On Tuesday 18 October 2011, the Woking Borough Council Planning Department granted Sainsbury’s extended opening hours for 18 months (reviewable) with regard to their application to develop the Clifton’s site in High Street, Knaphill. Effectively this means that the development of the site will go ahead from the Spring of 2012 despite hundreds of objections by local residents.
However, many other people think that this will be a good thing for the centre of the village.
Others feel that it would have been more advantageous if a separate retailer such as Lidl or Iceland for instance took over the premises. Some residents claim that this would have then given local consumers a much wider choice of products and price rather than more of the same from Sainsbury’s who have also had their application to extend their main supermarket in Redding Way, Knaphill approved by WBC.
What do YOU think?
Although directly affected by this development, I am not averse to redevelopment, however I strongly believe the planning committee has made a mistake in allowing such a large building. Firstly the scale of it is unlike anything else in the village – it is 3 full storeys high with a full height roof on top. We have a number of 3 storey buildings but in all cases they either have a flat roof or the 3rd floor in is in the roof space. This in effect mean in the highest point in the village we will have a building about 1/3 taller than any other. This is over development, and it means all the houses behind are overlooked by numerous flats.
I also think it is shocking that despite no change whatsoever in any of the facts, a condition which was required to protect neighbouring properties was removed. This is either an admission that the first ruling was wrong, or the second. It is also laughable that they think deliveries are not going to cause chaos. We will all see large lorries blocking the high street as soon as this is completed. As I Highclere Road resident I will no doubt also suffer from increased traffic racing down the road to avoid the queues. Brilliant.
Sainsbury’s appeal technicality against Clifton’s site decision: Woking Borough Council’s planning department have written to local residents stating that Sainsbury’s have appealed against the decision to limit the change to the opening hours at the proposed Sainsbury’s Local store at the Clifton’s site in High Street, Knaphill to 18 months on the basis that WBC did not decide the case within the allotted time. The application has now been referred to the planning inspectorate on behalf of the secretary of state. As you will already see, there is understandably some unrest about this issue posted on our Village Forum. However, there is still an opportunity for residents to object again at http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/pcs using reference APP/A3655/A/11/2167625/NWF (PLAN /2011/0429). Its also interesting to note that the letter signed by the Borough Planning Officer is dated 26 January 2012 but has been received by residents at least a day before on 25 January 2012 ?
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