'No' vote for shops plan on Cannock car park site
Controversial multi-million pound plans to transform a car park into a shopping complex could be put on hold after more than 50 per cent of surveyed residents said they did not want it.
Beecroft Road car park in Cannock has been earmarked for development by Cannock Chase Council.
Marks & Spencer, Debenhams and Next were initially mooted as possible shops which could move into the complex, before market tests found the big names were unlikely to be attracted to the town in the current economic climate.
The land is now being lined up for mixed use, including restaurants and cafés. If plans went ahead, compulsory purchase orders could be made to acquire land in Allport Road – meaning people's homes could be demolished.
A majority of Cannock Chase residents have opposed the plans, according to results from a public consultation, with 58.4 per cent of respondents saying they did not want the scheme.
This compared to 31.3 per cent who favoured the plans.
Council leader George Adamson says he will recommend the authority no longer pursues the development at this time.
"The council will take on board the results of this consultation and I will be recommending to cabinet that we respect the views of those who responded and will, therefore, not actively pursue the development of this site at this time," he said.
The consultation, in which 962 people took part, will now be presented to Cannock Chase Council's cabinet on October 17.
A petition containing more than 2,600 signatures was gathered by resident action group Allport Action Alliance opposing the plans, presented to Parliament by Cannock MP Aidan Burley.
Mr Burley said: "Common sense has prevailed due to the acts of local residents."
