Press release

No more out of town shopping centres

10 June 2011

In response to the threat of legal challenge by the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association [1] against the Tesco hypermarket outside Banbridge, Friends of the Earth is demanding that Minister Attwood refuses planning permission for all new out of town shopping centres.

Friends of the Earth is making five demands:

1. Stronger planning policies to be introduced to protect high streets and town centres

2. Immediate implementation of the proposed rates increases for out of town centres

3. New rules to make Ministers adhere to their own planning policies

4. Independent economic reports to fully assess the impact of current proposals including job losses in nearby town centres

5. A complete ban on all new out of town shopping centres from 2012

Friends of the Earth Director, James Orr said:

"Enough is enough. We have had our fill of unsustainable large supermarkets being built outside our cities and towns . These monstrosities suck the lifeblood out of communities by ruining small businesses. They increase consumption and waste and dramatically increase cars on the road. [2] We are calling on the new Minister for the Environment to halt all new out of town supermarkets from 2012."

Bonnie Horsman, convenor of Banbridge and Mourne Friends of the Earth stated:

"If Banbridge falls victim to this Tesco hypermarket it will pave the way for every other town centre to be destroyed. We are delighted that NIIRTA is seeking a judicial review. Ministers cannot ignore independent economic assessments that prove that jobs will be lost. Ministers should not be allowed to override the decisions of their professional planners who twice rejected this application on planning grounds. Banbridge is a test case that has dramatic consequences for the future of Northern Ireland. "

Notes

[1] The Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association has confirmed that it is considering a Judicial Review application to challenge the decision of the former Environment Minister Edwin Poots in granting planning permission for an out of town Tesco hypermarket at Bridgewater Park near Banbridge in which he overruled his planning officials

[2] More detail on the environmental effects of supermarkets is contained in this report

[3] Friends of the Earth believes the environment is for everyone. We want a healthy planet and a good quality of life for all those who live on it. We inspire people to act together for a thriving environment. More than 90 per cent of our income comes from individuals so we rely on donations to continue our vital work. For further information visit www.foe.co.uk/ni

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust