9:00am Tuesday 10th November 2009
By Laura Kitching
SUPERMARKET giant Tesco’s new site on Portland could be the only store out of more than 2,000 nationwide without newspaper and magazine sales.
Permission was granted earlier this year for a store to be built at the Bottomcoombe Masonry Works at Easton.
But now Chelverton Deeley Freed, the developer of the site, has applied to relax one of the planning conditions relating to the sale of newspapers and magazines.
Members of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s planning and traffic committee will meet on Wednesday to decide whether or not to allow the items to be sold.
They have been advised by council officers not to relax condition five on the planning approval because allowing papers and magazines to be sold ‘would have a detrimental impact on the vitality and viability of the local centres on the isle of Portland and other town and district centres’.
A report said 164 letters had been sent to the council with concerns or objections to the proposed relaxation of the condition, along with petitions of 500 signatures.
Fears are that it would hit local traders and that Tesco would then want other conditions lifted such as allowing a post office or pharmacy in store.
The council received 13 letters in support of the proposal.
Tamara De Bardi, a former member of the Keep Easton Alive campaign group, said: “My concern is if they allow them to sell newspapers and magazines what impact it would have on local newsagents and shops.
“If the Tesco store ends up being the only one in the country not allowed to sell newspapers and magazines, then good.
“Power to the people, I say.”
Weston resident Stuart Morris said: “We do our big shop, as most people do here, in Weymouth.
“Undoubtedly when the new Tesco store comes we’ll be able to do most of our shopping on Portland.
“I desperately hope this doesn’t put them off coming here.”
He added: “I cannot see that refusal is justified under any circumstances.”
© Copyright 2001-2010 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thisisdorset.net