Job boost for Dover
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Employment opportunites could be on the way soon
for east Kent after the approval of a £12million retail
development at Whitfield, which is likely to create about
120 jobs when the stores and restaurant open on the White Cliffs
Business Park.
The district council planning
committee has given the scheme the go-ahead, on the provision
outstanding details are finalised.
Direct Line Properties and
Parkridge Developments are behind the development and
Parkridge's development director David Carvey said: "We look
forward to finally starting on this long awaited project and
injecting some much needed investment and additional retail offer
into the town."
Councillors discussed the plans for
more than an hour and development control manager Tim Flisher
described the application as "a complex matter".
Cllr Mark Furnival was against the
proposals, which the 21-page report revealed were contrary to a
variety of planning policies.
He said: "In the 16 years I have
been on the council we have always tried to protect the White
Cliffs Business Park as employment land.
"This plan is contrary to the
Development Plan and our Core Strategy. We need to be very careful
before we make a decision." But other councillors disagreed.
Cllr Charles Kirby said: "I would
take 120 jobs any day rather than an empty site in our current
economic climate. Employment must be a major and significant
concern."
The plans are for two terraced
blocks of stores selling bulky goods, like fridge freezers,
restricting goods sold to avoid harming Dover town centre. There is
also a restaurant, not a take-away, on the site.
* For full story buy this week's
Dover Mercury.
Wednesday, July 28 2010
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