Decision on Spalding church plans for former Coneys store is delayed
Plans to transform a former department store into a community hub have been deferred after the majority of councillors felt the proposal would be good for the town centre.
South Holland District Council’s planning committee were torn over the Lighthouse Pentecostal Church’s application to convert the former Coneys store in Broad Street, Spalding.
The church wants to convert the former Hills store from retail to mixed use, comprising of ancillary retail, cafe, play space, offices, church, community meeting place and food bank.
Some councillors felt that it would be better to have the building occupied and providing a service for the community while others were concerned about the loss of a large store and harm the ‘fragile town centre’ plus a discussion was also held over the town’s nightlife.
Members of the committee had been recommended to refuse the application, on grounds of the loss of retail space, noise and lack of detail – but this was blasted as ‘not justified’ by Coun Sophie Hutchinson.
The Holbeach councillor put forward an alternative proposal to approve the application as she felt it was important to have an ‘an active building to attract people not just retail shops sat empty.”
Coun Hutchinson, who questioned why noise was a concern when it is close to the South Holland Centre, said: “I feel the report is inaccurate and misleading. The reason for refusal is not justified. We should be supporting any mixed or community use for our residents.”
An officer responded by highlighting a decision by the planning inspectorate on the Merkur Slots application for its site in Hall Place.
He said: “The inspector considered Spalding town centre didn’t have a night time economy and for a town centre it was a quiet environment.”
Another independent councillor, Thomas Sneath, said he was excited about the application as it was somewhere for his family to go.
He said: “Part of the reason we find it difficult to look at the change of use is that we remember what it was like.
“Spalding does have a night life - it’s not the same as it was 10 to 20 years ago.”
He praised the work of the street pastors saying that it means people are not calling 999 when they need support after having too much to drink.
“As a council, we need to have a bit of faith that we can pull this off as a community” he added.
Coun Paul Barnes supported the application as he felt it would be the right thing for the town which had a number of empty properties.
He said: “To me it seems this applicant want to take on an empty building and look after it. We haven’t had any retail opportunities coming in and knocking on the door.”
Coun Andrew Tennant said to let the applicants ‘grab the opportunity to show us what they can do to bring the community into Spalding town centre.
Coun Anthony Casson was the only member of the Conservative group to support the plan.
He said: “It will bring more footfall into the town and it has to be better than having another derelict empty shop in Spalding – we have several of those already.”
Assets and planning portfolio holder Henry Bingham said he was not comfortable with the planning application as there was not enough detail.
He said: “I don’t think it will draw a vast amount to spend money in the already fragile town centre.
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“I feel it is a fantastic proposal but not in the right place.”
Coun Allan Beal said the church did a wonderful job but could not support the application.
He said: “We keep hearing in the press, on Facebook and on social media that the town centre from a retail prospective is dying.
“We have seen recently that the Beales shop has been taken over so there are people out there that want to use the retail setting.”
Coun Jack Tyrrell said he runs a youth shed but did not feel the town centre is a right place for this proposal and felt the building could be a night club.
The Environmental Services portfolio holder, who stressed he believed in youngsters and helping people, said: “I think it is wrong place for this kind of building. I am going to support the officers recommendation.”
Coun Bryan Alcock said he had sympathy with the application but felt it was a step into the unknown for the council.
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