PLANS to build a Tesco superstore in St Helen Auckland couldn’t be discussed this week because Durham County Council forgot to invite objectors to the meeting.
An administrative error meant the three objectors to the plans, which would see the current Ebac factory at St Helens Industrial Estate replaced with an 8,164sqm Tesco store, weren’t informed the application was going in front of the council’s planning committee on Tuesday.
Legally, objectors should be notified if their item is on an agenda as they have until noon the day before to register a desire to speak at the committee meeting.
Water-cooler manufacturer Ebac wants to sell its site to Tesco so that it can build a new factory elsewhere in the Bishop Auckland area but, seven months after it first submitted the application, its plans will have to be put on hold again for at least another month until the committee next meets.
Ebac managing director Pamela Petty said she was frustrated by the delays none of which may put the whole deal at risk.
She said: “These applications are supposed to be heard within 13 weeks but this has now dragged on since November. Every time we look like we’re getting somewhere something like this happens and it is frustrating because we have done nothing wrong.
“We don’t have a contract with Tesco yet and I would say there might be a risk to this deal if it is not resolved soon.
“That risk might only be one per cent at the moment but nothing will surprise me with this deal so sooner it is decided upon the better.”
Ebac has always maintained the need the plan to go ahead in order to move thus securing jobs for its 250 workers and possibly creating new jobs in the future.
The application was recommended for approval by planning officer Chris Baxter despite the objections from representatives of Morrisons, a local resident and the developers of North Bondgate who say they’re better placed to build a Tesco store.
Mr Baxter said the store would “provide a shopping facility which would relieve the current level of overtrading” within the Bishop Auckland area.
He said the current over trading seen at other supermarkets creates over crowding and congestion for shoppers.
A spokeswoman for Durham County Council apologised for the administrative error which meant the objectors weren’t notified and said it could be back before the committee on Tuesday, July 7.