Keep Wimborne Town Green – Mr Atlay's Response In Full

Below is the full press release from Mr Atlay with regard to the town green application and the polling results, as well as an additional comment by Mr Atlay on the form the inquiry would have taken.

"During the 4 years between the announcement by the "Deans Courts Estate" of its wish to sell Hanham's Ground to Waitrose should the company achieve Planning Permission and the granting of that permission in 2008, local opposition, that was tested many times, remained solid. "Keep Wimborne Town Green" was an expression of that opposition. There was no objection to a second supermarket in the town nor to Waitrose, the company, but the Cricket Ground, which was within the Conservation Area and designated as an open space, was roundly rejected as an appropriate site for a large supermarket. District Councillors, with some honourable exceptions, wholly ignored this majority view.

The Town Green Application made by KWTG in 2009 was intended to halt the build and give time for further consideration of the issues. Given that the build went ahead and given that the County Council has waited for over 2 years before addressing the valid Application, we recognise that people have come to accept the store despite its obscene impact upon the appearance of a delightful Minster town. Whilst many people continue to complain bitterly about this development, we considered it appropriate to test opinion now before embarking upon a time consuming Inquiry, not least because we have considerable misgivings about the form of the Inquiry that has been imposed. Accordingly, we initiated the survey conducted by "Electoral Reform Services". Although, the closing date for the submission of the forms is not until 12 December, 50% of those polled have already responded - of these the majority view is that either the store is an asset to the town or that, although the development should not have been permitted on the site, the town has now to live with it. Hence we have made the decision to withdraw the Application.

We thank very much all those who have supported KWTG during the past 7 years particularly those who contributed funds that enabled us to access legal advice; it was a valiant struggle but without the support of local politicians, it was impossible to prevail."

Mr Atlay went on to say, "At the end of the day, because the DCC would not appoint an independent Inspector to hear the Inquiry but insisted that it would be heard by 3 County Councillors and because a decision in favour of the Application would have involved the DCC in considerable expense ie: reversing the road alterations that it has made, we realised that there was not a 'cat in hell's chance of success' so we decided to take the honourable course."

The full polling results will follow in the new year.