The Planning Inspectorate
3/16 Eagle Wing
Temple Quay House
2 The Square, Temple Quay
Bristol BS1 6PN

BEFORE 1st July 2008

The next hearing takes place between 1st and 18th July and if you want Tesco to come to Sheringham, then you need to get your point across.  Make the effort to fight for what you want.

As we said before... despite a survey that we commissioned which quite clearly showed that RESIDENTS in Sheringham are 62% in favour of the Tesco plan to build in Sheringham, the DEMOCRATICALLY elected councillors voted overwhelmingly against it.

That actually means that they are thumbing their noses at the majority of those who voted them in and really saying WE do not know what we need, THEY know better!

We are the only campaigners who gave BOTH SIDES the opportunity to say YES or NO in the same survey.

Even when you add in the High Street figures, where out of 121 people, 103 did not live in Sheringham, the results still go 53% in favour of Tesco.  Those out of town voices were from Norwich, Cambridge, Sheffield, Fakenham, Northampton and Nottingham, to name just a few.  You know, places where they shop at their local supermarkets and then come to that quaint place called Sheringham for a day and decide that we do not need the amenities that they enjoy all year round!

To see the survey results, click here.

Despite the fact that Tesco have an appeal pending, which if they win will cost US a fortune, still our DEMOCRATICALLY elected councillors voted against the plans.

Some of the Media and Councillors alike have jumped onto the anti Tesco bandwagon, gone against recommendations and voted the store out.  Letters against always outweigh those for the store.

Those of us who want the store have NO SAY with any of them as they quite adamantly refuse to listen to us, despite the fact that almost every survey or poll ever run has shown that the majority of people WHO LIVE IN SHERINGHAM want the store to come.

For an interesting read click here, this is the OFFICERS’ REPORTS TO DEVELOPMENT CONTROL COMMITTEE (WEST) – 22 NOVEMBER 2007.

The following comments have been taken directly from this report.

Under the proposed reasons for refusal

Page 4
Item 1 - Loss of Housing
There is considered to be no basis in policy for this reason for refusal

Item 2 - Highway Impact
Members will note that they did not consider there were substantive reasons to refuse the proposed development on highway grounds.

Item 3 - Amount of Floor Retail Space
It will be noted that at paragraph 6.5 he concludes that the applicants can demonstrate that the scale of retailing proposed is appropriate in this case.

Item 4 - Effect on local businesses
The overall impact on the town centre’s vitality and viability should therefore be positive.

Conclusions on Proposed Reasons for Refusal
In the light of the above, Officers do not consider there to be any basis in policy to justify refusal on the grounds of loss of housing. In terms of the highway and retail issues raised the reasons for refusal are not supported by the evidence or expert advice received from the Council’s consultant or statutory consultees.

This report also warns that if the plans are turned down, they must be able to justify the decision or 'If they cannot do so, costs may be awarded against them.'

Despite this report, the councillors still decided to refuse the store?

We do not yet know what course of action we are going to advise you to take next, but the fight for a decent store in Sheringham is not over.

At the moment those in favour of Tesco are actually going to be disappointed when they do get it built.  When you listen to the loudest voices, they are trying to make it seem like a giant Superstore, whereas it is smaller than the one in Fakenham.  If the recommendation for a smaller store is agreed, it will not be large enough to fulfil the needs of the town.