Following pressure from the Council's Haverhill Area Working Party as part of its work to deliver the Haverhill Masterplan Vision, major improvements have been made to the plans for the development of a Tesco supermarket in Haverhill.
Over the last few months the Working Party has been working to encourage Tesco to come up with new proposals to enhance the development, as well as improve traffic flows and the pedestrian links between the new store and the Queen Street end of the town centre.
As a result of this work Tesco’s latest plans, which are currently out for consultation as part of the planning application process for the development, have been changed dramatically. The new plans have three major benefits for the town and local residents:
· the existing confusing double roundabout at the Cangle Junction will be simplified to a single roundabout;
· the there will be no through traffic past the Pightle - the front of which will become a pedestrian area and benefit from other environmental enhancement, and;
· there will be greatly improved links to Queen Street to encourage visitors to the new store to walk into the town centre.
Cllr Jeff Stevens, Chairman of the Haverhill Area Working Party, said:
"Having now produced the Haverhill Masterplan Vision document, the Working Party is turning this vision into reality. People have rightly been asking for quick wins and influencing Tesco to sort the links between their proposed store and the town centre has been a key element in our minds because it is fundamental to the success of the town centre and the delivery of Masterplan Vision. After all our hard work to deliver this, the first of our quick wins, I'm really pleased that Tesco have listened and put forward the latest excellent proposals. They bring benefits to local residents, local businesses and to visitors to the town."
Council officers are continuing to work with Tesco to improve the details of the plans so that they offer as many benefits as possible.
The plans are being considered by the Council's Planning Development and Control Committee later this year and are currently out for consultation. Copies are available for viewing at the St Edmundsbury Borough Council offices, Lower Downs Slade in Haverhill .
For more information about the work of the Haverhill Area Working Party, please contact Mike Dawson, Corporate Director for Community, on 01284 757060, email mike.dawson@stedsbc.gov.uk. For information about the planning process, please call Chris Rand on 01284 757352, email chris.rand@stedsbc.gov.uk.
Notes to editors
· Photo of Cllr Jeff Stevens, Chair of the Haverhill Area Working Party and Cllr Tim Marks, Haverhill Town Mayor, looking at the revised plans is available on request
· Copy of the revised plans is also attached or available on request.
ENDS
ISSUED BY MARIA STAFF, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tel 01284 757033. maria.staff@stedsbc.gov.uk
