COUNCILLORS have thrown out plans to build a new Tesco.
And they cited traffic concerns as the main reason, saying the roads around the development site couldn’t cope with the extra traffic.
Opponents of the proposed Holmfirth supermarket clapped as the vote was taken at Huddersfield Town Hall yesterday afternoon.
Thirteen of the 14 members of Kirklees Council’s Huddersfield Planing Sub-committee voted to refuse permission for the Tesco development at the former Midlothian Garage site following a three-hour debate.
The company’s plan to build a supermarket on the derelict land off New Mill Road had divided opinion in the Holme Valley town, with 15 speakers for and 15 against at yesterday’s meeting.
Kirklees officers had recommended refusal, saying the roads around the site couldn’t cope with the increased traffic.
They predicted that a new Tesco at the Midlothian site would increase traffic on nearby Heys Road by 109% at peak times. Luke Lane would see a 71% rise and Miry Lane would have to cope with 26% more vehicles.
The officials accepted that the Holme Valley needs a new supermarket – but said there was a better site on land off Woodhead Road in Honley currently occupied by Keith Drake’s agricultural merchants and Kirklees Highways department.
Click here to see our gallery of those 'for and against'.
Alex Bray, who lives on Heys Road near Midlothian, told councillors that he would leave Holmfirth if the development went ahead.
“I wouldn’t really want to bring up a family in an area where, every time you step outside, you are threatened by traffic,” he said.
“It would drive me to live somewhere else.”
Martin Smith, of environmental group Holmfirth Transition Town, called the Tesco plan “mediocre and risky” and predicted it would “promote traffic congestion”.
Keep Holmfirth Special chairman Margaret Dale told the meeting that her group didn’t oppose supermarkets, but believed the Midlothian site was unsuitable.
“The traffic level will be intolerable,” she said.
“Congestion will deter people from visiting the area.”
Mark Lewis, chairman of Wooldale Co-operative Society, predicted that a new Tesco would cause his shop to lose 20% of its trade – about £400,000 a year.
“I’m very pessimistic about our ability to continue trading if this development succeeds,” he said.
Brian Rooks, of pro-Tesco group Holme Valley Voices, told the meeting that his group spoke for “at least 60 to 70%” of people in Holmfirth who backed the Midlothian plan.
“Everyone I speak to is in favour of the development,” he said.
“The Midlothian has been an eyesore for many years.
“The supermarket would not add to congestion in the centre of Holmfirth but it would be close enough to bring people into Holmfirth.”
Wheelchair user Frank Adams also spoke in favour of the Tesco plan, saying the town’s Co-op supermarket was unsuitable for disabled people.
Take a look at our liveblog reaction from yesterday.
“It’s very difficult to shop with dignity, at times it’s impossible to pass another shopper in the aisle because of the obstructions placed in the way,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to not having to drive to get to a fully accessible supermarket.”
George Senior, who has lived in Holmfirth for 40 years, said the town needed more than just Last of the Summer Wine visitors.
“We need tourists but we also need a good supermarket,” he told the sub-committee.
Holme Valley South Conservative Clr Nigel Patrick said a new Tesco would keep people in Holmfirth.
“People want to shop locally instead of having to drive or take the bus to Penistone, Waterloo or even Greenfield,” he said.
“Tesco will bring 175 jobs. This is a great opportunity for Holmfirth.”
Company representative Deborah Hayeems urged councillors to back the Midlothian plan rather than the possible “pipe-dream” of a store at Drake’s.
Sub-committee member Clr Christine Smith spoke against the Tesco plan.
The Kirkburton Conservative said: “People do want a Tesco, we understand that, but we’ve got to think of the people who live near the site and are going to suffer.”
Clr Paul Salveson also opposed the plan, saying it was “absolutely crucial” to protect the tourist trade in Holmfirth town centre which would be “undermined” by a supermarket at Midlothian.
Sub-committee member Clr Ken Sims spoke against Tesco.
“I will get earache for this but let’s get it right, let’s not jump in when someone knocks on the door with big bags of money,” said the Holme Valley South Conservative.
He added that the Midlothian site would be better used for light industry.
Fellow Holme Valley South Conservative Clr Donald Firth also spoke against the plan.
“I will be able to sleep tonight knowing I haven’t put a nail in the coffin of shops and businesses in Holmfirth,” he said.
Thirteen sub-committee members voted to refuse planning permission.
Greenhead Labour man Clr Mohan Sokhal did not vote.
SO what was Tesco’s plan for Holmfirth?
The retail giant had asked Kirklees Council for permission to build a single-storey stone building (right) at the former Midlothian Garage site off New Mill Road in Holmfirth.
In detail it included:
The supermarket would have had 2,150sq m of retail space of which 1,900sq m would have been for food and 250sq m for clothing, stationery, books, toys, healthcare and baby products.
The development would have included 217 parking spaces of which 12 were to be reserved for disabled people and 11 allocated to staff.
Tesco claimed the new store would have created 175 full-time and part-time jobs.
If planning permission had been granted, the company had pledged to pay for road improvements around the site, including new traffic signals and a pedestrian crossing on New Mill Road.
It would have brought new use to a site occupied for many years by the former Midlothian Garage, but which had stood empty for many years.
TESCO is weighing up whether to appeal against the decision to refuse planning permission for a new supermarket in Holmfirth.
Speaking to the Examiner moments after the proposal was rejected, company representative Deborah Hayeems said: “We need to reflect on the decision that’s just been made.
“We’re hugely disappointed that the council has turned down this brilliantly well-supported new supermarket.
“At this point, we can only offer our gratitude to all the supporters who have made such an effort to make their views known.”
Brian Rooks, of pro-Tesco group Holme Valley Voices said the plan’s rejection would hurt the town.
“The rest of the country is going to develop and poor little Holmfirth is left in the wilderness,” he said.
Mr Rooks took part in a protest in favour of the development when councillors visited the site yesterday morning.
He said the majority of people in the town backed Tesco’s plan.
Mr Rooks said: “How can you possibly let the traffic problems that already exist in Holmfirth get in the way of a development that 85% of the population wants?”
Margaret Dale, of Keep Holmfirth Special, told the Examiner that congestion fears had been the key issue.
“The traffic arguments against the plan were convincing,” she said.
“We need to do something to enhance shopping in Holmfirth but we have to do it in a way that’s sustainable and doesn’t cause traffic problems.
“We still need to find an appropriate use for the Midlothian site”.
