Background Evidence Studies for Core Strategy Consultation on Strategy Directions

Object

Representation ID: 20222

Received: 30/01/2009

Respondent: Battle Chamber of Commerce

Retail Study: Rother District Council's conclusions for the retail industry in Battle are based on a shopping assessment prepared by GL Hearn, Property Consultants.
The Chamber considers the evidential base to be flawed and in no way sufficiently robust to draw from it the conclusions made by GL Hearn.
Approximately 1.7% of Battle's population was canvassed. it is considered by the Chamber that a 1.7% of the residents in no way could be considered a consultation with a truly representative sample of residents in the Battle area.

Object

Representation ID: 20225

Received: 30/01/2009

Respondent: Battle Chamber of Commerce

Retail Study
Stakeholder workshop: Was attended by 9 people with no representatives directly involved in the tourism industry. It is considered by the Chamber that 9 people in no way could be considered a consultation with all the principal stakeholders in the Battle area.
Nonetheless, suggested improvements from this meeting included:
- parking provision needs to be improved and free short-stay shopper parking needs to be provided
- future food shop provision must be in the town centre.

Object

Representation ID: 20227

Received: 30/01/2009

Respondent: Battle Chamber of Commerce

Stakeholder workshop cont: From the telephone survey and the stakeholder workshop, both of which clearly indicate parking as the principal problem, with the need for a new supermarket nowhere in the survey or workshop -
GL Hearn's conclusion is that Battle needs a new provision of 1,000 sq.m. of supermarket within or adjacent to the town centre by 2016.

Object

Representation ID: 20238

Received: 30/01/2009

Respondent: Battle Chamber of Commerce

Retail study: The impartiality of GL Hearn with regard to supermarket provision is questioned. On their website in the strategic planning advice summary of services offered they state "It is important that landowners and developers are engaged in the development of new planning policy in order to ensure their interests are protected in both the long and short term." They do not mention engaging local communities and existing stakeholders. They list many of the national supermarket chains as prime clients.