A SUPERMARKET could have to take down a security fence dubbed “like something out of Alcatraz”.
Sainsbury’s failed in a bid for retrospective planning permission for the fence at the back of its Local store in Bell Street, Henley.
The company has six months to appeal against the decision made by the planning committee of South Oxfordshire District Council.
The decision is a victory for town councillors Bill Gibson, who was the fiercest critic of the fence, and Ian Reissmann who called the application a “disgrace”.
Cllr Gibson told the committee: “What is being proposed has no place within any conservation area, let alone in the centre of Henley.
“The town council has no objection to any retailer protecting his stock. However, there are ways to do it better.
“For many years, we have lived happily with both Tesco and Waitrose and neither store has considered it necessary to install similar security.Nor can this application be considered in isolation. Once retrospective permission is granted, it will set a precedent.
“The area at the rear of Bell Street has been left to deteriorate and all present owners now must be encouraged to put it in order. To allow fencing is not the way forward.
“Henley is not a Maidenhead, nor a Reading. People shop in Henley not simply because of the excellence of our retailers. They also admire it for what it remains, namely a 12th century market town of exceptional charm, as yet to be brutalised by modern development.”
The fence was put up after Sainsbury’s took over the old Woolworths shop in June and is designed to protect the fire escape route for the staff at the supermarket and the neighbouring Clinton Cards shop.
At an earlier meeting of the town council’s planning committee, Cllr Gibson said: “I loathe the fence. It looks like something out of Alcatraz.”
Cllr Reissmann added: “Yet again we have a significant-sized organisation making a retrospective planning application. I wish the system would punish them for it.”
Earlier this year, the same committee complained that it reported planning breaches by shops but the district council didn’t take enforcement action because it couldn’t afford to.
Paula Fox, planning development manager at the district council, said: “In light of the planning committee’s decision to refuse planning permission, the council will be considering the next steps during the six months the applicant has to appeal against the decision.
“We understand that Sainsbury’s has a security issue but hope that they will be willing to explore more sympathetic solutions with us.”
A Sainsbury’s spokeswoman said: “The fence was erected to deter anti-social behaviour and secure the refuse area. We are disappointed that the measure was not backed by local councillors and are now making arrangements to take the fence down.”
Published on 21 December 2009
|
