Letter: Shropshire Council is without conviction over planning rules

Letter: In allowing Tesco to get away with its breach of planning permission at its Harlescott store, Shropshire Council has shown it is without courage, conviction and commitment in planning.

Tesco was in violation of planning rules from the moment the store was built. It was built to a larger size than permitted and stocked with more non-food goods than allowed.

Neither Shropshire Council nor its predecessor noticed this until a resident complained.

When Tesco submitted an application for retrospective permission to legalise its breach it got its sums wrong. Shropshire Council validated the application without checking the details.

It took CPRE to point out the error and get Tesco to withdraw its application.

Tesco's amended application was approved by a single vote. Councillors at the meeting were not given inadequate data and analysis by their officers. Shropshire Council's consultant even said that for the town centre to thrive small shops need to be redeveloped into bigger units to compete with the out-of-town stores. Did he think he was in Telford or Milton Keynes?

There was much talk about this approval not setting a precedent. It has set the worst precedent this rural county could have. Every major retailer now knows it can break planning rules, that the council will not check whether it has done so and will approve a retrospective application rather than fight.

Shropshire needs a planning system that is enforced with conviction and commitment.

Shropshire Council must have the courage to take on major developers when they break the rules.

Andy Boddington

Chairman

CPRE Shropshire