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Search forBelper residents have their say about possible Tesco site
Tuesday, September 02, 2008, 07:30
BATS (Belper Against Tesco Superstore) was formed in May last year after the retail giant spoke with Amber Valley Borough Council about building a store in Derwent Street.
Now, the group has surveyed people about what they want the site used for.
A report was sent to the council to help write a brief for any company wanting to develop on the site.
Most of the 70 residents who took part wanted the 80,000sq ft area used for better leisure facilities.
Suggestions included a bowling alley, children's play area, cinema, outdoor swimming facilities and a riverside promenade.
BATS spokesman Andy Minion said: "The main thing the report showed is people want anything other than Tesco on that site.
"About 60% of people wanted leisure developments of some kind.
"I can't speak for the residents who completed our survey, but I think there may be a perception, whether right or wrong, that the current leisure centre in Belper is a bit tired."
The BATS report also gave reasons why those surveyed did not want the new supermarket.
One reason was they were worried the store could mean the destruction of fields and trees, cause flooding, light pollution and take local shops' business away.
People also feared the development would not fit in with the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.
The report was sent to the council so it could use the information in preparing a development brief for the land between the A6 and the River Derwent, which includes Derwent Street.
BATS was angry the brief was being prepared with the help of consultants acting on behalf of Tesco, but the authority said this was usual.
A spokeswoman said: "The purpose of this brief is to expand on the policies in the adopted local plan and provide further detail as to what forms of development will be acceptable.
"It will not contain any specific proposals but is intended to guide prospective developers in putting together any planning proposals.
"It is common practice for local planning authorities, given limited resources, to work in partnership with the private sector to prepare development briefs."
The completed brief will be passed to the council's planning board for consideration and, if approved, will then be the subject of a six-week public consultation.
No definite completion date has been set.
A Tesco spokesperson said no decision would be taken until the views of "local residents and other interested parties" were taken into account.
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