Browse Sections
Interactive
Popular Sections
Spotty showers; coldNews
| 
Submit Comments
John Bennett was shocked to read in the Guardian how quickly the new store development had gathered pace
advertisement
'New store will not improve our stock'
9/10/2008
RESIDENTS living opposite the proposed new town centre retail park have criticised developers for failing to consult more extensively with them.
Neighbours along Kemp Street, whose homes face the planned new 16,715 sq ft Aldi store and separate 23,000 sq ft retail unit, say they feel they have been largely excluded from discussions between the developers and other local residents.
It comes after a joint planning application was submitted last month by Aldi and Kirkland Developments, who are heading the £11M project to redevelop the current Parkfield Industrial site.
But Lambert Smith Hampton’s (LSH), which is dealing with the planning application, said it consulted as widely as it could before submitting the planning application.
John Bennett, who has lived Kemp Street for the past six years and whose home would face the new retail unit if the plans get the go ahead, said: "I received a letter off Kirkland Developments in January this year.
"It said they were thinking about developing the area, and I wrote a letter back with my concerns, which they acknowledged with a reply letter in May.
"The next thing I heard about this was when I read the Middleton Guardian a few weeks ago. It was a complete shock.
"I heard there was a meeting between the developers and some residents, but we were not invited to that."
Fifty-year-old Mr Bennett said he was concerned with the impact the development could have on the street.
He added: "I’ve lived in four different places in Middleton and this is definitely the quietest.
"The current site is a bit of an eyesore at the minute, but we don’t have any problems with it. If this new development goes ahead we will have traffic in and out of the site all hours of the day, and there may be problems with youths in the car park at night."
A spokesperson for LSH said: "We sent letters to all residents living next to the area, and we took their responses into consideration when finalising the details.
"We had a meeting with the Archer Park residents group after they requested one, and contacted the local councillor.
"There is no statutory obligation for us to consult, but we chose to, and felt we did as much as we could."
The planning application is currently being considered by Rochdale Council. If it gets the go-ahead, the scheme’s backers hope to open the facility in 2010.
Tell us what you think. Email: middletonguardian@menwn.co.uk, click on 'Submit comment, or write to Readers Letters, Middleton Guardian, c/o Observer Buildings, Drake Street, Rochdale, OL16 1PH
Most recent 1 of 1 user comments
Got an opinion you want to share?| Card | BT Fee |
| Virgin Credit Card | 2.98% |
| Capital One Low Rate Balance Transfer | 1.7% |
| Capital One Low Rate Platinum | HASH(0x2ba4b8de2d10) |
| Capital One Fixed Rate Card | 0.0% |
| Company | Typical APR |
| Platinum Exclusive Loan | 7.8% |
| Bank of Scotland (Semi-exclusive) | 8.6% |
| Halifax (Semi-exclusive) | 8.6% |
| Alliance & Leicester | 8.7% |
| Sainsbury's Personal Loan | 8.9% |
| Provider | AER* |
|
ICICI BANK HiSAVE Savings Account |
5.50% |
|
SAINSBURYS FINANCE Internet Saver |
4.00% |
|
FIRST DIRECT Everyday e-Saver |
2.75% |
|
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER Online Tracker |
6.00% |
|
ABBEY Instant Access Saver (Special Issue 2) |
6.00% |
|
ING DIRECT Savings Account |
6.00% |
|
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER eSaver - Issue 2 |
6.30% |
|
ABBEY eSaver Direct |
6.00% |
|
POST OFFICE Instant Saver |
3.75% |
23/10/2008 at 21:48