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Planning: Traders set to fight plan for Corn Exchange

Planning meeting: Peterborough City Centre Post Office

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Published Date:
22 October 2008
BATTLE lines have been drawn as two Peterborough city centre businesses fight to save their premises from demolition.
At a packed meeting in the town hall yesterday, Peterborough City Council's planning committee approved its own application to bulldoze the Corn Exchange, occupied by a number of businesses including the crown Post Office.

As the Evening Telegraph has previously reported, the plan is to pull down the 1960s building, in Exchange Street, to make way for a public square.

The scheme is the first phase of a longer term-vision for the city centre, which will initially see the six-storey building demolished to make way for concrete paving slabs, trees, water fountains and stone benches.

The project is intended to breath new life into the city centre, while also softening up the dull exterior of the Queensgate Shopping Centre.

The application, which was recommended for approval by the planning
officers, was discussed at yesterday's planning and environmental protection meeting which was attended by representatives of the Post Office Ltd and Bin Ends.

What do you think about the planning decisions?
Comment below, email us: news@ peterboroughtoday.co.uk or telephone the newsdesk 01733 588719.
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Planning officer David Loveday told the meeting: "I have to say in my own view that in itself the building adds nothing to the city centre. Its loss will contribute to the growth of the city centre."

The Post Office Ltd and Bin Ends shop both objected to the proposals.
The post office has always maintained it has not been given enough time to find alternative premises.

And Bin Ends representatives said they hadn't been spoken to properly by the city council. Richard Keczkes, a solicitor for Post Office Ltd, told the council it would be going against national and local policy if it went ahead and demolished the building, which is in a conservation area.

Mr Keczkes added: "You (the council) own the building, but the Post Office also owns the building. The post office has nowhere else to go."

Martin Blackwell, who represented Bin Ends, reminded the council that his client, who ran a profitable business, did not have to find any alternative as "they still have lease for four years".

Despite the objections – and a further 12 letters of objection – members of the council's planning committee voted to approve the demolition of the Corn Exchange and the change of use to a public space.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Blackwell said Bin Ends was going nowhere and would remain open as normal.

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  • Last Updated: 22 October 2008 1:58 PM
  • Source: Peterborough ET
  • Location: Peterborough
 
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mrbrown,

22/10/2008 14:01:29
The Post Office's case can't be argued with.

Councils should not be allowed to decide on their own planning applications. Let objective third party planning committees make these important decisions.

I'm confused how a planning officer can say that the loss of these premises will contribute to the growth of the city centre, especially when it is to be replaced by empty space.

If the Corn Exchange building is really that bad, then replace it with another better building, and put that valuable city centre space to good and proper use, rather than a windswept, useless square, especially when there is a large square already right next to it.
2

captainsawdust,

22/10/2008 14:34:25
There will be more big issue sellers there then if that building goes !

This council is a total joke
3

mrbrown,

22/10/2008 15:36:45
With the council approving its own planning applications, I don't think it can be seen to be acting in the public interest when it's trying to push its own agenda. Was it ever likely to be refused? There's an obvious undemocratic conflict of interest here, and I wonder if this decision should be externally audited by the government.

The loss and relocation of the post office, to be replaced by an empty space, is I think not in the public's interest. The same goes for the loss of businesses there, particularly Bin Ends, which is one of very few places to buy papers, tobacco and alcoholic beverages in the city centre.You try buying a paper and a packet of cigarettes anytime after 5.30pm, anywhere in Peterborough city centre.

Putting that space to no practical use is a colossal waste, as is the loss of business rate income and rent to the council's annual coffers. No body will thank the present council for it's airy fairy city centre vision, and will probably be remembered as a joke.

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reded,

22/10/2008 16:39:34
Can they not do the talking bit....If the council leaders want to relocate them - do the right thing and help the occupiers move. PCC have earmarked £13 million for demolition/fees/plans/payments to god knows who this year and they are running out of time to spend it. They should use some of the funds to regenerate part of the Peterborough City Centre. A cycle route over the new bridge would have been a good idea. Or improve North Street or relocate the Post office to something nice and in the town centre. Show people something good and decent before you demolish. There must be some banks and estate agents empty to put the Post Office in. Also one of the few learning centre with good access is at the corn exchange. We need all the skills we can get in Peterborough and some councillors with basic skills would help.
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Robert De Niro,

22/10/2008 21:35:15
Pathetic! Why is anybody defending that disgraceful building. It's a joke and an embarrassment to the city. I could not care less for the businesses (or Post Office) that presently occupy it. Nobody would care if my business was told to move premises from somewhere else, so why is this ridulous building getting any support?? It beggars belief and it's not as if they have not had any notice. Get on with it and knock the damn thing down. Now!!
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Mardood,

Orton 22/10/2008 22:17:48
Agreed Bob D N, get it knocked down - move the post office across the road, Ladbrokes have enough shops so the council can evict them and it makes a super Post Office. As you walk in the door you will get a genuine feeling of how far away from the counter in the queue you are. Give Bin Ends that cafe bar that has not paid any tax and let customers drink in !, and bobs your uncle - sorted. Has the Estate Agents and the Barbers complained. The Estate Agents would be lovely in the Old Still and the barbers can be given cheap rent in one of them shops where squatters sell christmas wrapping paper. So there you go, flatten it.
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Bill Taylor,

Longthorpe 23/10/2008 00:00:18
Captain Sawdust is obviously so named because of what he has in his head rather than a brain. Knock a monstrosity of a building down and you get more Big Issue sellers?? He's the joke - not the council. And as for the Post Office, perhaps they could move to a building where it is possible to park.
8

nkmabm,

The Real World 23/10/2008 07:08:31
'Mardood' clearly has no idea about the way the world works.
Has he/she not considered that Bin Ends might not be able to afford the extortionate rent charged to use what used to house the cafe bar that couldn't afford to stay where it was?
And if Green King couldn't afford the rent and rates on the Still, how could an estate agent fork out that sort of money?
And Bill Taylor - which of the countless empty retail united with convenient parking would you suggest?
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trottz,

peterborough 23/10/2008 08:54:01
i for one hope Bin Ends takes the council all the way to the cleaners with this one...

to have a FOUR YEAR lease STILL in existence & to be told get out is appalling, how does this give any individual outlets the faith in opening premises & be sure the contracts are worth anything!!???

one more time...

HOW DOES AN EMPTY SPACE GENERATE THIS CENTRE AREA????
10

Craigy37,

Hampton 23/10/2008 10:08:52
Good ridance that building is hideous the sooner they knock it down the better.
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