Sponsored by
Minister Straw's 'crackers' Tithebarn remarks
Lancashire's most senior politician Jack Straw was today told to keep his nose OUT of Preston's affairs after he spoke out against the £700m rebirth of the city centre.
The Justice Secretary, MP for nearby Blackburn, has been branded "crackers" and "extremely unhelpful" by city leaders after he sided with two neighbouring councils in trying to scupper Preston's ambitious Tithebarn plans.
Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool councils both oppose the expansion of Preston city centre over fears they could lose out on trade.
Now Mr Straw has sparked controversy by telling the Blackburn-based Lancashire Telegraph: "I am concerned about it, and its potential impact across the whole of East Lancashire.
"I will object to it as Blackburn's MP, and I will join forces with the council. I shall make sure as a member of parliament that objections are heard and the whole of East Lancashire is fully considered."
Last week Preston Council leader Ken Hudson warned that if the Tithebarn planning application went to public inquiry it could be the "straw that breaks the camel's back".
Today he said: "I understand that his council have asked him to put a comment forward and we would expect Mark Hendrick (Preston MP) to put up an equally strong argument on our behalf.
"But for a Government minister and a Blackburn MP to get involved with a planning decision affecting Preston Council is totally wrong."
Frank McKenna, chairman of Preston Downtown in Business and former senior Labour county councillor, said: "You don't know what to say without being rude about the minister for justice.
"I'm surprised a minister is getting involved in a planning issue at such an early stage. There may be a time when this application gets called in and it wouldn't be unfair for the developers to say 'Isn't this prejudicial?' as he is a Government minister standing up against Preston's best chance of regeneration since the war.
"In the current economic climate, shouldn't we be rolling out the red carpet to anyone who wants to spend 700m anywhere? It's crackers."
The council's Labour group leader Coun John Collins, said: "I'm amazed that Jack Straw has done this. It's very disappointing that he has chosen to do this, as it is an opportunity for the whole of Lancashire."
His views were echoed by John Boydell, the president of the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce.
He said: "The chamber's position is clear. We are fully supportive of Tithebarn because of the jobs and investment that the scheme will bring."
Preston MP Mark Hendrick, who used to be Mr Straw's parliamentary aide, said: "Jack Straw has got his own opinion and that's that. The decision is quasi-judicial. It will be evidence based – it will be based on logic."
Coun Michael Lee, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, backed Mr Straw's comments.
He dismissed suggestions that Mr Straw's involvement could be prejudicial as he would have no role to play in any public inquiry.
The Tithebarn scheme was first unveiled 10 years ago and it is hoped it will be completed by 2014. A planning application has been submitted to Preston planners and is due to be debated in the coming months.
Any serious objections are likely to lead to the application being called in for an inquiry.
Have you signed up to the new free lepbusiness newsletter? Click here to subscribe.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Preston
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -6 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: -2 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South east
