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Supermarket bid to woo shoppers back
The Derbyshire Times revealed last week that compulsory purchase orders have been issued on more than 40 properties in Clay Cross town centre as part of plans for a £22m redevelopment of the area.
The scheme includes plans for new retail, housing and highway
developments, which it is claimed will transform the town and strengthen the local economy.
Reporters Helen Beighton and Nicola Smith talk to people to gauge local
opinion.
Supermarket giant Tesco is set to build a major new store in Clay Cross following the issue of compulsory purchase orders on properties situated on the proposed site.
Developers GMI Rovinian say that the supermarket will attract shoppers back into the town and claim that the store will benefit other local shop owners by increasing the number of people visiting.
The company believes that the 22m redevelopment – which will feature a modern GP surgery, bus station, affordable housing and a highway link between Bridge Street and the A61 – will dramatically redesign the existing town centre and improve the visual atmosphere within Clay Cross.
Peter Gilman, chairman of GMI Rovinian, said: "The Clay Cross regeneration scheme will give a massive boost to the area's pride, confidence and economic performance.
"For years the lack of strong and attractive retail opportunities in the town centre has driven local residents to shop outside the area. A recent survey showed that only 30 per cent of Clay Cross residents shopped for food in the town.
"By creating a new retail centre, anchored by a major Tesco supermarket, we will be bringing the missing 70 per cent back to Clay Cross – and with them a huge influx of spending power and opportunities for the existing retailers in the town."
The Tesco supermarket, along with other retail units, will be situated along the new A61 link road.
Full development work will start in around 15 months following the decontamination of the spoil tip and contaminated land within the area and completion of the compulsory purchase process by NE Derbyshire District Council.
The scheme should be completed in just over three years.COUNCIL BOSSES HAVE GIVEN US A ROUGH RIDE CLAIMS MOTOR DEALER
A disgusted motor dealer has blasted council chiefs over the handling of the multi-million pound redevelopment scheme for Clay Cross town centre.
NE Derbyshire District Council issued an order to compulsory purchase more than 40 properties around Bridge Street and Market Street to clear land for the 22m regeneration scheme.
But furious business bosses said the first they heard of the plan was when they read about it in the Derbyshire Times — only receiving official notification TWO DAYS later!
Lee Hopkinson, manager of Bridge Street Motor Sales, said: "The council hasn't spoken to us about anything.
"The first we knew about it was when it was in the Derbyshire Times.
"We didn't get our letter from the council until Saturday morning and until they have spoken to us, we can't really comment.
"You printed it before we even knew about it. It's pretty disgusting from the council's point of view. I think it's a disgrace."
Lee added that the company, which sells vans, had built up a good reputation in the area after being established in its present location for over 20 years.ORDER WILL BE CHALLENGED TO SAFEGUARD LIVELIHOODS
Clay Cross boss Dennis Bown says being forced to sell his business could cost him tens of thousands of pounds.
Mr Bown, of D. Bown and Son Motor Engineers, said that the compulsory purchase order would be detrimental to his business.
"We have known it was on the cards for the last 11 years but we didn't know anything until we saw it in the Derbyshire Times," he said.
"What concerns me is that they can come along and take your living. There are nine people working here and they can come and take our living just like that – with no ifs or buts.
"I have worked since I was 14 and we have worked hard to pay for what we have, it is an investment and now someone is coming along and taking it. That's what grieves us as all we want to do is continue our business."
Mr Bown has set his solicitor on the case and says he will definitely be objecting to the order.
He added: "We have got to – we cannot just let them walk all over us."
David Harris, owner of Harris Garage, said the whole situation had affected his business and his health but now he wanted a fair compensation package.
He said: "I am insisting that if they want my site they will have to offer me another in Clay Cross.
"We want to get a fair deal. I hope we get it sorted out and get rid of all the frustration we have had all these years."
SHOP OWNERS REACT TO THREAT OF COMPETITION
Shop owners in Clay Cross have expressed mixed feelings about the effects a major supermarket will have on the town.
Many retailers are feeling under threat because of the competition Tesco will pose to their businesses – fearing it could see many stores selling similar products close down or move elsewhere.
Keith Linathan, owner of The Card Shop on Market Street, feels that the personal touch of shopping in small, local shops will be lost by the introduction of Tesco.
He said: "There's mixed feelings. Clay Cross at the moment is steadily dying. My own thoughts are that in the three years before Tesco opens it will have completely died – shops will have closed.
"Clay Cross is crying out for a supermarket but whether or not the jobs it will create will compensate for the jobs that will be lost, I don't know.
"If it comes to fruition I cannot see us surviving."
Butcher Mark Knowles, of Spendloves Quality Butchers, is confident that stores like his will compete because they specialise in high quality local produce that is not available in supermarkets.
He said: "It will be good in one respect as it will bring more people into Clay Cross. My biggest worry is when they move the school, as my busiest time is when people drop the kids off and pick them up.
"I am not too worried about Tesco personally as my meat is locally-sourced and of superior quality – it is better than the meat in supermarket butchery departments so people will come back here."UNDER-FIRE CHIEFS ON DEFENSIVE
Chiefs at NE Derbyshire District Council have defended the way they broke the news about the compulsory purchase orders following criticism from businesses.
Business owners have complained that the first they knew about the orders was in the local press – but the council has said that it wrote to affected property owners and occupiers as soon as possible.
The council said that there have been ongoing discussions about the redevelopment plan between themselves and traders for a number of years and that people have been made aware which properties would need to be demolished.
It confirmed that, with developers GMI Rovinian, they will try to find alternative sites for businesses that wish to relocate – subject to availability and permissions – while companies are also entitled to compensation for the loss of or disturbance to their asset.
Clay Cross Parish Council has been working with the district council and developers on the regeneration of the town and is optimistic about the positive effects the scheme could have.
Cllr Pete Riggott said: "For me it's about priorities. It's about other opportunities coming to Clay Cross with the supermarket and the retail units that are going to be attached to it.
"It's also about jobs – we are looking at 400 jobs."
"Clay Cross has changed very little from the 60s onwards. We have been stuck in a time warp."
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