Tuesday, March 8, 2011

ANGER AS SEDGEMOOR NOTICE SHOWS REALITY OF BREWERY FIELD SELL OFF

Sedgemoor District Council revealed today their plans to sell off the Northgate site of the former Splash pool in Bridgwater to Tescos as part of a major superstore development when they posted notice of the sale in the Bridgwater Mercury and on their website. The Notice and accompanying map showed that the Brewery field in it's entirity would be part of the sale as opposed to the suggested loss of 1/3 of the site.

The notice reads as follows;-
NOTICE UNDER SECTION 123(2A) LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972
PROPOSED DISPOSAL OF LAND AT NORTHGATE, BRIDGWATER FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT BY TESCO STORES LIMITED
Sedgemoor District Council is considering the disposal of Brewery Field at Northgate Bridgwater. It is proposed that the land will be disposed of by way of a freehold transfer to Tesco Stores Limited to facilitate a mixed use development. This development will include a smaller, but enhanced Brewery Field, hard landscaped public space, new retail units and office accommodation and a new Tesco Extra store.
Members of the public who wish to comment or object to the proposal should send their comments or objection to Tim Mander, Team Leader – Property Management in writing by 5 pm on Tuesday 22nd March 2011.
A plan of the proposed land together with further details of the proposed development can be obtained either by contacting Mr T Mander on 01278 435331
email: tim.mander@Sedgemoor.gov.uk; from the Council’s website www.sedgemoor.gov.uk or from Reception at Bridgwater House Reception, King Square, Bridgwater TA6 3AR during normal office hours.
Sedgemoors plans for Brewery field as advertised on their website
OPPOSITION

Bridgwater Forward activists and local residents are expected to object in the strongest terms to the issue of the notice. Recently 6 members of Bridgwater Forward succesfully petititoned the Town Council to urgently debate the sale of Northgate at a Special Town meeting to be held on 28th march.Local residents of Anson Way,Blacklands and Mount street are angry about the proposed development and have urged people to contact the Council to object to the proposal.

Cllr Kathy Pearce, Leader of the Labour group on Sedgemoor District Council   said "The Brewery Field is one of Sedgemoor's greatest assets which is a valued green space in the heart of the town.  To 'dispose' of it with the rest of Northgate without any legal protection to preserve the field for future generations is outrageous.  This completely undermines Sedgemoor's statement in their Corporate Strategy which we all signed up to and pledged to "Protect and enhance the environment - to lead environmental management, managing open spaces, caring for our historical assets and championing high standards of urban design and development".  As with the commitment to save the Splash until a replacement was built, these pledges are completely ignored when it suits them.The town is rapidly expanding with new developments and we desperately need to hold on to and enhance what few open spaces we have."

Cllr Brian Smedley , Shadow portfolio for Health & WellBeing  wrote the following letter to SDC Corporate director Doug Bamsey asking for an explanation. 
Dear Mr Bamsey

With regard to the  Notice in the Mercury today regarding the disposal of the  Brewery Field, (also  on the SDC website) can you confirm my understanding that Sedgemoor are now flogging off the whole of the Brewery Field to Tesco and not "just" that bit required for building the new store? 

I have to say the breadth of the sale has surprised me. Maybe it shouldn;t have, so  can you confirm that this knowledge was made clear to members and if so exactly where? 

I suspect very few other people realised the extent of the sale and had assumed that your intentions were minimal in constantly stating that only 1/3 of the Brewery field site would be surrendered and you meant exactly that and not every last blade of grass.    

I have written to Melanie Wellman asking for access to the whole 'Development Agreement' document and am encountering some resistance and so I am a bit concerned about  exactly what else is being witheld from members and from the public here.

Could you please urgently furnish me with some answers?

Cllr Brian Smedley



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