Post by admin on Sept 8, 2006 12:37:26 GMT 1
Valley Centre plans delay sparks fury
THE President of Rawtenstall’s Chamber of Trade is demanding to know why a developer has still not submitted a planning application to revamp Rawtenstall’s run-down Valley Centre.
Paul Mulderrig, who runs his own solicitors firm in Bank Street, Rawtenstall, says traders are on tenter-hooks as they wait for the plans, which were due to be handed to the council by the end of July.
And he is furious after Rossendale Council’s chief executive Carolyn Wilkins gave an assurance during a meeting of the chamber of commerce in June that developers CNC would meet the deadline.
Speaking at the time, she said: ‘Replacing the Valley Centre is a priority and we are working with CNC to facilitate that.’
But despite plans being displayed in the former Greenwood’s shop on Bank Street since 10 August an application has yet to be submitted to Rossendale Council.
Further talks will take place between CNC and Mrs Wilkins on 24 September as the two sides attempt to hammer out a deal over what the developer should provide to the community, known as a section 106 agreement.
Steve Caplan, property director working on behalf of CNC, said: ‘We have yet to agree the final items that the developer is providing by way of a section 106 agreement.
‘Depending upon how the meeting goes on the 24 we are looking for an application to follow within a fortnight of that.’
But that is not soon enough for Mr Mulderrig who raised the issue at the organisation’s latest meeting last Friday.
Blasting the delay, he said: ‘How can anyone trust CNC’s plans when they have allowed the Valley Centre to deteriorate to the extent to which it has so far?
‘We were told at the Chamber’s AGM in June that there would be a planning application submitted by CNC by the end of July – where is it?
‘Their application should be in by now and the council should explain to us what their exchanges are with CNC.
‘We are told that a much larger compulsory purchase order scheme in Liverpool went from conception to a done deal within 12 months.
‘So why aren’t we doing it here?’
A spokeswoman for Rossendale Council said: ‘We are still waiting for a planning application to be submitted and will be getting an update from the developer on 24 September.
‘The section 106 agreement will be agreed once a planning application has been submitted.’
George Oliver
First published by the Rossendale Free Press
THE President of Rawtenstall’s Chamber of Trade is demanding to know why a developer has still not submitted a planning application to revamp Rawtenstall’s run-down Valley Centre.
Paul Mulderrig, who runs his own solicitors firm in Bank Street, Rawtenstall, says traders are on tenter-hooks as they wait for the plans, which were due to be handed to the council by the end of July.
And he is furious after Rossendale Council’s chief executive Carolyn Wilkins gave an assurance during a meeting of the chamber of commerce in June that developers CNC would meet the deadline.
Speaking at the time, she said: ‘Replacing the Valley Centre is a priority and we are working with CNC to facilitate that.’
But despite plans being displayed in the former Greenwood’s shop on Bank Street since 10 August an application has yet to be submitted to Rossendale Council.
Further talks will take place between CNC and Mrs Wilkins on 24 September as the two sides attempt to hammer out a deal over what the developer should provide to the community, known as a section 106 agreement.
Steve Caplan, property director working on behalf of CNC, said: ‘We have yet to agree the final items that the developer is providing by way of a section 106 agreement.
‘Depending upon how the meeting goes on the 24 we are looking for an application to follow within a fortnight of that.’
But that is not soon enough for Mr Mulderrig who raised the issue at the organisation’s latest meeting last Friday.
Blasting the delay, he said: ‘How can anyone trust CNC’s plans when they have allowed the Valley Centre to deteriorate to the extent to which it has so far?
‘We were told at the Chamber’s AGM in June that there would be a planning application submitted by CNC by the end of July – where is it?
‘Their application should be in by now and the council should explain to us what their exchanges are with CNC.
‘We are told that a much larger compulsory purchase order scheme in Liverpool went from conception to a done deal within 12 months.
‘So why aren’t we doing it here?’
A spokeswoman for Rossendale Council said: ‘We are still waiting for a planning application to be submitted and will be getting an update from the developer on 24 September.
‘The section 106 agreement will be agreed once a planning application has been submitted.’
George Oliver
First published by the Rossendale Free Press
