Deadline looms for megashed decision

3:11pm Wednesday 8th October 2008

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TEST Valley Borough Council planners are due to make a final decision over the controversial application which includes the Tesco meg-ashed on 1 December at The Lights, in Andover.

The application on the former Andover Airfield initially prompted a storm of protest from the STOP! Alliance but has now attracted growing support from the Go! campaign.

It was referred to Test Valley Borough's planning control committee following the decision by the northern area planning committee to refuse the application.

Members of the committee considered the application by Goodman to be intrusive to the landscape and detrimental to the area and to the residents due to noise and disturbance.

The decision went against planning officers' recommendation and in situations like this the council's constitution says the matter must be referred to planning control when the head of planning advises there could be possible claims for costs against the council.

Planning control may either approve the application or agree with the northern area committee and refuse the application. This will be the council's final decision on the matter.

The council allows members of the public to make brief statements and representations at its meetings about items on the agenda, allowing three minutes for those objecting to the scheme and three minutes for those supporting it.

A total of three minutes is also available for representatives of parish councils concerned.

Those wishing to speak can register with the committee officer once the agenda is published on 21 November. Speakers will be encouraged to contact one another to appoint a spokesperson in the interests of helping everyone get their points across.