Sherbourne Conservative campaigner Leon Emirali has strongly criticised a decision by the City Council’s Planning Committee to give permission for a new Tesco store on the Holyhead Road.
The supermarket giant had submitted a fourth application for a store on a former garage site, having had previous applications refused by the City Council. Local traders had strongly opposed the plan, with hundreds of residents rushing to sign two petitions organised to fight the proposal. These petitions were supported by Conservative Councillor for Sherbourne, Gary Ridley and campaigner Leon Emirali.
Today’s (Thursday 2nd February 2012) planning meeting heard from local residents objecting about the impact this plan would have on the environment and their area. Warwickshire Wildlife Trust had also objected due to concerns about the impact this plan would have on wildlife living near the river Sherbourne which runs to the rear of the site concerned. Despite this the majority of Councillors on the Planning Committee choose to support Tesco’s plan.
Conservative campaigner, Leon Emirali, who has been working with Cllr Gary Ridley on this issue, said after the meeting that: “This is a disappointing decision given the strong campaign local residents have thought. It is clear by the number of people who have signed the petition that the majority of residents and businesses oppose Tesco’s plan. There are serious issues around wildlife given the scale of development, not to mention the impact it could have on local traders. Whilst this might be a good day for a large corporation, it is a bad day for local residents, traders and wildlife.”