Planners Likely to Refuse Supermarket

An independent retail advisor published a report last week estimating the proposed supermarket could take up to 90 per cent of trade from the town centre – but those in favour of the store say there was nothing independent about it. In Dr Richard Doidge’s report, prepared for the planning case officer Louise Koelman, he suggests the development – which includes a new supermarket, petrol station and housing -[nbsp] should be refused on retail grounds because it would have a “significant adverse impact” on Shipston’s town centre. And controversially, in an e-mail seen by the Heraldthis week, Ms Koelman said: “In light of the comments from our retail consultant, we are likely to be recommending refusal with respect to the supermarket…