ANY doubts over whether Worksop will get a £30 million leisure complex and Tesco superstore were erased this week as Bassetlaw Council was told its decision to grant the proposal will not be overruled by the Government.
Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, has the power to intervene and determine any planning application which she thinks raises issues of more than local importance.
Planners at Bassetlaw gave the leisure and shopping
development, which will be built on land between Turner Road and Carlton Road, the go-ahead at a packed planning meeting last month.
But the application to build a leisure complex complete with six-screen cinema and superstore caused so much public concern that planners expected it to be called in.
Yet on Tuesday, Bassetlaw Council's executive director of regeneration, Pauline Elliott, was told this was not the case.
"This is fantastic news and we can now look forward to the long awaited new leisure facilities which will soon be available for the people of Bassetlaw," she said.
"Our task now is to issue the planning permission and work closely with the developers Henry Boot on the details – such as the design of the improvements to the roads and footpaths, community safety measures and the methods of construction."
The entire development, which will also house a ten pin bowling alley, bingo hall and two family food outlets, is expected to be complete by summer 2008.
The supermarket, which will be built on the Clinton Maltings site, is also expected to open around the same time and a five arm roundabout will be built to accommodate the extra traffic.
"We are delighted by this news. The development is set to create a vibrant hub that will not only help boost the local economy but will also enrich the community by providing much-needed leisure facilities," said Vivienne Clements of Henry Boot. "This scheme is a significant investment that will act as a catalyst for further investment into the area."
Many nearby residents were opposed to the scheme and raised concerns about extra traffic and whether another supermarket is needed in Worksop.
Notts County Council also opposed the supermarket plan on highways grounds – but as the two planning applications were mutually dependent, planners could not vote for the leisure facilities without the shopping.
"Full details of the application were sent to the secretary of state together with all the comments received through the council's consultation," said a council spokesman.
Interventions only occur when there is significant conflict either with national and regional planning policy or if the planning application raises issues affecting planning over a wider area than any one single planning authority.
The decision supports the council's view that the planning proposals meet national and regional planning policies.
"It's great news," said council leader Mike Quigley. "It means leisure money earned in Bassetlaw, will be spent in Bassetlaw."
