General Discussion

Received a letter from Sainsburys today as many other may have.
Teignbridge planning officer is recommending to elected councillors they refuse permission on 23rd June at Newton, I dont know what the grounds are.
Members of public can speak as long as you register before.
If you want Sainsburys or not talk to local Councillors.
Maybe the reason is that the Councillors have business interest in Dawlish...what ya think Viaduct? .. your the man in the know!

I promise you I am not Viaduct.

The situation is: that the planning officer at Teignbridge District Council is recommending that planning permission be refused on the grounds that:

1. The land Sainsbury's wish to build on is designated as employment land and not land for retail use.

2. That it is too far out of town.

Cllrs will decide on the Sainsbury planning app. this coming Monday. However, I'd bet that between now and Friday Tesco will whack a planning app.in for Lady's Mile and as a consequence the decision on the Sainsbury's app. will be deferred.

Protest to your Cllrs, write to the papers, go to the meeting on Monday and protest if you don't like what's going on (and that last piece of advice is bound to bring a heapful of scorn from Viaduct you just wait and see).

If you wish to speak you have to register with TDC by tomorrow (Thursday).

Can you explain 'employment' land please.

Who else is waiting?

I don't have that definition I'm afraid but have been more than once reliably informed that a supermarket employing people doesn't fit the definition of employment as in planning speak Supermarket = retail.

Sainsbury however, are offering to create employment units on the site for small (non-retail) business but Mr/Ms TDC Planner not impressed.

Apparently it is land that is designated for employment usage - eg: small units for small businesses, and industrial/manufacturing units of various sizes. One of the issues is apparently that this land has been designated as "employment land" and that Sainsbury's building there will eliminate SOME of that employment land. HOWEVER I understand that it's been designated as employment land for many decades, but is still a field - and not employing many people as such!!! So with Sainsburys, there may be less employment land - but at least there will be SOME of it built on for units etc. Otherwise it may NEVER be used for employment.

Is this the same planning officer who recommended Tesco's building on Sandy Lane!??

Thank you Bogof.
If the Council has made up its mind, nobody will change it will they.

Whilst I am more than happy to tell you what I know about Sainsbury (and Tesco for that matter) for various reason I'm not prepared to go public. Here is my advice for what it is worth. Please do not give up just because the planner has said No. It is not unknown for councillors to override planning officers' opinions. Indeed, I would go so far as to say that if Tesco weren't around the Cllrs would have possibly rejected the planning officer's objection to Sainsbury. However, I doubt if that will happen on Monday because Tesco is about and up to tricks. If you want Sainsbury over Tesco this has got to be played real clever - an' Tesco know every trick in the trade. They ain't here for something to do are they?

Like I said before, you and all the rest of you need to make your voices heard. Please, please, don't sit back and do nothing. It is not a fait accompli. Fight them!

Re Sandy Lane: - Tesco never got as far as submitting a planning application. If the land wasn't for sale, which is wasn't,then there was no point. However, you are absolutely correct to suggest that somewhere in the not too distant past an officer, possibly a planner,of TDC was amenable to Sandy Lane being sold off for development. I believe it got vetoed because of the public furore over the possibility and the politicians realised it would be political suicide to sell it. Arrogant Tesco thought they could change our minds. WRONG!!!

which councillors are the best to contact?

Try all of 'em & see what happens is my best advice. Strictly speaking you should contact the ones who represent your ward but as I don't know where you live I can't advise.

Teignbridge District Cllrs from Dawlish wards are:
Humprhey Clemens
Rosalind Prowse
Ted Hockin
Graham Price
Mary Mugford

send to them and copy in the town councillors.

Are any of them on the planning committee?

I've emailed three of them and have had no response..I am not impressed by that.
BBC Radio Devon phone in at 12noon Friday may cover this story.

Forgot to say that Cllrs may not respond on anything to do with planning matters as they could be accused of predetermination which basically means that they could be accused of having made up their minds before considering the planning application officially at committee stage.

Yes, I know it's a cop out BUT when big boys like Sainsbury and Tesco are in the playground you gotta play by the rules otherwise they'll have yer goolies for breakfast!.

Which doesn't mean of course that Cllrs won't talk about things amongst themselves because of course they do. Their getting lots of e-mails (even if they can't/won't respond) also lets 'em know what people are thinking about things.

Also, e-mail MP. Strictly speaking local planning matters absolutely nothing to do with him but again let him know what you think. I understand he is none too keen on supermarkets.

Most of all GO PUBLIC. Get on the radio, get in the press and if you can, get local tv to do a feature. And GET ORGANISED. Strength in numbers and all that.

Will get back separately about who is on planning etc.

http://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=8919

If you cannot click on the above link, google it.

The committee for Dawlish planning is as follows and it needs to be pointed out that they have NO POWER whatsoever. They are only statutory consultees.

Jackie Bush

Humphrey Clemens, and he is also chair of the Development Control Committee (who do have power)of Teignbridge District Council.

Derek Collins

Janet Garland

Mary Mugford (and also sudstitute on the Dev Control committee TDC)

Graham Price, chair of the Dawlish bunch and also a sub on the TDC Dev Con.

Wally Protheroe mayor (and also ex officio, which effectively means he can sit on any committee of Dawlish Town Council.

Rosalind Prowse

Francine Tullis

Geoff Wills (Deputy mayor)
That is seven Tories and three liberators (Ha! ha!).

Apart from the funny bits I believe everthing else is correct.

I had an instant reply from Cllr Connett, Dawlish Town Councillors have not bothered to acknowledged my email.

Their PC's have keyboards with one key on it which say's P155 off!but they don't even know how to use it, hence no reply.

So we are stuck with the Co-op for the foreseeable future. Did you know that the Dawlish Co-op and the small one in Teignmouth are classed as convenience stores and on quite a few items are more expensive than the large Teignmouth Co-op.

I for one would prefer Tesco's as it is cheaper than Sainsburys, but if I had the choice it would be Asda.

I have emailed the Councilors and had no reply

Olive says we are stuck with the co-op. We are only stuck with them because others support them. Personally I never shop in the co-op of Dawlish, so you can see that I am not stuck with the co-op.

Asda is best of them all .. I know my prices! No fancy points cards for me thank you and high prices. People think Tesco is cheap, they are clever with marketing. You should look at the prices in Kingsteighton and Exminster Tesco Express.
Still had no reply from Councillors in Dawlish.
BBC Radio Devon are covering the story.

Viaduct you have never been in???? ..bet you would if there was still a petrol strike!.. anyways no worries they only like nice customers! Point you make confirms it would be a mistake for any new shop to open in Dawlish, as so many go out of their way to not even step in the door let alone buy!