B&Q given the push

12.00.00am GMT Tue 22nd Nov 2005

Campaigners Stephen Lloyd, Sharon Bowles MEP and Cllr David Tutt

Local campaigners are celebrating after winning the first round of the battle against plans to build a huge new B&Q megastore at Sovereign Harbour.

Hundreds of concerned residents recently attended the Council's planning committee meeting to voice their opposition to the plans. This forced the meeting to be moved from its usual small room in the town hall to the much larger Winter Gardens.

The residents were delighted when Eastbourne Borough Councillors voted to reject B&Q's application. Campaigner Stephen Lloyd said, "The terrific efforts by the SHRA (Sovereign Harbour Residents Association) and No to B&Q group have been superb over the last few months and on the day - they triumphed!"

He continued, "Having fought the application from the very beginning along with my colleague Cllr David Tutt, I was enormously impressed by the passion of local residents, their detailed grasp of the issues and the way they presented their case."  

Long battle ahead

Despite this tremendous victory, Eastbourne Borough Council's decision could still be overturned. B&Q have decided to appeal against the decision.A Government Planning Inspector will now review the Council's decision.

Stephen Lloyd said, "It is vital that we make sure the Planning Inspector is very aware of local people's strong objections to this development. At the Council meeting the view of residents was overwhelming. Only one person who spoke from the floor was in favour of B&Q's application and he was B&Q's agent!"

"It is important we all keep the pressure up and make sure we win the Appeal. We must stop what the vast majority of local residents do not want to see - an enormous B&Q DIY store in Sovereign Harbour and all the problems that store would bring!"