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Settle supermarket could destroy town fear objectors

From the archive, first published Thursday 4th Jan 2007.

BOOTHS supermarket in Settle has made an application to the district council for permission to extend its range of goods for sale.

The north of England-based foodstore was opened in the town five years ago, but one of the planning conditions limited the goods it could sell.

Legal agreements can be renegotiated after five years and the five-year period was up on September 15 2006.

Now the supermarket wants to extend its range to sell food or drink for consumption on the premises, products baked partly or wholly on the premises and hot food for consumption off the premises.

It also wants the council to allow it to sell newspapers, magazines and books, CDs and DVDs, hardware and decorating materials.

The lifting of the restrictions would also make it possible for Booths to sell fabrics and yarns, clothing, facilities for the processing of photographic film, services for the washing or cleaning of clothes, provide banking facilities including a cash point, provide a post office and sell pharmacy products requiring a prescription or offer advice from a qualified pharmacist.

News of the planning application has led to a number of objections from residents who fear for the future of Settle town centre.

Hilary Fenten, chairman of the Craven branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), said the town centre was not doing too well these days and if Booths extended its range of goods, she feared it would take further trade away from local shops.

"That Booths wishes to expand its range of goods and services obviously will benefit this supermarket chain, but many people will suffer and Settle will not find it easy to remain anything but a place to buy tourist stuff," said Mrs Fenten.

"The feelings are quite high in Settle about this, particularly because hardly anyone knew a planning application was being lodged. The market traders won't be back until next week and anyone who wants to put in a representation has to do so by January 12," she added.

Ken Meredith, who runs Car and Kitchen in Settle, was also concerned that the application had been lodged over the Christmas period as this could limit objections because the council offices had been closed for several days.

Settle resident Norris Lockley has often spoken at meetings of Settle Town Council to complain that Booths was breaching its legal agreement and selling restricted items. Responding to his complaints, the district council said it was monitoring the situation, while a spokesman for Booths said sometimes mistakes were made but were rectified immediately they were brought to its notice.

James Ellis, of Craven District Council's planning department, said if the application was going to be brought before the planning committee, it would not be before February at the earliest.

A spokesman for Booths supermarket told the Herald this week: "The original restriction placed on Booths was over five years ago.

"Booths is disadvantaged compared to other operators who are able to sell the full range of goods which are expected in modern supermarkets and therefore shoppers are shopping outside of Settle.

"Being allowed to remove restrictions on the sale of certain goods and services, we feel can only bring positive benefits to the centre."