The application to build a supermarket and other retail outlets at the Bishop Centre was permitted by the South Bucks Planning Committee
against the recommendation by Officers to refuse. The vote was carried 6 to 5. Both our District Councillors supported the case for refusal and voted against the motion. A key worry of many objectors is the effect the new traffic control arrangements will have on the general movement of traffic on the A4. We can now only wait and see.
A couple of notable moments in the meeting. One councillor professed support on the grounds that Gerrards Cross residents had suffered so much from the traffic generated by the Tesco store in the town that her view was that supermarkets should be placed in out-of-town locations! The other was when the Bucks County Council Highways Officer was questioned about a statement raising concerns about the ‘independent’ report on the traffic assessment he volunteered that he had written the ‘independent’ report himself. So much for independence! He who sets the examination paper will clearly get 100% in the exam.
After the vote above this application was called in by the Secretary of State for further consideration, so...
...We move on.
Euan Felton
