Twydall Discount Store not broken rules

A Customer Contact Assistant at the Medway Planning Office has confirmed to me that the Twydall Discount Store broke no rules in opening in the old Woolworths site.

The confirmation was made that, as the new business comes under the same use class as Woolworths (‘class’ A1 – retail), then no planning application was required and thus local businesses did not need to be consulted on its opening.

However, no planning application was made for the new sign above the store, which was erected on Tuesday. Shop signs don’t always need planning permission, but the rules are more complicated, and the Council is now investigating whether a planning application should have been made or not.

The Collins Comment

Looking at the sign (pictured), I would personally guess that no planning application needed to have been made. However, this running commentary is primarily dedicated to this comment on a post which has quickly generated a lot of interest.

In response to Andrew, I would firstly like to confirm that I am, in principle, not against the opening of new stores and indeed, in the present climate, find it encouraging when new stores do open. In actual fact, as Rob pointed out, the focus on my article seemed to have been missed.

My understanding at the time was that, from a legal perspective, a new businesses was required to inform the surrounding businesses of their intention to open, in accordance with planning laws. As stated in my article, this was not the case with the Twydall Discount Store, yet this has since been confirmed to be that I was, admittedly, wrong, and that such a scenario would only occur when a change of use application was submitted.

Secondly, I was merely reporting the views of local businesses owners and employees (as an employee of one of the stores in Twydall Green I am privy to such opinions and share information as and when needed). They were, unnecessarily in my (and their subsequent) opinion, worried about their own businesses and those surrounding them, with one believing it could turn Twydall Green into a “ghost town”. Surely as a local blogger I am able to report the thoughts of local people without being accused of holding Socialist ideals?

Finally, again as highlighted by Rob, I was commenting on how shoddy the opening of the store was and how vacant it still felt in there at the time. However, it now appears that all the shelves are about full, and the rumours are that the rest of the space will be taken up by a restaurant/cafe (unconfirmed). For business owners who, reportedly, have other similar businesses, the opening, as I tried to comment, was frankly embarassing and left many curious shoppers either confused or disappointed.

In terms of acting by the law, I believe that they have – but it is up to Medway Council to give a verdict on the sign.