Action required halting Morrison’s attempt to destroy local businesses – Please object to the planning application...

Once again one of the four supermarket giants is trying to flex its corporate muscle to the detriment of our town’s embattled small businesses.  As reported in the papers, supermarket giant Morrisons is attempting to force the closure of the hair salon adjacent to its Eastwood store so as to allow it to build an in store cafe.

The company, which controls the leases of the three shop units which links its store to the Loyal Toast pub in Western Approaches have refused to talk to the owner of the ‘Simply Scissors’ salon and instead seems bent on using bully boy tactics to force the business, which has operated for 23 years, out.

Local ward Councillor and Southend Council Cabinet member Mark Flewitt, a loyal customer of 15 years, has demanded that the decision on the application to convert the three units into a cafe be referred to the Council Development Control Committee rather than being left in the hands of planning officers.

The latest information is that the decision on the application will come before the Development Control Committee in February. Please help fight this travesty by lodging an objection to the application, please see below for our step by step guide explaining how to use the councils system for commenting on planning applications.

It is important that you base your objections on availed criteria which the committee are permitted to refuse planning permission on; in this case these criteria are detailed below:

1. Loss of local established businesses
2. Additional traffic
3. More noise effecting neighbouring residents
4. Greater number of delivery lorries
5. Additional parking pressures

Go to the Southend Council website: www.southend.gov.uk

1. Click on: Tell us
2. Click on: Make a comment on a Planning Application
3. Click on: PublicAccess
4. Click on: I accept (to accept the terms and conditions) 
5. Click on: Application Search
6. In the Application reference box enter: 11/01582/ful
7. Click on: Search
8. Click on the arrow (>) in the click to view column
9. You can now click on the various tabs to explore the application
10. When you are ready to comment select the button appropriate to you, I am a local resident(default) or I live outside the area then click on: Submit Comments...
11. Enter your address and personal details and click on: Search
12. You are now ready to comment/object etc.
13. Please ensure you select the button: Inform the Authority that you object to the Planning Application
14. You can also add you comments in the box provided (6000 characters max)
15. Please ensure you have entered a valid email address, you will need to receive a copy of your object via email, this is your proof of the planning objection submission
16. When you have finished click on: Submit

You should also email your objection to Cllr Brian Kelly (Chairman Development Control Committee) at:

cllrkelly@southend.gov.uk

If you have time please also CC the other members of the Development Control Committee:

Development Control Committee members email addresses:

Cllr Stephen Habermel (Con) Vice-Chair:                               cllrhabermel@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Peter Ashley (Con):                                                                 cllrashley@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Richard Brown (Con):                                              cllrbrown@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Elizabeth Day (Con):                                                cllrday@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Margaret Evans (Con):                                           cllrevans@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Nigel Folkard (Con):                                                 cllrfolkard@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Robert Hadley (Con):                                              cllrhadley@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Gwendoline Horrigan (Con):                                cllrhorrigan@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Alan Crystall (Lib Dem):                                          cllrcrystall@southend.gov.uk

Cllr George Lewin (Lib Dem):                                      cllrlewin@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Duncan Russell (Lib Dem):                                    cllrrussell@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Mike Grimwade (Lib Dem):                                  cllrgrimwade@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Anthony Delaney (Ind):                                         cllrdelaney@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Mike Assenheim (Ind):                                          cllrassenheim@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Marimuthu Velmurugan (Ind):                          cllrvelmurugan@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Margaret Borton (Lab):                                          cllrborton@southend,gov.uk

Development Control Committee substitute members email addresses:

Cllr Stephen Aylen (Con):                                             cllraylen@southend.gov.uk

Cllr John Lamb (Con):                                                     cllrlamb@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Derek Jarvis (Con):                                                   cllrjarvis@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Lesley Salter (Con):                                                  cllrsalter@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Christopher Walker (Con):                                    cllrwalker@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Ian Robertson (Con):                                              cllrrobertson@southend.gov.uk

Cllr James Courtenay (Con):                                        cllrcourtenay@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Trevor Byford (Con):                                               cllrbyford@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Graham Longley (Lib Dem):                               cllrlongley@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Ric Morgan (Lib Dem):                                            cllrmorgan@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Peter Wexham (Lib Dem):                                    cllrwexham@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Mary Betson (Lib Dem):                                         cllrbetson@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Barry Godwin (Lib Dem):                                    cllrgodwin@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Ron Woodley (Ind):                                                 cllrwoodley@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Alex Kaye (Ind):                                                        cllrkaye@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Mike Stafford (Ind):                                                cllrstafford@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Martin Terry (Ind):                                                   cllrterry@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Judith McMahon (Lab):                                       cllrmcmahon@southnd.gov.uk

Cllr Ian Gilbert (Lab):                                                       cllrgilbert@southend.gov.uk

If you have the facility please request a read receipt.

You can also write to the Councillors at:

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council

Civic Centre

Victoria Avenue

Southend-on-sea

Essex, SS2 6ER

However, we would recommend that if possible you hand deliver the letter to the Civic Centre and request a receipt.

The SKIPP Committee

Patsy Link

Sheena Walker

Mark Sharp