SHOPPERS in Witham are furious that plans for a large-scale supermarket expansion have been scuppered by the council.
Morrisons in Braintree Road, Witham, is currently struggling to cope with the growing number of customers visiting the store.
In November 2012 the supermarket resubmitted a planning application to expand the store from 4,341 square metres to 6,110.
But last Tuesday, as more than 40 members of the public attended the meeting at the council chambers in Braintree, the plans were rejected.
Geoffrey Cohen, of Powers Hall End, was one of the 150 outspoken supporters of the expansion. " It was a matter of doing something for Witham and for the economy," he said. "It needs a boost and has done for a long time."
On the council's recommendation, seven councillors to three, with two abstentions, rejected the planning permission on the grounds of policy.
They were told by planning officer James Salmon that the expansion would take trade away from shops in the town centre by patrons of Witham's "anchor" store, Tesco.
Witham town mayor, Michael Lager, said that he was "appalled" at the members of the planning committee who rejected the plans.
"They wrongly believed they were saving Witham's town centre from collapse, but instead have condemned residents in the "deprived" northern half of the town to second-class shopping in a second-class store," he said.
"They wrongly believed that if more food retailing provision is needed – and it is – it should be on the Newlands Shopping Centre site, in spite of the fact that the owners are spending £1m repairing the roofs, and have no plans for a food store but prefer something like Wilkinsons.
"These councillors failed to listen. With its left hand the Council is trying to promote the local economy and regenerate the town centres, with the other it does its best to stop it.
"The result is that future investors will look elsewhere now that Braintree officials have said that they are not wanted here."
Also outraged at the decision was the chairman of the Town Strategy group and town councillor, Paul Ryland, who believes that the decision is likely to be reversed on appeal at yet more cost to the council.
"It's the biggest cock-up the council has made in years," he said. "I just for the life of me can't see the point of rejecting the plans. I think the council's argument is extremely weak and that Morrisons will probably win on appeal.
"The people that work for Morrisons have to earn a living – they have got to win"
The store had plans to create a further 50 jobs in the town, as well as to expand the cafe and make aisles wider to accommodate wheelchairs and pushchairs more easily.
During a public consultation last October, 97 per cent of residents supported the proposals and the plans received more than 150 letters of support, with just two objections, one of which was from Tesco.
Property asset manager for Morrisons, John Robson, said: "We are bitterly disappointed with Braintree District Council's recommendation to refuse the proposed extension to our Witham store.
"The store is very popular and very busy and crying out for more space so that we can provide our customers with the shopping environment they deserve. The extension will allow our store to breathe and enable us to bring our latest store concept to Witham.
"Witham Town Council also supports the proposals and so it is clear that Witham has spoken with one voice. It is only the officers at Braintree District Council who disagree.
"It's now up to the elected members of the planning committee to recognise the overwhelming sentiment of residents and overturn the officers' recommendation, and granting permission."
