2nd September 2011

The following is a copy of a letter that has been sent to all members of Harrogate Borough Council's Planning Committee to summarise Harrogate Chamber's objections to TESCO proposals as they currently stand, for a new store in Harrogate.

Click here to download the comprehensive document that was enclosed to substantiate the Chamber's arguments.

Click here to download map showing proposed route over gas pipelines

Letter to Harrogate Borough Councillors:

Dear Councillor,

The President, the Management Group and the active members of this Chamber have studied TESCO’s proposals and many supporting documents in great detail on several occasions and they have unanimously agreed that they should be rejected as damaging for Harrogate’s economy and potentially dangerous for local residents.

The Chamber strongly opposes TESCO’s revised Planning Application for the following reasons: 

1. Traffic Congestion

2. Road Safety

3. Gas Safety

4. Retail Trade Impact

5. Inadequate Mitigation measures

6. Failure to consider alternative solutions

Our reasons for objecting under each heading are set out in this report, to which are appended some of the most critical extracts from relevant technical reports.

The current application will result in massive traffic problems so unless and until there are proposals which really tackle and solve this issue; this is not a suitable location for a supermarket.  There are also recognised serious safety hazards on this site due to the live gas holder and pipework that need removing entirely.

Even then we need effective measures to link the proposed new Store to the Harrogate Town Centre and to the District’s Market Towns in order to mitigate the potential damage to the established retail trade across this District.

We therefore urge the Harrogate Planning Committee to reject the current proposals on the following grounds:

• Traffic congestion – on New Park roundabout, A59, A61 and cross-town

• Road Safety – especially on Ripon Road and Ripon Way

• Gas Safety – gas tank leakage; pipeline damage; cyanide residues

• Retail Trade Impact – Jennyfield; Town Centre; Market Towns & villages

We are willing to sit down with TESCO and the Planning Officers to work out a solution that protects all the long term interests of Harrogate District businesses and residents – wherever they are located.   The desires of local residents for a very convenient Superstore should not outweigh the wider community interests.

Yours sincerely

Brian L Dunsby, Chief Executive & Hon Secretary
Harrogate Chamber of Trade & Commerce