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Sainsbury's pay £1m for Westhoughton land covenant
SUPERMARKET chiefs have paid £1 million to Bolton Council so a covenant placed on land earmarked for a controversial new store can be lifted.
Sainsbury's plan to build a £7.5 million store on the site of Westhoughton Cricket Club in Cricketers Way.
In January, Bolton Council gave permission for the company to build on the site after its planning committee voted 14-7 in favour of the 25,000 sq ft supermarket.
The committee also gave permission for a new cricket club to be built on land at The Hoskers, Daisy Hill.
It must be up and running before work starts on the new store.
Sainsbury's chiefs hit a stumbling block, however, when it emerged the land on which they had permission to build the store was protected by a covenant which said it must be used only for recreational purposes.
That meant they had to negotiate a sum for it to be lifted with Bolton Council.
An agreement has now been reached which will see the company pay £1 million to the town hall and the covenant shifted to the new site of the cricket club.
The £1 million will go into the council's "capital receipts pot" and be invested in projects across the borough.
A council spokesman said: "This is a positive development for Westhoughton. It means there will be additional resources to spend on capital projects within the borough. There will be significant improvements for the cricket club and the junior rugby league club which will benefit from improved facilities."
"It was also agreed that a covenant will be placed on the new club, to protect it from future development."
A spokesman for the supermarket said: "Sainsbury's remains committed to investing in Westhoughton and believes that the new food store will bring many benefits to the area. A new store will help entice shoppers back into Westhoughton and will provide a boost for the town's economy, encouraging other businesses to relocate to the area."
Sainsbury's announced in March that it was hoping to start work on the site in April next year and for it to be open in autumn, 2009.
However, last month great crested newts were found on the land which may delay building work, as they are a protected speciies.
12:10pm Monday 5th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: dave a, Little Lever on 12:49pm Mon 5 May 08
I,m sure the people of Westhoughton will be extremely pleased, & satisfied, that the million pounds,raised by lifting the covenant on their cricket club,will NOT be used for the benefit of Westhoughton.After all Whats a covenant for? to safeguard the future use of a piece of land? Yeah right!-only until Bolton council get their hands on it!& after all, its just what Westhoughton needs,a supermarket! Goodbye forever Westhoughton,it was nice knowing you!
I,m sure the people of Westhoughton will be extremely pleased, & satisfied, that the million pounds,raised by lifting the covenant on their cricket club,will NOT be used for the benefit of Westhoughton.After all Whats a covenant for? to safeguard the future use of a piece of land? Yeah right!-only until Bolton council get their hands on it!& after all, its just what Westhoughton needs,a supermarket! Goodbye forever Westhoughton,it was nice knowing you!
Posted by: Catherine, Farnworth on 12:55pm Mon 5 May 08
I wonder what, exactly is this capital reciepts pot Ihave never heard of it before Is it just a big money box for the council buffs to go shopping with or jollibobs/
I wonder what, exactly is this capital reciepts pot Ihave never heard of it before Is it just a big money box for the council buffs to go shopping with or jollibobs/
Posted by: steve, bolton on 12:59pm Mon 5 May 08
Council partying in Wetherspoons tonight?
Council partying in Wetherspoons tonight?
Posted by: John on 1:09pm Mon 5 May 08
Labour working the accounts again, is nothing safe? Pay rise and expenses for them next week? Labour and Thatcher, what's the difference. It just shows that money can change anything.
Labour working the accounts again, is nothing safe? Pay rise and expenses for them next week? Labour and Thatcher, what's the difference. It just shows that money can change anything.
Posted by: Badger, Bolton on 1:13pm Mon 5 May 08
[quote]"It was also agreed that a covenant will be placed on the new club, to protect it from future development."[/quote]
Given the context of the story even someone as self obsessed as a councillor should be able to see how pathetic this statement sounds!
Another covenant sold out by Bolton Council, doubtless by men with fat brown envelopes in their back pocket, courtesy of Sainsbury.
"It was also agreed that a covenant will be placed on the new club, to protect it from future development."
Given the context of the story even someone as self obsessed as a councillor should be able to see how pathetic this statement sounds!
Another covenant sold out by Bolton Council, doubtless by men with fat brown envelopes in their back pocket, courtesy of Sainsbury.
Posted by: letshavitreet, westhoughton on 4:02pm Mon 5 May 08
the people of westhoughton are sick and fed up with everything from the lack of a proper police station to the council and building and building and building.
the people of westhoughton are sick and fed up with everything from the lack of a proper police station to the council and building and building and building.
Posted by: RagReader, Horwich on 4:04pm Mon 5 May 08
Tax Payer - Do you want the comments closed again?
Making unsubstantiated and possibly libellous comments is the way to do it.
Tax Payer - Do you want the comments closed again?
Making unsubstantiated and possibly libellous comments is the way to do it.
Posted by: tax payer, Bolton on 4:09pm Mon 5 May 08
[quote][bold]RagReader[/bold] wrote:
Tax Payer - Do you want the comments closed again? Making unsubstantiated and possibly libellous comments is the way to do it. [/quote] just saying u r boring
RagReader wrote:
Tax Payer - Do you want the comments closed again? Making unsubstantiated and possibly libellous comments is the way to do it.
just saying u r boring
Posted by: cow-head, westhoughton on 4:48pm Mon 5 May 08
May not be much of an answer toerag, but it is 100% correct.
May not be much of an answer toerag, but it is 100% correct.
Posted by: Ed Stirling, Westhoughton on 5:22pm Mon 5 May 08
[italic]The £1 million will go into the council's [bold]capital receipts pot[/bold] and be invested in projects across the borough.[/italic]
Every single penny of that money should be spend in Westhoughton. The covenant predates Westhoughton falling into Bolton's clutches - morally this is [italic]our[/italic] money.
It's getting a bit much now, developers come in, flash the cash, promise sweeteners (section 106 money), and where does all the money go? (Clue: answer in the 1st paragraph.)
I have little faith in Bolton Council's ability to spend such money wisely, productively and fairly.
Just who is standing up for the town?
Westhoughton's six Borough councillors must put aside their differences and ensure that it is Westhoughton that benefits from the money.
And there are plenty of things to spend the money on to improve facilities here in Westhoughton.
Do you need a list?
The £1 million will go into the council's capital receipts pot and be invested in projects across the borough.
Every single penny of that money should be spend in Westhoughton. The covenant predates Westhoughton falling into Bolton's clutches - morally this is
our money.
It's getting a bit much now, developers come in, flash the cash, promise sweeteners (section 106 money), and where does all the money go? (Clue: answer in the 1st paragraph.)
I have little faith in Bolton Council's ability to spend such money wisely, productively and fairly.
Just who is standing up for the town?
Westhoughton's six Borough councillors must put aside their differences and ensure that it is Westhoughton that benefits from the money.
And there are plenty of things to spend the money on to improve facilities here in Westhoughton.
Do you need a list?
Posted by: slim billy, howfern on 5:43pm Mon 5 May 08
well said ed !!!
Posted by: jimbobob, halliwell on 6:46pm Mon 5 May 08
this is a disgrace,the money should be kept in westhoughton,but no the real muggers and thiefs are at it again
this is a disgrace,the money should be kept in westhoughton,but no the real muggers and thiefs are at it again
Posted by: RagReader, Horwich on 7:26pm Mon 5 May 08
It might be true but I was just pointing out that you are breaking the T & C's by posting comments like that,that's why comments were banned recently.
One of the main culprits will probably find this boring.
It might be true but I was just pointing out that you are breaking the T & C's by posting comments like that,that's why comments were banned recently.
One of the main culprits will probably find this boring.
Posted by: BWFC - TIL - I - DIE, BOLTON on 7:28pm Mon 5 May 08
[quote][bold]Every single penny of that money should be spend in Westhoughton[/bold][/quote]
minus their personal commission!!
Every single penny of that money should be spend in Westhoughton
minus their personal commission!!
Posted by: RagReader, Horwich on 7:30pm Mon 5 May 08
[quote][bold]slim billy[/bold] wrote:
well said ed !!![/quote] Indeed, when are Westhoughton councillours going to comment?
slim billy wrote:
well said ed !!!
Indeed, when are Westhoughton councillours going to comment?
Posted by: tom3465, Farnworth on 8:28pm Mon 5 May 08
the full 1 million should be spent on the new cricket and sports club above and beyond what is already earmarked for the site nothing less should be accepted by the good folk of cowyed city.
the full 1 million should be spent on the new cricket and sports club above and beyond what is already earmarked for the site nothing less should be accepted by the good folk of cowyed city.
Posted by: notlob, bolton on 10:27pm Mon 5 May 08
This covenant pre-dates Bolton Council and therefore the money morally belongs to the people of Westhoughton.
Thousands of new houses have been built in Westhoughton with no improvements to roads, railways, doctors, and youth facilities. A million pounds is not much to put some of these things right but it would be a good start to perhaps build a youth centre run by the Lads & Girls Club.
Spend it in Westhoughton.
This covenant pre-dates Bolton Council and therefore the money morally belongs to the people of Westhoughton.
Thousands of new houses have been built in Westhoughton with no improvements to roads, railways, doctors, and youth facilities. A million pounds is not much to put some of these things right but it would be a good start to perhaps build a youth centre run by the Lads & Girls Club.
Spend it in Westhoughton.
Posted by: tosh on 7:34am Tue 6 May 08
Westhoughton has become Bolton Council's Cash Cow. With all the building over recent years nobody can tell me that this is the first time that payments to lift covenants has been made. No doubt this capital recipts pot is being used to fund the £780.000 being given to help "vunerable families"
Bolton Council you are a disgrace.
Westhoughton has become Bolton Council's Cash Cow. With all the building over recent years nobody can tell me that this is the first time that payments to lift covenants has been made. No doubt this capital recipts pot is being used to fund the £780.000 being given to help "vunerable families"
Bolton Council you are a disgrace.
Posted by: Soup, Bolton on 7:41am Tue 6 May 08
Lets have 3 nicely painted cows out of the money, put them on the little bit of grass at the corner of Market Street/Church Street while we have some grass left.
Lets have 3 nicely painted cows out of the money, put them on the little bit of grass at the corner of Market Street/Church Street while we have some grass left.
Posted by: Soup, Bolton on 7:42am Tue 6 May 08
Mind you better not give them ideas how to spend the money, daft ideas like that seem to happen.
Mind you better not give them ideas how to spend the money, daft ideas like that seem to happen.
Posted by: Cllr Jim Gilfillan, Westhoughton on 7:56am Tue 6 May 08
This is an absolute disgrace, the covenent quite rightly was placed upon the land to protect it as public open space. If the covenent is being moved to the new ground then I can go with that, however, the 1m should be used to help with the infrastructure within Westhoughton. A new clinic, better road facilities, sports facilities which are fit to use, unlike many of our football pitches in the town, etc etc the list goes on.
This is an absolute disgrace, the covenent quite rightly was placed upon the land to protect it as public open space. If the covenent is being moved to the new ground then I can go with that, however, the 1m should be used to help with the infrastructure within Westhoughton. A new clinic, better road facilities, sports facilities which are fit to use, unlike many of our football pitches in the town, etc etc the list goes on.
Posted by: BoltonDave, Tonge Moor on 8:04am Tue 6 May 08
Money talks, but it don't sing and dance and it don't walk.
Money talks, but it don't sing and dance and it don't walk.
Posted by: Ed Stirling, Westhoughton on 9:10am Tue 6 May 08
[quote]the full £1 million should be spent on the new cricket and sports club[/quote]
Tom, from what I'm aware, there are three parts to this deal: 1. Sainsbury's buy the Tyldesleys site, this should fund the new Cricket Club and preparation of the Hoskers site. 2. The Hoskers (Council owned land) is formally released/sold to the Cricket Club (or possibly Sainsbury's depending on the deal) 3. The covenant on the Tyldesleys is released (the £1m).
As you will see there is lots of money sloshing around in this deal regarding these [bold]Westhoughton 'assets'[/bold]. More than the £1m headline figure, i.e., Bolton
Council will receive money for 2 & 3 - £1m (covenant) plus the Hoskers land release.
It will probably take a Freedom of Information request to find out the detail, unless Bolton Council come clean.
If Westhoughton does not see significant benefit out of this money; spent on schemes that improve the lives of people here in Westhoughton, and allow for future action to counter any 'negative' affects of both schemes, then I'm sure I would not be alone in being very unhappy about it.
What we actually need is the setting up of Westhoughton's very own council's [bold]capital receipts pot[/bold].
People who are concerned about this have to badger their local councillors.
[bold]Every penny[/bold] of those deals should be spent in Westhoughton.
BTW [italic]Tosh[/italic], I believe these was a covenant on part of the land at Greenfields which was released (ch-gink) allowing its 'redevelopment' for 'much needed?' flats.
the full £1 million should be spent on the new cricket and sports club
Tom, from what I'm aware, there are three parts to this deal: 1. Sainsbury's buy the Tyldesleys site, this should fund the new Cricket Club and preparation of the Hoskers site. 2. The Hoskers (Council owned land) is formally released/sold to the Cricket Club (or possibly Sainsbury's depending on the deal) 3. The covenant on the Tyldesleys is released (the £1m).
As you will see there is lots of money sloshing around in this deal regarding these
Westhoughton 'assets'. More than the £1m headline figure, i.e., Bolton
Council will receive money for 2 & 3 - £1m (covenant) plus the Hoskers land release.
It will probably take a Freedom of Information request to find out the detail, unless Bolton Council come clean.
If Westhoughton does not see significant benefit out of this money; spent on schemes that improve the lives of people here in Westhoughton, and allow for future action to counter any 'negative' affects of both schemes, then I'm sure I would not be alone in being very unhappy about it.
What we actually need is the setting up of Westhoughton's very own council's
capital receipts pot.
People who are concerned about this have to badger their local councillors.
Every penny of those deals should be spent in Westhoughton.
BTW
Tosh, I believe these was a covenant on part of the land at Greenfields which was released (ch-gink) allowing its 'redevelopment' for 'much needed?' flats.
Posted by: Bob Smith, Astey Bridge on 10:33am Tue 6 May 08
This is surely a victory for David Wilkinson and the Lib Dems.
Lets just go back in time and remember what happened here. The original sainsburys application was opposed by the Labour controlled Westhoughton Council. When it came to Bolton Planning Committee it was opposed by Labour, but backed by the Libs and Tories. David Wilkinson was very keen on it, and he won, it was passed. Labour in Westhoughton (like Jim Gilfilan above) continued to have a go at Wilkinson in the election leaflets about this issue. What happened? Wilkinson got re-elected. A vindication for him and for the plently of people in Westhoughton who wanted it.
So what does the Labour controlled Bolton Council do? Does it sulk and have nothing to do with it? No, it milks Sainsburys for all it can get, and getting them to hand over £1 million for a supermarket it never wanted in the first place is not a bad thing at all.
So - everybody happy it would seem. Perhaps apart from Westhoughton Labour Council who no doubt are still peeved off because they couldnt get their own way.
This is surely a victory for David Wilkinson and the Lib Dems.
Lets just go back in time and remember what happened here. The original sainsburys application was opposed by the Labour controlled Westhoughton Council. When it came to Bolton Planning Committee it was opposed by Labour, but backed by the Libs and Tories. David Wilkinson was very keen on it, and he won, it was passed. Labour in Westhoughton (like Jim Gilfilan above) continued to have a go at Wilkinson in the election leaflets about this issue. What happened? Wilkinson got re-elected. A vindication for him and for the plently of people in Westhoughton who wanted it.
So what does the Labour controlled Bolton Council do? Does it sulk and have nothing to do with it? No, it milks Sainsburys for all it can get, and getting them to hand over £1 million for a supermarket it never wanted in the first place is not a bad thing at all.
So - everybody happy it would seem. Perhaps apart from Westhoughton Labour Council who no doubt are still peeved off because they couldnt get their own way.
Posted by: Ed Stirling, Westhoughton on 12:26pm Tue 6 May 08
Bob from [italic]Astley Bridge[/italic], let’s go back even further. Wilkinson supported the 2004 application for houses on the Tyldesleys site to fund the Cricket Club move. It was turned down. Years later the developer gets Sainsbury’s involved… smart move! Recreational land not actually safe from retail development.
Here in Westhoughton, there was much controversy, arguments for and against - but significant local opposition to the scheme. Contrary to what you assert, not sure I saw any Labour election leaflets referring to Sainsbury’s: pointless anyway, since the deed is done – it’s happening.
Given Labour’s current 'terminal' decline in popularity, it was unlikely that Wilkinson would be unseated. He was voted for by just 12% of the electorate (1128 votes), hardly a resounding mandate. Furthermore, the Lib Dems lost the Westhoughton North seat.
Have the Council got a good deal for Westhoughton: maybe, though I suspect we have been sold short… Will Westhoughton see the money from this deal? Not without kicking up a fuss…
The political posturing of this is irrelevant. Bolton Council have obtained over £1m from releasing Westhoughton assets, local politicians of all parties must make sure that this money stays within and is used on Westhoughton projects – anything less would be a betrayal of its people.
Will Sainsbury's recoup their £1m - you bet.
Westhoughton currently has 3 Conservative councillors, 2 Lib Dems and 1 Labour.
Bob from
Astley Bridge, let’s go back even further. Wilkinson supported the 2004 application for houses on the Tyldesleys site to fund the Cricket Club move. It was turned down. Years later the developer gets Sainsbury’s involved… smart move! Recreational land not actually safe from retail development.
Here in Westhoughton, there was much controversy, arguments for and against - but significant local opposition to the scheme. Contrary to what you assert, not sure I saw any Labour election leaflets referring to Sainsbury’s: pointless anyway, since the deed is done – it’s happening.
Given Labour’s current 'terminal' decline in popularity, it was unlikely that Wilkinson would be unseated. He was voted for by just 12% of the electorate (1128 votes), hardly a resounding mandate. Furthermore, the Lib Dems lost the Westhoughton North seat.
Have the Council got a good deal for Westhoughton: maybe, though I suspect we have been sold short… Will Westhoughton see the money from this deal? Not without kicking up a fuss…
The political posturing of this is irrelevant. Bolton Council have obtained over £1m from releasing Westhoughton assets, local politicians of all parties must make sure that this money stays within and is used on Westhoughton projects – anything less would be a betrayal of its people.
Will Sainsbury's recoup their £1m - you bet.
Westhoughton currently has 3 Conservative councillors, 2 Lib Dems and 1 Labour.
Posted by: Cllr Jim Gilfillan, Westhoughton on 1:56pm Tue 6 May 08
[quote][bold]Bob Smith[/bold] wrote:
This is surely a victory for David Wilkinson and the Lib Dems.
Lets just go back in time and remember what happened here. The original sainsburys application was opposed by the Labour controlled Westhoughton Council. When it came to Bolton Planning Committee it was opposed by Labour, but backed by the Libs and Tories. David Wilkinson was very keen on it, and he won, it was passed. Labour in Westhoughton (like Jim Gilfilan above) continued to have a go at Wilkinson in the election leaflets about this issue. What happened? Wilkinson got re-elected. A vindication for him and for the plently of people in Westhoughton who wanted it.
So what does the Labour controlled Bolton Council do? Does it sulk and have nothing to do with it? No, it milks Sainsburys for all it can get, and getting them to hand over £1 million for a supermarket it never wanted in the first place is not a bad thing at all.
So - everybody happy it would seem. Perhaps apart from Westhoughton Labour Council who no doubt are still peeved off because they couldnt get their own way.[/quote] Yes Bob you could say that it was a victory, and that the it is a good thing having the supermarket. Yes I did vote against it, not on principle, I think another supermarket in Westhoughton is a good thing, I voted against it because of the many faults the planning application had within it.
My point above was that this money should be spent in Westhoughton not disappear into the black hole of Bolton MBCs capital pot.
Bob Smith wrote:
This is surely a victory for David Wilkinson and the Lib Dems.
Lets just go back in time and remember what happened here. The original sainsburys application was opposed by the Labour controlled Westhoughton Council. When it came to Bolton Planning Committee it was opposed by Labour, but backed by the Libs and Tories. David Wilkinson was very keen on it, and he won, it was passed. Labour in Westhoughton (like Jim Gilfilan above) continued to have a go at Wilkinson in the election leaflets about this issue. What happened? Wilkinson got re-elected. A vindication for him and for the plently of people in Westhoughton who wanted it.
So what does the Labour controlled Bolton Council do? Does it sulk and have nothing to do with it? No, it milks Sainsburys for all it can get, and getting them to hand over £1 million for a supermarket it never wanted in the first place is not a bad thing at all.
So - everybody happy it would seem. Perhaps apart from Westhoughton Labour Council who no doubt are still peeved off because they couldnt get their own way.
Yes Bob you could say that it was a victory, and that the it is a good thing having the supermarket. Yes I did vote against it, not on principle, I think another supermarket in Westhoughton is a good thing, I voted against it because of the many faults the planning application had within it.
My point above was that this money should be spent in Westhoughton not disappear into the black hole of Bolton MBCs capital pot.
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