Sainsbury, Oakham, New Store Approved By Rutland County Council

Sainsbury, Oakham, New Store Approved By Rutland County Council

Rutland County Council held a special meeting of the development control and licensing committee
this evening (Monday 25th March 2013 6.00pm)

Councillors voted unanimously in favour of Sainsbury  building a new store on the former college site
at the junction of  Barelythorpe Road and Lands End Way. No surprise!

Curiously Cllr Richardson repeatedly stated  that Sainsbury had created a fudged packed plan?
I wonder why he supported the application? Clearly he is a big fudge fan...

The meeting stated at .6.00pm prompt, Chairman Cllr Vernon gave a short introduction and
said she would kick any one out who interrupted the proceeding of the meeting.

She then requested the many council officers introduce themselves to the public.

Councillors declared various interests:

Cllr Oxley declared he was not related to Mr Oxley from Sainsbury's

Cllr Baines said he knows Tim Norton

Cllr Dale also knows Tim Norton has a irrelevant interest in the nearby allotments who's members
had raised objections about loss of parking, Sainsbury has agreed they can park at the store.

We  were treated to a mini presentation from the planning officer Patrick Gear is the
officer responsible looking after Sainsbury's application.

He highlighted the need to demolish the old college.

Displayed the plans and location maps

And  pleasingly he pointed out the retention of Lonsdale House.

Access points were shown

Elevation plans for the store were shown.

There were  no questions or deputations from the public.

A deputation was given by the Mayor of Oakham Cllr Dewis who was speaking for
5 fellow Councillors when he repeated objections to the store  claiming the council
objects due solely to traffic issues.

Issues relating to the rail crossing.

He pointed out the Town Partnerships daft traffic management scheme.

Sainsbury's [lanned 8-10 deliveries each day

Lands End Way too narrow

He accused Rutland County Council of "scant regard" when considering this application.

He urged the council to take a step back.

He went over his three minutes the chairman did not tell him to shut his mouth like they do
at Oakham Town Council.

Robert Oxley from Sainsbury responded:

All the technical merits had been very well considered by Rutland County Council and 85%
of the public they had consulted wanted the store.

They will provide a modern store with recycling and a important alternative choice and competitive
prices. He hoped employees will come from Oakham, (250 jobs)

50% of food shopping is currently done outside Oakham.

Sainsbury will provide improved transport and pedestrian links.

They are investing in traffic management improvements

They have agreed a huge 106 agreement.

They intend to give money for Cllr Kings Ashwell Prison Sports Hall (I imagine with the large sum coming from Hawksmead this will be of an Olympic Standard?) and other requirements to assist the future growth of Oakham.

Cllr Baines questioned Cllr Dewis :

Is OTC's objection confined to traffic issues, Dewis said Yes.

Cllr Baines then asked Mr Oxley a question about the Railway footbridge that spans the station
tracks. Currently the public have prescriptive of access to that part of town (a short cut)

He asked has Sainsbury consulted with Rail Track about the possible increase of use?

Mr Oxley replied NO.

Cllr  Gale asked Dewis to explain his comment of "scant regard" Dewis replied there is no
mention of new homes in the report.

Cllr Dewis was also asked if Oakham Town Council had an alternative suggestion to the plans
presented. Cllr Dewis replied yes and the previous application to build on the site near the bypass
should have been approved, at this point a former Tory Councillor appeared to have a coughing
fit.

Cllr Cartright asked Mr Oxley if there had been any consideration to widen the road and various other issues.relating to access.

Mr Oxley replied Sainsbury would not invest in a inaccessible location.

Cllr Richardson asked Mr Oxley to clarify 50% of food purchases made out of Rutland was this
people from Oakham or Rutland as a whole.

Mr Oxley replied Oakham and with  a better choice some might return to shopping here in Oakham.

Cllr Richardson  traffic concerns and asked if Sainsbury had considered alternative  access.

Mr Oxley replied this was the best solution, although we have have not explored any other options.

The meeting moved on to a very long presentation from the planning officer Patrick Gear. When I endure
his part at meetings I try very hard not to sleep.

Fortunately this time this achievement was assisted this time by the telephone ringing. Not mine, the phone in question belonged to a former Tory Councillor.

A Copper Beech Tree will be killed

There are a number of trees originally proposed for removal which have been saved.

There is no evidence that there will be any traffic concerns.

The College  site is considered the most suitable for this form of retail.

There are no Transport or Accessibility  issues.

Some very poor photos were shown

Barleythorpe Road Tree Screening will remain.

The Roundabout is far enough away form the nearby homes.

The Bats have been considered.

It was pointed out there will be restrictions imposed on the store relating to the goods
Sainsbury can not sell, so not to effect the centre of town retailers. Similar to that
imposed on the Co-op which the Council does not enforce as most of its member can afford
to shop there.

Cllr Gale said the planning report was the best he had ever read.

Moat Councillors raised concerns about traffic issues.

Cllr  Woodcock predicts traffic gridlock.

Cllr  Oxley suggested the plans for the store were a bit like attempting to put a quart into a pint pot.

Cllr Dale said he has spent many hours in traffic jams at the crossing.

Cllr Cross Said Transport problems OMG!!

Cllr Cartwright satisfied with the principal, raised concerns about the cycle track links and would like
to see the Copper Beech replaced like for like. She also raised issue with the distance to Ashwell prison
from Oakham, ( I wonder about the legality of Cllr Kings 106 spending plans on this Sports Hall, it may be sited in the newly named Oakham Business Park, the park is the village of Ashwell, Oakham 106 payments
should benefit the residents of Oakham)

Cllr Lammie  complimented the councils planning report.

Cllr Baines said the new store is well connected to the town centre.

The traffic issues was a small price to pay.

He was pleased  Lonsdale House was to be saved (pity he neglects the real Londsdale House, Barleythorpe Hall)

Cllr Gale would like to see additional signs pointing to the bypass.


With plans for a Sainsbury’s store in Oakham being approved by Rutland county councillors  They will be happy as they will receive the money due from the sale of the site.

Most of Oakham's residents will be happy.

The unelected Town Councillors  who did not represent the public views and just their own
will be unhappy.

Oakham Town Councillor Charles Haworth who lives a stones throw away from many new developments, wont be happy I am sure.

Sainsbury’s will build a 28,000 sq ft shop on the former Rutland County College site in Barleythorpe Road.

Mr Oxley does not expect the store to open within the next year.

The Secretary of State has 21 days to cal in the planning application, the size of store and location
makes this highly unlikely.

The development will include a single-storey supermarket, a 267-space car park, a customer cafe and a cash machine. and recycling point.

The college buildings will all be demolished on the 4.7 acre site and the current entrance at the junction of Barleythorpe Road and Lands’ End Way would be redesigned, with a roundabout being created. .

Sainsbury’s says the store could create 250 jobs.

The application, submitted to the council in September 2013, received 55 letters of support.

Reasons for backing Sainsbury’s included the need for greater choice of food stores; more competition for existing supermarkets and job creation.

Three residents objected saying it would have an adverse impact on the town centre and cause possible congestion and traffic problems.

Oakham Town Council recommended refusal because of the possible impact on the town centre and concerns regarding access to the site. Tonight's deputation and subsequent questioning revealed the town council was only concerned about traffic issues.

Tesco, which has a store in South Street, has also objected to the plans after the  consultation period and has put its own extension plans on hold until a decision on Sainsbury’s has been made.