Lidl plan for Dorchester turned down (From Thisisdorset)

Lidl plan for Dorchester turned down

8:55am Tuesday 24th November 2009 in

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PLANNING application for a budget supermarket in Dorchester has been turned down by council officers.

The plans for a Lidl store at The Grove failed to make West Dorset District Council’s development control committee before being thrown out.

They were rejected because highways officers were concerned that a busy traffic junction at the site – at the former Loders Toyota dealership – would be swamped with traffic.

Developers for Lidl pledged to improve the junction of the B3147 by building a mini-roundabout.

But it was the increase in traffic that planners were concerned about.

Case officer David Hodges said: “Dorset County Council’s highways officer objected to the increase in traffic using both the access to the site and the junction of the B3147 where the petrol station is.

“Plus, the proposed development would not leave any parking spaces for the Loders workshop next door.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Susie Hosford said she was disappointed there would be no chance for members to debate the plans.

She said: “It’s regrettable that it’s been turned down before discussions were allowed. I felt that it should have gone to the committee, even if it was going to be turned down.

“It was an important application for the town and it should be decided by elected members.”

Denise Addison, president of the Dorchester Chamber of Commerce, said: “We did write a letter expressing our surprise that it was being decided at officer level.

“We felt that this should go to planning committee because it’s a relatively major development in the county town.”

Planners said a further reason for the application being thrown out was that the German retailer hadn’t proved there is a real need for another supermarket in the county town.

Mr Hodges said: “Retail consultants employed by WDDC to look at the proposals advised that they don’t think Lidl has yet proved a need in retail terms for a further supermarket in Dorchester or that they could not go to a more accessible site in the town centre.

“The development would not improve the appearance of the conservation area, and Lidl has not carried out an archaeological investigation for the development, which would lie on the edge of the Roman town.”

Lidl’s thwarted plans to come to the county town mean that a promised 35 new jobs at its store may no longer be on offer.

The decision is also a blow to motor group Loders, which stood to benefit from the sale of the land, saying it would safeguard 150 jobs during a turbulent time for the industry.

Managing director Brian Keene said: “We are disappointed with the outcome. There was some disappointment that such an important planning application was decided under planning officer powers.

“The income we would get as a business from this would keep us going forward in a difficult time for the industry.

“I hope we will have a solution for the junction that will satisfy the highways officers if Lidl provides a modification to the application.”

North Hay resident David Bowen, who lives near to the site and opposed the plans, said: “I’m genuinely surprised it’s been turned down.

“The county council highways department seems to have very clear views about the volume of traffic it will allow at that junction.

“I think the council has made a sensible decision.”

No-one from Lidl was available for comment.