|
NW Leics LibDem Parliamentary spokesman Prof Paul Reynolds criticised the decision of NW Leics. District Council to defer yet again the planning application for a major supermarket development, from Asda, and associated improvements in Coalville Town Centre.
‘This is more planning madness which is afflicting the whole of Britain’ Paul said today. ‘The development has been modified to address local opinions, and further minor changes are still possible in later stages of development’ he continued. ‘The development would bring in extra jobs and increased business to the area, but the District Council has got into a terrible muddle, and backed itself into a corner needless by foolishly stating that it will approve ONLY ONE major development in the town centre. This fantasy all-or-nothing approach has kept development away’
|
 |
|
|
|
Belvoir Shopping Centre |
Coalville market |
District Council offices, Coalville |
Coalville Town Centre |
Paul also criticised the lack of clarity over less developed planning applications, by saying ‘It is perfectly possible to break the gridlock the Council has created, by dealing with applications one by one.
The new development will bring in business and make it more viable also to redevelop the existing nearby Belvoir Shopping Centre, and other areas. An ounce or two of commercial nous wouldn’t go amiss at present, but sadly it is absent’.
Referring to the current economic crisis Paul said ‘The people of Coalville and surrounding area need the local jobs and the town developed. Coalville has become more and more run down as the local Council under successive administrations has procrastinated. As unemployment rises they will have to account for themselves to the general public for their disgraceful decision-phobia and lack of pragmatism – they seem to be living in a different world to the rest of us.’ |
