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Tesco protestors win David v Goliath battle
CAMPAIGNERS were celebrating today after defeating supermarket giant Tesco.
Layton residents turned out in force as plans to build a new store on the site of the Windmill Pub, on Westcliffe Drive, were blocked by town hall planners.
"We are delighted – this is absolutely the right decision," said Hugh Mallon, of Mellor Avenue, after councillors voted unanimously to reject the Tesco application.
"It could not have gone any other way given the circumstances. I've lived in Layton for 40 years. The people of Layton do not want this development and do not need this development."
More than 3,500 people signed a petition against the proposal, which would have seen the pub demolished to make way for a 1,363sq metre store.
Around 50 residents turned up to Blackpool Council's development control committee to hear the application considered.
And they cheered and applauded as objectors outlined why they felt the Tesco plan should be refused permission.
Officers recommended the application be turned down as it would be damaging to nearby shops and go against policies aimed at protecting district shopping centres.
A report by planners stated there was "no overriding need for the Tesco store in this location".
Cath Hurley, treasurer of Layton Residents Association, said she wanted to thank everyone who supported the residents' campaign.
She said: "It was a great result. Layton is a real community and we want to keep it that way."
Coun Sue Ridyard told the meeting: "There has been a Windmill pub in the area for more than 100 years, we don't want to lose part of our local history.
"It's the main route into Blackpool from the A6 and the junction cannot cope with the extra traffic."
Matt Magee, representing Tesco, had argued the firm was proposing a "modest" supermarket, which would offer new services and facilities for Layton, as well as providing more than 100 jobs.
He said traffic modelling had shown traffic would be within the capacity of the junction to cope.
But Coun Val Haynes said she felt the supermarket would cause jams.
She said: "While we were on a site visit there, you could see the volume of traffic was backing up at the red lights and that was just normal day-to-day traffic. A supermarket would double or treble this."
And Coun Brian Doherty added: "Tesco might create jobs, but it would also affect local businesses. Layton would end up as a ghost town."
Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden said he was pleased with the result.
He said: "This is not the right development for a place where there are small shops and a real village atmosphere, which does not need the extra traffic this proposal would have brought.
"I hope Tesco will now accept the overwhelming opposition right across the area and desist from pursuing this application in future."
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Weather for Blackpool
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
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Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
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