Please note: The 3 Planning applications submitted to MK Council by Tesco now have a new deadline date of 19th April 2012. This has been moved back from 4th April.
Please submit your objections. The outcome could be very significant for Woburn Sands.
UPDATE - WSTC have released more information for those who wish to comment on the applications listed below. Please read it by clicking HERE.
Tescos have formally applied for Planning Permission for 3 different reasons.
1. Conservation area consent to demolish a 5.9m wall in Downham Road (12/00450/CON)
2. Advertising consent to display 2 facia signs and 3 internal signs (12/00404/ADV)
3. External works to existing elevations, including alterations to shop front (12/00389/FUL)
If you click on the link below it will take you to the Public Access Portal.
Enter the reference numbers above to view each document.
Please write a personal letter to the Planning Officer in Charge, Anna Holloway with your objections by 4th April 2012. You will need to object to each and all 3 of the above individually.
The plans will also be available to view in the WSTC offices and hopefully the library, from Monday 19th March.
As many of you will have noticed, Zens has now closed and the owners Nanco Lettings have a board outside stating the premises are let.
Tesco have started their planning application process and have currently submitted consent for signage, shop front changes and demolishment of part of a side wall on Downham Road. Very shortly the applications will be in the public domain and MKC will be seeking individual responses to these applications. We will keep you posted of the contact information and how to object should you wish to do so. There is obviously still an overwhelming negative feeling towards Tesco coming to Woburn Sands so please carry this forward and make your objections known through the correct channels.
The petition, both written and online are due for presentation to Tesco shortly too.
Please also note that in Planning Matters, Taylor Wimpey will be holding a Public Consultation on the remaining phases of the Parklands development on 20/21st April and it is important that as many as possible view these and comment.
The latest information we have about Tesco’s plans is that following a request to MKC Highways for changes to road layouts/parking arrangements, MKC highways, having discussed the plans with WSTC told Tesco their proposal was unacceptable. Tesco said they would be resubmitting further proposals, but nothing has been received by MKC thus far. In the meantime, Tesco have announced Christmas trading figures and heavy losses on their share value and their Chief Executive says its focus will now shift from expansion to improving its existing store network. This gives us hope that the plans to move into our High Street will not progress, but nothing is certain.
The website and petitions in shops against Tesco opening here reached a total figure of over 2500 and we very much appreciate this repsonse. Please make it a New Year resolution to shop locally a bit more and keep using Woburn Zens as it’s open for business as usual.
Please refer to the Council Pages for more information on other planning matters such as The Greens Hotal appeal.
Finally, we are very please to announce the opening of the new library on 4th February 2012.
JOINT STATEMENT FROM WSBCA & WSTC.
After some discussion at the Town Council meeting on Monday 14th November, the Town Council voted to support the actions of the WSBCA in objecting to Tesco’s proposals to move into the High Street. The Town Council and Business Association will now work together to do what we can to prevent Tesco from opening up at Woburn Zens, since this view seems to reflect the views of a large majority of the population.
In the meantime, don’t forget to sign the on-line petition or one of the lists in several shops if you have not done so already, and our thanks to the 1,000 plus who have already signed up to object. Please though, only sign online or on paper, not both.
This is an official statement from Woburn Sands Town Council regarding TESCO IN WOBURN SANDS
In order to clarify all the rumours circulating about Tesco coming to Woburn Sands, the Town Council invited representatives of Tesco to come and outline their proposals to us and give us the opportunity to ask some questions.
From this meeting it is now clear that Tesco intend opening a Tesco Express, their convenience store brand, in the property currently occupied by Woburn Zens. In order to do so, Tesco need to seek planning permission for minor alterations to the rear of the property and the car park and for changes to signage at the front since it is in our Conservation Area. They are also going to seek an alteration to car parking arrangements at the High Street end of Downham Road to allow access for their smallest (8.4m) rigid delivery vehicles for which they need permission from MKC Highways. Tesco are anxious to open this store as soon as possible, but realistically the MKC planning officer at our meeting told them this is unlikely to be earlier than late January 2012.
The Town Council is well aware of a strong lobby of opinion against this proposal, but there are also some who welcome it. Woburn Sands Business Association has an on-line petition and petitions in several shops if you wish to object to Tesco Express coming to Woburn Sands. To carry any weight this petition will need a great many signatures as not signing it may be interpreted as being either ambivalent about or for a Tesco Express here.
Woburn Sands Town Council will be carefully considering any planning application associated with Tesco Express in our High Street with the aim of protecting the Conservation Area status, safeguarding access to properties in Downham Road, and looking at safety issues for pedestrians and motorists on the High Street itself. We are anxious to do what we can to preserve the identity and viability of our High Street which has fared relatively well in comparison to others during the recent times of recession.
We will advertise any planning applications to which you can respond to the planning officer at MKC when the time comes.
Update: With over 630 signatures already, a thank you but we need more. Please spread the word. Use facebook, Twitter, forums, email. In all reality we are going to need around 2000 signatures, so please keep it going.
There is an online petition currently running for those who wish to let Tesco know that you do not WANT or NEED a Tesco Express in Woburn Sands. It can be found here…
http://www.petitiononline.co.uk/petition/say-no-to-tesco-express-in-woburn-sands/3814
Please sign the petition. We need to preserve the viability of our High Street and a Tesco Express will directly affect at least 10 businesses on the High Street. More to follow.
(this is a free website service and no donations given are forwarded towards the campaign)Edit: There are now several paper petitions available to sign in shops along the High Street. Please add your support and sign as soon as possible. The paper version also has over 600 signatures so keep going but don’t sign online and on paper please.
Woburn Sands now has it’s own shopping bag.
Shop – Drink – Eat – Think Woburn Sands is the slogan.
Please show your support for our local community by buying and using these new shopping bags. A very nice heavy weight cotton shopper as a replacement for plastic carrier bags.
ONLY £2.00 each and available from several High Street shops:
Eva’s, Sweet Pea, Kings Road, Haskells, Aubergine, Kate Highstead, Frosts, Armstrongs
Keep an eye out for new 2011 logos. One for local shops and one for local trades people. Woburn Sands Business & Community Association (WSBCA) are promoting their members and asking that you all support our campaign to keep business local. Whether you need a butcher or restaurant, accountant or plumber, make sure they are a WSBCA member. We support the businesses so they can support you, so keep it local and offer your support too.
Welcome to woburnsands.co.uk and our new blog and website. Easier to update and a fresh look. Keep coming back !
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