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The regional Development Agency will be
pressed today to ‘get a move on’ with its St Austell town centre development,
by local MP, Mr Taylor, who says it resembles a ‘bombsite’.
Mr Taylor has arranged to meet Miles Cardon of the RDA today to express his
concern that development seems to have come to a halt, with no detailed plans
submitted despite demolition having started. In addition, Mr Taylor says
he is extremely concerned that Tesco’s appear to be ‘blackmailing’ St Austell
by saying its town centre store will only be sold for the redevelopment if
it is allowed to expand its out of town site.
Commenting in advance of the meeting, Matthew Taylor MP said:
“Frankly St Austell town centre looks like a bombsite – and progress seems
to have ground to a halt. The regional Development Agency has still not submitted
detailed plans to Restormel, despite having started the demolition months
ago. Nor have they finalised the purchase of the Cinema and the Tesco store,
without which rebuilding cannot start. It is hard to see how they will rebuild
it in the time promised now.
“I am particularly outraged that Tesco’s seem to want to blackmail the town,
threatening to withhold their town centre store so it looks like a very cynical
ploy. If Tesco’s force the RDA to seek a compulsory purchase order, the resulting
public inquiry would hold up the rebuilding by a year – which would be a
disaster for St Austell, and especially for local businesses.
“After meeting the RDA I am also seeking a meeting with Tesco’s – their attitude
is unacceptable. The fact is that their proposals for Holmbush have, by law,
to be decided in line with the Government planning policy, and threatening
the future of St Austell in this way is not going to alter the decision –
but could ruin St Austell. I am appalled by Tesco’s who should know better.”
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