Anger at shopping complex plan as thousands sign up to save Cannock homes
More than 2,000 people have signed a petition in three weeks opposing plans to turn a town centre car park into a multi-million pound shopping complex.
Beecroft Road car park in Cannock has been earmarked for development by Cannock Chase Council, with Marks & Spencer, Debenhams and Next mooted as possible shops which could move in.
Bosses announced last month market tests had shown the big names were unlikely to be attracted to the town in the current economic climate. Instead, the land is now being earmarked for mixed use, including restaurants and cafés.
If plans go ahead, compulsory purchase orders could be made to acquire land in Allport Road – meaning people's homes could be demolished to make way. Householders in Allport Road are fighting the plans, gathering more than 2,000 signatures in just three weeks on a petition urging the council to scrap its proposals.
Father-of-two Robert Blaikie, 54, is among the residents who could be affected. He said: "First of all the car park is a principle means by which people access the hospital and the town centre.
"With the saving of Cannock Chase Hospital and all the extra services it could be getting, we need more parking in town, not less. People around here – almost without exception – want to see investment in the town centre, rather than a new complex.
"The houses on this road are heritage assets – there's some of the oldest in Cannock here. Mine was built in 1910, but there's others dating back to 1870.
"We want the council to scrap the plans altogether and to support the local community, the existing town centre and the hospital."
His views were echoed by fellow Allport Road resident Wendy Flint, who has lived at her home with her husband John for 45 years. She, like many of her neighbours, believes that while the plans are under discussion the value of their homes will be hit hard, leaving them with no option of moving home.
"If ever we wanted to sell our homes, we're stuck in limbo land now," said Mrs Flint, aged 75.
"It's the blight it's going to have on our housing prices that's the biggest problem. We would like the choice to move."
