Secret Plans for New Supermarket
Lancaster City Council’s cabinet is being pushed to make a decision on Tuesday9th October about whether to sell off fields at the edge of Scotforth for a new out-of-town supermarket development. Green Councillors Emily Heath and Jane Fletcher, who represent Scotforth West ward, which includes the land in question (known as Lawson’s Bridge), arefurious at the secretive way that the decision is being rushed through.
The fields in question are valued and well used by Scotforth residents for dog-walking and other kinds of recreation. There is a community woodland area at the northern end which is threatened by the development.
Cllr Fletcher Said; I have major concerns about the impact of a new out-of-town supermarket on the whole of south Lancaster. It will generate thousands of extra car trips every day, and could put existing local shops out of business. Scotforth already has a Booths supermarket which is easily accessible without a car from all the surrounding residential areas. National and regional planning policies urge against allowing out-of-town supermarkets, and yet the cabinet is being asked to go ahead with marketing Council-owned land for that purpose as a quick financial fix.”
Cllr Heath added: “This is probably the biggest and most controversial decision to affect south Lancaster for many years, and yet it is being rushed through without any public consultation or debate. The report itself is restricted so the press and public cannot find out what is proposed, and may be prevented from observing that part of the cabinet meeting..”