Labour changes its view on former Project site
Wednesday, 19th January 2011.
Haverhill Labour councillors have changed their view on the former Project site in Ehringshausen Way.
Last year they supported other members of Haverhill Town Council in objecting to plans put forward by HPG Developments to build starter employment units, shops, a builders' merchants for Wickes and a drive-thru restaurant for McDonalds on the site.
The plans were refused by St Edmundsbury Borough Council planners, partly because it was considered there were other suitable sites closer to the town centre.
Town councillors had objected to the plan because they were concerned about the effect on a couple of shops in Haverhill High Street.
But Labour group leader Cllr Maureen Byrne told last night's town council meeting they had revised their view.
"I now know that this plan was never going to be approved by the borough," she said, "so we were wasting our time being given a presentation about it.
"But a lot of people in the town were very disappointed and they think that it was us that were short-sighted in objecting."
"We think this would have brought about 200 jobs and we need jobs in Haverhill."
Cllr Byrne wanted to know how the town council could go about getting the land allocation changed.
Town clerk Gordon Mussett said there was a lot of land available in town for businesses, but not a great deal of interest at the moment because of the economic climate.
He suggested the public consultation on the new Haverhill Masterplan on February 1 would be the time to raise the issue.
Last year they supported other members of Haverhill Town Council in objecting to plans put forward by HPG Developments to build starter employment units, shops, a builders' merchants for Wickes and a drive-thru restaurant for McDonalds on the site.
The plans were refused by St Edmundsbury Borough Council planners, partly because it was considered there were other suitable sites closer to the town centre.
Town councillors had objected to the plan because they were concerned about the effect on a couple of shops in Haverhill High Street.
But Labour group leader Cllr Maureen Byrne told last night's town council meeting they had revised their view.
"I now know that this plan was never going to be approved by the borough," she said, "so we were wasting our time being given a presentation about it.
"But a lot of people in the town were very disappointed and they think that it was us that were short-sighted in objecting."
"We think this would have brought about 200 jobs and we need jobs in Haverhill."
Cllr Byrne wanted to know how the town council could go about getting the land allocation changed.
Town clerk Gordon Mussett said there was a lot of land available in town for businesses, but not a great deal of interest at the moment because of the economic climate.
He suggested the public consultation on the new Haverhill Masterplan on February 1 would be the time to raise the issue.
