Recent planning matters

The Emperor: Despite the Community Asset Order, it seems that Tesco has agreed a 25 year lease with Punch which overrides its Community Asset status. Legal opinion is that Judicial Review wouldn't succeed but a complaint to the Ombudsman might; however, it would only say that IBC planners didn't handle the case well but would not reverse the decision. I understand that the contents have been stripped which makes it practically difficult to reopen. It's sad that we are powerless to keep open a pub that would be viable as a Community Asset given a reasonable landlord, which there is, because it is more profitable for a property company owned by a hedge fund to lease to a global supermarket firm.

Tesco Grafton Way: Postponed yet again. [See The Tesco Affair on page 3.]

Warrington Road: This has been refused on grounds of inappropriate design.

Long Street and Fore Street junction: There is a keen support group (Suffolk Aviation Heritage Group) for Edith Cook (first supporter: the Society with a blue plaque). They wish to erect a statue on John Norman's Fourth Plinth. There will be a competition aimed at students in Ipswich to choose the most appropriate.

73 Berners Street: Many will have noticed a green storage box in the front driveway; one of the neighbours, a Society member, has had lengthy conversations with me and with the Conservation Officer. As a result they are seeking retrospective approval of the box which will be altered, repainted, planted around it and a new wall built. All seems reasonable to me.

The Woolpack: New signage is larger; it will be unlikely to increase trade much. There is also an application to consider some small changes to the Tuddenham Road exterior in conjunction with interior alterations. I draw your attention to these because the survival of the pub is under question. There were sixty-six applications in recent weeks, one of which was a major.

Mike Cook