PRESS RELEASE

7 January 2003

Secretary of State should call-in decision to grant Waitrose planning permission in Sanderstead

Richard Ottaway, Conservative MP for Croydon South, has written to the Secretary of State asking that Croydon Council's decision to grant Waitrose permission to build a supermarket in Sanderstead be called in. (see letter below)

Richard Ottaway says:-

"The site in question is owned by Croydon Council. However, the Council has also acted as the planning authority in this case. I see this as a conflict of interest especially as Croydon Council is notoriously short of funds."

"This is not the first time this has happened. Only last November the Council granted Sainsbury permission to build on Selsdon Car Park. This practice cannot be allowed to continue and I have asked the Secretary of State to review this as a matter of urgency."

Ends.

For further information please call 020 7219 6392.

Text of letter to Rt Hon John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister

7 January 2003

Dear John

Planning permission for Waitrose in Sanderstead

I hope it has been drawn to your attention that Croydon Council has given permission to Waitrose to build a supermarket on land they own in Sanderstead, South Croydon.

Notwithstanding the merits of the case, I draw your attention to the fact that the Council is making planning decisions on matters in which it has a pecuniary interest. I suspect you will recall that this is not the first time this has happened. I wrote to you on 5th November about an identical site where the Council has given permission to J Sainsbury to build a store in Selsdon.

In my opinion this practice should cease and, whenever this conflict of interest arises, the matter should automatically be referred to the Secretary of State for a decision. Croydon Council is currently short of funds and, whilst I am sure the Council behaved properly, they should be above any suspicion.

Under the circumstances I believe you should call in this decision.

Yours sincerely