Councillors Question Retail Study Findings

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Wincanton town councillors have questioned a South Somerset District Council retail study carried out without their knowledge.

A study by property consultants GVA Grimley reported that although there was no immediate need for retail development in the town, it identified the Carrington Way and Memorial Hall car parks as possible sites. The locations were identified on a map included in the 268-page retail study covering South Somerset.

Wincanton mayor Richard D'Arcy told a town council meeting on Monday night: "Although the report seems to have been taken out of context there should still have been more consultation with this council. We represent the people of this town and we should have been informed that the study was being carried out."

Town clerk Sam Skirton said: "The first port of call for any study to be carried out in Wincanton, either by county or district council, should always be the town council. The first we heard of this study was when it appeared in the Western Gazette."

District councillor Ric Pallister, portfolio holder for planning, economic development and transport, was at the meeting to answer questions.

Councillor Deryck Lemon questioned the criteria GVA Grimley had been asked to work towards and the methods used in collecting evidence. Councillor Colin Winder also questioned how many shopkeepers had been consulted.

Mr Pallister said he would get back to the council with answers in due course.

A district council spokeswoman said: "This important piece of required research, called the South Somerset Retail Study Update (July 2010) was undertaken by GVA Grimley Ltd who won a competitive tender. District councils often bring in consultants to carry out these studies as councils don't tend to have officers generally employed to carry out such specialist detailed research.

"The study does not make any proposals itself, it merely makes observations. The study concluded there was very little need for any new retailing in Wincanton up to 2026 and any new retailing should be focused in the existing town centre, therefore the council has not proposed any land for new retail development in any location in Wincanton, including the car parks.

"The council's draft Core Strategy makes no proposals to allocate any new land for retail in Wincanton. This draft Core Strategy has been open to extensive public consultation, including with the town council, and will again be out to consultation later this year."

Article first published in the Western Gazette

Comments

Nick Colbert
Posts: 1

Wincantons elected representatives are being treated badly
Reply #1 on : Sun January 16, 2011, 22:05:52

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We have just seen the Wincanton transport bill go through with the Town council not given time to debate or influence the policy, when they asked for an extension to the deadline it was refused - so no debate there then.

The open farmland behind Dancing Lane appeared in the Core Strategy as "Option 1" The councils preferred strategy. There was no discussion prior to its inclusion with the Town Council, Cllr Winder or County Cllr Groskop. The Town council has since turned that proposal down but it still remains in "Option 1"

Now we see decisions have been made with regard to the retail future of Wincanton without consultation with the Town Council, Cllr Winder or County Councillor Groskop. I am sure most, if not all of the above, would have liked to be included in these debates as the elected representatives in Wincanton, whether it be the transport bill, the Dancing Lane development or our retail future.

The issue at this stage is not what has or has not been decided it is why are Wincantons democratically elected representatives not being properly consulted by South Somerset District Council.

South Somerset District Councils core strategy revealed plans to build 1,053 homes by 2026, increasing the population by around 2,000. If that happens clearly Wincanton will need additional services, the current population is 5,100, that is an increase of nearly 40%. Are we seriously supposed to believe there will be no changes.

Martin Woods comments in his letter:
"Of course, it should be noted that the fact that the car parks or anywhere in the town have not been allocated as new retail development land does not prevent someone from approaching the council with a planning application in the future, and the council would be obliged to deal with any application in the normal way."

Well doesn't that leave the door wide open for any retail developer to submit plans.

People can make up their own minds about what the report does or does not say now it is in the public domain, but the real issue is why are the Towns elected representatives and the people themselves not being allowed to comment and debate these issues concerning their town when clearly Cllr Carroll and the Lib/dem majority in Yeovil are trying to decide Wincantons future behind closed doors.

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