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Landmark building to be demolished as supermarket plan passed



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Published Date: 03 July 2008
By Joe Robinson
PLANS to demolish an historic building and create a budget supermarket have been passed despite furious protest.
Fylde Council yest-erday passed plans to demolish St Annes Conservative Club to allowing the building of an Aldi store.

The Development Control Committee vote was split – seven councillors for and seven against.

What do you think about the decision? Leave your comments below.

But committee chairman, Coun Trevor Fiddler used his casting vote to approve the proposal, which will see the club and St Anthony's House buildings, on Clifton Drive North and St George's Road, bulldozed to makeway for the development.

The decision came despite opposition from local residents. There were a total of 16 registered objections to the plans by way of letter.

Aldi are now expected to commence the demolition of the buildings soon, in a development that will also see 34 apartments created above the store.

Mike Clarke, property director for the German supermarket chain, said: "This is the culmination of two years of hard work by Aldi, its advisors and Fylde Council, particularly Head of Planning Mark Evans and his team.

"We are very pleased to be able to assist with the regeneration of a key area of St Annes town centre and look forward to bringing our high quality, excellent value offers to the town."

Civic groups and members of the St Annes United Reformed Church spoke at the start of the meeting to oppose plans, citing traffic dangers and the historic nature of the Conservative Club building as reasons the plans should be refused.

Previous stories:

Club to go for supermarket

Aldi all set to end speculation

Mystery over club building

Aldi move slammed a mistake

Rev James Whately, said the plans would "endanger the lives of those attending the church."

Churchgoer Col John Greenough, a deputy Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire and a former high sheriff of the county, added: "I fear the increase in traffic will create accidents, and even deaths."

Marion Coupe, chairman of the Lytham and St Annes Civic Society labelled the result "another nail in the coffin of St Annes as a heritage town."

Coun Linda Nulty, also raised concerns that there should be more affordable housing included in the proposal.

However, Fylde planning boss, Mark Evans, who authored the report recommending the approval of the plans, claimed the supermarket: "fitted with the council's core strategy," and said it would provide jobs and vitality to the area.

The full article contains 414 words and appears in Blackpool Gazette newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 03 July 2008 8:18 AM
  • Source: Blackpool Gazette
  • Location: Blackpool
 
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Frustrated,

St Annes 03/07/2008 08:46:37
Interesting to see how many jobs this creates compared to how much capacity for new residents - overall not likely to be a great improvement for employment.
For a heritage landmark to be lost on a casting vote is disgraceful. Especially on the say so of Mr Trevor Fiddler - who stood as a "Truly Independent" in 2007 and changed his mind within a week that he was really a Conservative at heart once he knew which way the vote had gone. Disgusting political power games whilst St Annes goes downhill. Shame on all those who voted to demolish our heritage.
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fyldecoast,

fylde 03/07/2008 09:00:30
Must say Frustrated we do have a lot of similar views in our comments.This supermarket will damage the appearance of the whole of this stretch of classy old buildings. No problem with having the supermarket but not just there and on the main rd. Regeneration - more a blot on the appearance of St Annes
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John McNicholas .,

Bispham 03/07/2008 09:33:17
Not from St. Annes, but what a shame to see a grand piece of local heritage like this wiped from the landscape for a supermarket. No problems with supermarkets, think Aldi is a decent chain, but what a sad end for a lovely Edifice. Never thought I,d see the " posh" folk of St. Annes giving up their Conservative club let alone have it dissapear under the Contractors Demolition Ball!!!
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harrylivesey5,

bispham 03/07/2008 10:54:59
what a disgrace to demolish such a fine building where are planners heads, why is this building being allowed to go? is it not listed to protect it.
there is a shame on all who voted for this. once again big business, money, rules over common sense
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beachcomber,

blackpool 03/07/2008 10:56:08
i wonder how much it cost for Fylde Council to work with Aldi to get these plans approved, and who pays for these costs. i am a bit surprised at the ideas of some residents, not sure where they think they live. like most areas, there are some nice parts, and then some very undesireable parts to St Annes.
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mjh@geccy,

Wyre 03/07/2008 12:03:20
I agree totally with all the previous comments. Not one week seems to pass that some councillor somewhere is going against the wishes of the people. Unfortunately, by the time these useless individuals get voted out the damage they have done cannot be repaired, yes they should hang their heads in shame. Contact English Heritage ASAP and ask them to come and look at the building, this action could at least prevent deveopers doing anything to the site until EH had been and looked. If they recommend the building be listed, you can wave bye bye to the developers and ALDI.
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Lol, North Shore,

Blackpool 03/07/2008 12:07:11
what a terrible waste of a beautiful building.
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MisterJJ,

St Anne's 03/07/2008 13:35:57
It's not that nice a building at the back though - at least we will be getting rid of the horrible old job centre. I know it's nice at the front but if there is no commercially viable scheme that includes retaining the Porrit building then surely it is worth sacrificing it for not only a useful and well needed supermarket but also the removal of the eyesore at the back. In the current climate we really need an Aldi in St Annes, especially with the price of bloody Sainsbury! Every cloud........
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Frustrated,

St Annes 03/07/2008 14:09:21
Why is there this widely believed rubbish that the building could not be used for any other use at a profit? If the Porritt building (Conservative Club) ha been made into luxury flats (like many other such buildings in the area) (which would in inself make a large profit) St, Anthony's House could have been demolished and converted into any other use required. Why couldn't Aldi have built at the old Kwik Save site on St David's Road South or at the old council depot on St David' Road North? Because these had already had cosy deals for their use agreed with our council.
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John McNicholas .,

Bispham 03/07/2008 14:16:02
Very perceptive comment frustrated. I mentioned last week that it was a " Land Swap" deal which saved Bispham Gala Fields. Why couldnt the same have been done here??
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