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Safeway proposals for development of Plough Lane site.
The planning application for a Safeway Supermarket on the corner of Plough Lane and Durnsford Road has recently been renewed. It was one of the subjects discussed at the W.P.R.A. public meeting on January 12th, which the leader of Merton Council, Councillor Brunt, attended.
Councillor Brunt has now confirmed that Safeway Stores plc. is the registered owner of the freehold of the old football club site and of the adjoining houses (55/57 Durnsford Road). It also has a lease interest in 59 Durnsford Road ( Council freehold ) for 80 years from 31st January 1973.
Councillor Brunt also supplied further information:-
The Council has no records of the costs associated with the public inquiries relating to the planning application.
- It is not normally possible to turn down a planning application on grounds of pollution or increased traffic. The latter problem can almost always be overcome, and Safeway have argued that no additional traffic would be generated.
- The application has been refused a number of times, most recently on grounds of insufficient access by means other than private transport. Safeway have sought to counter this by improving bus access and undertaking to provide additional bus services for the life of the store.
W.P.R.A. believes that it is likely that the renewed application will again be "called in" by the Secretary of State for the Environment, who has the power to take a final decision.
W.P.R.A's impression is that residents of Wimbledon Park, which is outside the immediate vicinity of the site, are approximately evenly split for and against the proposed development. W.P.R.A. feels, therefore, that it is unable to oppose or support the application.
Residents who still wish to object should write to the Planning Officers. The address for this is on one of the many notices in shop windows and the notice boards.
Judy Israel
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