Our aim is to persuade Mendip District Council that the current Centros-Miller proposals for redevelopment in Wells are inappropriate, and to seek a wider consultation for better, community-enhancing proposals.
(Published by 'The Wells Journal', October 8th 2009)
Frantic activity is taking place behind the scenes as rival plans for the development of the neglected south-western part of Wells approach completion.
Mendip District Council are moving fast to prepare a new development brief for Princes Road and Priory Road.
The moves come in anticipation of an appeal by Sainsbury's against refusal of permission for a new supermarket.
The store chain wants to build on land currently occupied by Tincknells off Strawberry Way.
Mendip council officer Malcolm Williams told a meeting of the council's cabinet that the new development brief was needed urgently.
At the outset of 2009 we look at the progress on Save Wells and it is immediately apparent that so much has changed since the start of our campaign. Save Wells was founded in response to the original proposal by Centros for a large shopping development on the site of our bus station in Wells. Since then global economic conditions have changed, the negative outlook surrounding job security and a generally more cautious approach to household budgeting have hit High Street spending and the 'Credit Crunch' has made it difficult for firms to raise finance. The combination of these factors is manifested in the sad state of our High Streets both local and nationwide.
For this reason, now more than ever, we must oppose the building of further retail units when we are unable to fill even the currently available High Street vacancies. The Wells Journal, on 24th December 2008, featured an article entitled ‘EU Forces Rethink of City Development’. This has given us hope that other companies may be given the opportunity to put forward their own proposals, rather than the situation at present where we are offered the Centros development or none. However, given our contracting economy it must be said that we are unlikely to have an abundance of proposals to consider.
Save Wells, like Mendip District Council, would like to see improvements in Wells, but perhaps we differ in believing that the most suitable development would be an organic, community driven process, rather than a development financed by, and for the benefit of corporate concerns. In the meantime, whilst the future of the development is determined, we must support our local businesses as much as we can in order for them to survive.
Mendip District Council has found itself embroiled in a controversial European ruling which has put the brakes on the Centros multi-million pound redevelopment.
Centros presented their latest proposal to the Mendip District Council Community Partnership meeting at Wells Town Hall on Tuesday 26th february.This was an opportunity for Members of the Partnership and the public to provide Centros with verbal feedback on its revised proposals.
Save Wells Chairman Tony Everard drew applause from the well attended meeting when he responded to the presentation.
Centros Miller have just revealed their revised masterplan which no longer includes Tesco as part of the development proposal. Save Wells are in the process of formulating a response to the "revised" plans. Watch this space!
Mendip District Council have issued their first official response to the proposals... The Joint Technical Officer response to the initial concept plan.
The report was revealed to councillors at a meeting of Mendip's cabinet committee on November 12th.
The Princes Road area, subject to redevelopment investigation, includes Council owned land and capital generating amenities.Should redevelopment proposals progress, the Council will need to consider its financial options and any development agreement concerning this land
The response reflects joint officer opinion in the Council's capacity as a facilitator of economic development and as a landowner. The Council owns the site of the Princes Road car park, the bus and coach station and the land and premises occupied by the Wells Film Centre."
The views are not those of Local Planning Authority because at this concept stage, the Council has not been engaged formally in that role.Nevertheless the Council's development control section has been involved in discussion about the proposal and has contributed to the corporate technical officer response.
The response forms part of a process agreed with Centros Miller to inform their production of a draft masterplan for the subsequent consideration of Members of the Cabinet.
