Meeting held by Belper Town Council to discuss Meadows Edge Development Brief 24 November 2009
Belper Town Council seems to be preparing to send a submission to the Borough Council on their Revised draft for development on the Meadows Edge site, consultation for which ends on Monday 30 November (the Civic Forum will be submitting its own comments following the members' meeting on Monday 23 November).
They were invited to join with the Civic Forum and BATS in commissioning an independent Retail Impact Assessment for the site from consultants England and Lyle. It was suggested that the Borough Council are planning a special meeting on 21 December to consider representations and changes, but this is too short a time for any Retail Impact Assessment to be completed. This does not necessarily invalidate the reason for carrying it out.
There was renewed debate at the meeting about the legality of calling for an upper size limit on any single retail development on the site – something both the Civic Forum and BATS have now called for. Particular concern for the fate of local independent retailers and the historic Triangle area were expressed.
The town councillors seem to have been quite split on the Tesco issue, but most seem to have agreed with the Forum that the draft Brief should be strengthened. It was agreed that the Town Council want to see both a Retail Impact Assessment and a sustainability appraisal. The Borough Council will also be approached with a call to postpone the 21 December meeting.
It was good that the Council held their meeting – unfortunately it was announced at very short notice and there were only ten members of the public present.
Belper News were present, so a report is expected in their edition of 2 December.