Council will ‘take stock’ after arcade plan refusal

Responding to the decision on the Clarendon Arcade proposal made by Warwick District Council’s planning committee last Tuesday, those opposed to the plans have again questioned the need for a large shopping centre in the town during the current recession.

Green Party campaigner Janet Alty said: “One of the main reasons we are against the development, and have been from the beginning, is that it is based on the assumption that unlimited consumption is good and that people will just go on buying at an increasing rate.

“It’s clear to many people that this model isn’t working now and is very unlikely to work in the future.”

David Ward, planing director for Wilson Bowden, said the developer still believes the proposal is needed and appropriate and would seek to hold further discussions with the district council.

The authority’s planning officers had recommended approval before committee members voted by a majority of six to four to reject the plans.

Richard Ashworth, chairman of the Leamington Society, said: “Now is the time for our council to pause and reflect on a drastically changing world of retailing and on the message this decision delivers from the committee.

“We urge our district’s leaders to take a genuinely fresh look at the Chandos Street area.

“Instead of the lazy option of wholesale demolition to make way for a huge and inflexible retail shed, the site cries out for a more mature and imaginative plan.”

Expressing his disappointment, council leader Cllr Michael Doody (Con, Radford Semele) said the authority had worked closely with the developer to bring forward a development which would protect and enhance the economic vitality and wellbeing of Leamington.

He added: “We will now, with our partners, take stock and decide the best way to proceed to ensure that the town centre meets the challenges of the 21st century.”

People living near the site of the proposed development were angered when they received letters notifying them of last week’s meeting after the event had taken place.

A Warwick Street resident said: “One would expect the council to make sure those affected would get proper and adequate notice.”

Cllr George Illingworth (Con, Kenilworth Abbey), the planning committee’s chairman, apologised for the “unfortunate delay” at the council’s mailing centre but said the date of the meeting had been well publicised and a large number of people attended including several public speakers who were able to speak for longer than normal due to a previously agreed time extension.