The Holme Valley Parish Council last night unanimously rejected Tesco’s current plans for a huge superstore on the outskirts of Holmfirth. It was the right decision and will hopefully influence the planning application that will go before Kirklees council planning committee. Tesco had amended their original plans by increasing the size of the store, ditching many of the original eco elements and adding 24 hour opening. With nearly 200 local folk packed into the Methodist church hall 18 people spoke passionately against the plans and 3 in favour.
Much of the opposition is based on:
- The projected 8,000 car journeys to the superstore with the resultant traffic congestion and road safety implications particularly with Holmfirth High School just up the road.
- The effect on local businesses due to the sheer size of store with it’s dot com delivery offshoot and white goods sales floor sucking away business from Holmfirth and the Co ops at Holmfirth, Wooldale and New Mill.
- The application for 24 hour opening which has suddenly come from no where.
Many speakers against the current proposals accepted that they are not against Tesco per se and a smaller scale store. I shop in Holmfirth most days and I’ve been knocking on doors in Thongsbridge, Wooldale, Uppperthong, New Mill, Scholes, Hepworth and Holmfirth in recent months and there are many people who want access to the convenience, prices and choice of a new store.
It’s back to the drawing board for Tesco and it’s up to them to come back with more realistic plans having listened to all the valid points made last night.
