Flood concerns delay superstore's plans (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Flood concerns delay superstore's plans

A DECISION about whether or not Tesco should be permitted to extend its Cirencester superstore was postponed because of concerns about flooding.

A Cotswold District Council planning committee meeting deferred the national food store company's application, to build a 2,250-square-metre extension at its Old Cricklade Road branch, because members wanted a second opinion about potential flooding problems there.

Council planning officer, Marcus Kitchen, told the meeting the Environment Agency originally objected because of flooding but withdrew its objection after its discussions with Tesco produced a flood-risk analysis.

But members backed Councillor Susan Jepson's recommendation that the decision be deferred until a second independent flood-risk report was produced.

This was after members expressed concerns about the potential affect on the flood-prone area.

Councillor Deryck Nash said: "It's a very serious issue for a considerable number of people in this part of Cirencester/Siddington.

"They are going to put a building there that will displace that water elsewhere."

Questioning the Environmental Agency's findings, Cllr Nash said four bungalows in nearby Cherry Tree Drive particularly suffered flooding problems.

He said: "I have seen the water actually in people's houses from ordinary rainfall."

Councillor Sheila Jeffery said: "I do have extreme concern about flooding in the area.

"I know from other experiences that when we do put down a large extension that the water has to go somewhere else."

Councillor Sue Herdman said: "That new building, if it's going that close to Cherry Tree Drive, you can bet your bottom dollar there will be flooding."