Re- The Residents response to the possibility of a Supermarket on
Hibbert Lane, Marple.
On Wednesday night of this week, the 27th. of July, I together with approximately 299 others attended Marple Area Committee. The meeting was to meet in the library but because of the numbers attending the meeting was moved to the Senior Citizens Hall, then because the Hall is only licensed for 150 people the meeting was then adjourned to the park and became open air meeting centred on the War Memorial.
The reason for such a turnout was to “reveal all” concerning the possibility of the building of a supermarket on Hibbert Lane on a site currently owned by Cheadle Marple College.
The reasons for this sale was that the receipt for the sale would then be used to develop their Buxton Lane site, although there is a possibility that their site in Cheadle would also reap the rewards of such a sale.
Mr. Paul Lawrence was introduced, he is the service Director for SMBC Planning. He fielded all the questions from the gathered throng, councillors took little part in answering questions from the gathered throng.
He began explaining that he fully understood the concerns of those who had gathered, a mixture of residents and shopkeepers in Marple.
He explained that the council would not consider an application for a substantial supermarket as acceptable as the Core Strategy plan has earmarked the site for housing only. Other uses might be considered but not for a supermarket as was being rumoured. In their report to council if the application was for a substantial supermarket development the recommendation would be to refuse.
A number of questions were asked including “Why can’t the council stop the sale to Tesco?”- the reply was given that SMBC cannot prevent the College selling the site to anyone.
“What about covenants?”- Answer was that the existence of any covenants was unknown.
“Has the College or Tesco spoken to SMBC to explore the future building of a supermarket?”- the answer was “No”.
David Hoyle the Chairman of Marple Business Forum took his place on the Memorial and stated that the college would sell the Hibbert Road site to Tesco and that he had been told by the College themselves that contracts would be signed in October.
Tesco would then submit a planning application after the sale.
He was convinced of this after he and others had met with the college to explore their intentions, in particular stating that a sale for housing rather than to a supermarket giant would not produce the receipt the college needed for developing their site on Buxton Lane.
The money required could not be obtained from government because of the current economic state of the nation which of course is the fault of the last government. How does Gordon Brown sleep at night?
A number of those present felt that the Council would not be able to resist the pressure that TTesco would exert and that the Council would give in eventually and that Tesco would win any appeal if their Application was refused- such is the perceived power of Tesco.
The gathering was basically unhappy with the responses given by SMBC and many felt that the supermarket development will happen whatever resistance is offered, confidence is low.
A recent leaflet urged residents to attend this meeting, stating that Andrew Stunell MP would also be present, Andrew is also patron of Marple Civic Society. He did not attend of course, no doubt another more pressing engagement.
As to my own opinion of this proposed sale to a supermarket chain, of course it should not happen. Any development of this nature will do nothing for Marple District Shopping centre and many of the existing shops would fail. Retailing is a fragile business at the best of times and certainly the pressure of a Tesco Supermarket would create a shop desert. There are several empty shops now with little prospect of a permanent tenant. Such an impact is grounds enough for a planning refusal, let alone the fact the development is against policy.
The key to this is to persuade somehow that the college does not sell to a supermarket giant, how that can be achieved is unknown at present, given the college’s own aspiration.
There is a loss of confidence in the council’s ability to fend of the pressure of Tesco, but what I do know writing as a former chair of planning myself that Stockport does have the right calibre of officers to defend any planning decision forthcoming.
So have faith dear residents and support your local council.
If Tesco are to buy a “pig in a poke” who know’s they may develop the site themselves as a housing site.
Regarding the rumour concerning the swimming bath demolition and adjacent shop, what rubbish, where do these rumours or “Marple whispers” come from?
Although the prospect of an open prison to be constructed along Longhurst Lane in fields at the rear of the Conservative Club with an adjacent Macdonalds together with a KFC, worries me intensely.
I am Chairman of Marple Community Council as well as being a former SMBC councillor and Chair of Planning for a number of years, so I may claim to know a little of what is going on.
I and my committee will of course support this Community We were advised of the councils policy concerning the use of the land a few months ago, so I heard nothing new from SMBC on Wednesday night.
However I did return home on Wednesday night wishing that the Community had shown the same resolve concerning their response to the proposed closure of public toilets here in Marple, but of course the vested interests are different .
Adrian Taylor
