TOWN councillors at Bude-Stratton Town Council’s planning committee have expressed concern at a local supermarket’s request for more signage and an automatic number plate recognition camera, writes Rosie Cripps.

At the meeting of Bude-Stratton Town Council’s planning committee last Thursday, councillors decided to discuss two applications at once after Sainsbury’s, situated along Crooklets Road, put in two applications for more signage in their car park and also an automatic number plate recognition camera, pole and associated signage.

The first of the two applications includes advertisement consent for one VMS (variable message) sign, four ‘no parking’ signs, five terms and conditions signs, two 90-minute stay signs, two blue badge and parent and child signs and one entrance sign.

The second application is for the erection of the automatic number plate recognition camera, pole and associated signage.

Cllr Bob Willingham, chairman of the committee, told councillors: “If we object to number seven (on the agenda), then we automatically object to number six.”

Cllr Lea Deely expressed some concern if the committee was to object strongly to either application. She said that she was worried that Sainsbury’s would ‘pull out of Bude altogether’, and that the town centre would be left with Co-op. She said: “There’s lots of people in this town who need these shops — not everybody can walk up to Morrisons and carry their shopping back to their home. I suggest no objection.”

However, Cllr Willingham extended the concerns of residents living in the neighbouring flats to councillors, with worries of receiving parking tickets every time they parked in their designated areas. He said: “The people living in the flats are really concerned that if they’re going to actually drive and park in their spaces, that they’re going to be clocked and they’re going to get a parking ticket.”

Cllr Peter La Broy said: “I am absolutely against any illuminated sign on that site. Because of the nature of the sign, it will be visible from almost all of Flexbury and Crooklets.”

When looking at the positions of the signs on Cornwall Council’s planning website, Cllr La Broy likened the plans to that of ‘a Christmas tree’.

The town clerk, Donna James, told councillors that they had until November 21 to submit their comments on the proposals.

Cllr Deely added: “I would be very worried about Sainsburys and Co-op being out of Bude, and anything that would make them inclined to pull out.”

However, Cllr La Broy said: “But if they’re putting those signs up, they may lose customers anyway!”

The committee decided to defer submitting a comment until a later date, and ask if the signs could be of a different size and placed at difference angles.

In regards to local residents being concerned for their parking situation, Cllr Deely told Cllr Willingham: “The residents will have to fight their own battle — it is a civil matter, not a planning matter.”