Plans to build a Sainsbury’s Local Store in the car park of the Badminton Arms pub in Coalpit Heath were given the go ahead today by the DC (East) planning committee.

Despite impassioned pleas from local traders and residents to turn it down because of the impact it would have on the existing village shops, a motion to do that proposed by Pat Hockey was voted down. The committee went on to support the application by 7 votes to 3 with 3 abstentions.

A large crowd of objectors turned out and extra time was allowed so that a Westerleigh Parish Councillor, local trader Edwina Pennell and resident Kath Aldom could all have their say. I talked about the results of the survey I carried out, which attracted over 200 responses, and Frampton Cotterell councillor Dave Hockey spoke of the importance of protecting local independent shops, as set out in the Village Design Statement for the two villages. He read out a letter from the owners of Coalpit Heath Post Office demonstrating the effect the application was already having.

When the result of the vote was declared, there were cries of dismay from the packed public gallery. As news of the decision sunk in, there was a clear message from local traders – “Use us or lose us”.