Declares that the delayed roadworks in Belgrave, Leicester, which are part of an agreement made between Sainsbury’s and Leicester City Council, are causing significant problems for businesses and residents in the area.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to investigate this case, and call upon Sainsbury’s to honour their commitments and expedite the completion of these works. The Petitioners require assurances these roadworks and surrounding problems are addressed before seriously impacting residents and businesses over the Christmas period.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Keith Vaz, Official Report, 18 March 2015; Vol. 594, c. 868.]
[P001453]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, received 27 March 2015:
The roadworks are being carried out subject to a legal agreement between Leicester City Council and Sainsbury’s PLC, made in respect of mitigation works as part of a planning permission. It is for Leicester City Council, and any local planning authority entering into similar agreements, to ensure that potential noise and traffic problems are kept to a minimum, that works are executed without undue delay and to enforce, if appropriate, against any breach of the agreement made. Furthermore, a local authority has legal powers to tackle statutory noise nuisance, and local highway authorities have powers in relation to street works on public highways.
The Government are unable to comment on specific planning cases because of the Secretary of State’s quasi-judicial role in the planning process.