Tonight, Warwick District Council rejected the application by 6 votes to 4 to build Clarendon Arcade, despite the recommendation from their officers that it should go ahead. Objecting to the scheme, I pointed to online shopping leading to loss of town centre shops plus the Royal Priors’ concern that this Arcade would pull trade away from the rest ofLeamington. The committee was moved by the local resident to spoke passionately about the impact of a 5 metre wall one metre from her garden. Overall, I think this proposal was rejected because it was too big, intruded on neighbours and is not in keeping with the area. The chairman, councillor Illingworth, summed it up by saying he wanted to approve the scheme to developLeamington, but couldn’t.
Brilliant news, but of course the developers will be back…
