PLANS to build a new food store in Coggeshall have been scrapped, to the disappointment of many local people.
The plans to build a new Co-operative store on the site of the former Fleetshield garage in East Street were originally submitted by the East of England Co-Operative Society in February 2011, but were rejected by Braintree District Council in November last year.
Development of the proposed store would have included the demolition of existing workshops, to be replaced by the 5,000sq ft Co-operative, a car park and a new access route to the site.
However, the society appealed the council's decision to reject the plans and during the six-day public enquiry held in July and August earlier this year, more than 100 people turned out to offer their opinions.
At the time, executive officer for the East of England Co-operative, Nick Denny, said: "We are delighted with the response from Coggeshall residents, and the majority who attended our event have backed our plans for a new store in East Street."
But despite its best efforts, it was announced last Friday that the store's appeal had been rejected by the Planning Inspectorate.
Reasons given for its rejection included the visual impact of the new store on the countryside, the level of traffic generated by increased volumes of people travelling to the store, and the noise and disturbance nearby residents might experience from the development.
Coggeshall parish councillor Michael Collins believes that while a minority of people were against the plans, there was a general feeling of disappointment around the village that the building of the new store would not go ahead.
He said: "We are very, very disappointed indeed. I have got my finger on the pulse here in Coggeshall and I'm quite sure that the vast majority of people want that Co-op. Everybody I have spoken to is absolutely amazed."
He added: "We have a high proportion of elderly people who live in the village and we do need a good village store.
"I thought that local government was about meeting the needs of the majority and I don't think these have been met."
In a statement from Braintree District Council, councillor Lady Patricia Newton, who also lives in Coggeshall, said: "Braintree District Council is pleased that the decision to refuse the planning and conservation area consent applications for a proposed new Co-op superstore in Coggeshall have been supported by the Planning Inspectorate.
"It is a matter for the applicant to consider whether to continue to seek to develop this site."
