Sainsbury’s proposed destruction of Ferry Lane and herbivore-grazed unspoilt pasture
Planning application Washingborough Ref — 22/0362/FUL
Ferry Lane a tree-lined country lane in the Lincolnshire village of Washingborough leading down to the River Witham where once there was a ferry, hence the name. Bounded on either side by cattle-grazed pastures. From the main road, views across the fields, across the river, to the fields and hillside the other side of the river. Very popular with walkers and cyclists.
Sainsbury’s are wishing to destroy one of these fields with a large supermarket, with car parking for 80 plus cars. The site is on a flood plain, an important carbon sink, important for wildlife. The supermarket will be a major traffic generator, the location suits Sainsbury’s due to its proximity to a recently opened bypass. It will draw traffic in off the bypass, plus through the village from more distance villages.
This planning application must be REJECTED.
The grounds for REJECTION are outlined below. Any single one is more than sufficient grounds for REJECTION.
destruction of Ferry Lane
A popular destination for walkers and cyclists, who then walk or ride along the old railway line, now part of a National Cycle Route.
vista
A view across cattle-grazed pasture, across the river to green fields and a hillside will be destroyed by an ugly eyesore Sainsbury’s supermarket.
carbon sink
Rising sea levels, rising sea temperature, melting polar ice caps, record high global temperatures, record high carbon levels in the atmosphere, Arctic 20–30C above average, forest fires, floods, droughts.
In the last week, Spain hit 40C (a record for May), the Indian subcontinent temperatures have reached 49C. Humans and wildlife cannot survive in these high temperatures.
UK is signature to international treaty to keep temperature rise within 1.5 degrees, to limit the carbon in the atmosphere. We also have UK legalisation to limit the carbon in the atmosphere.
We limit carbon in the atmosphere through:
- drastically reducing our carbon emissions
- safeguarding and enhancing carbon sinks
The traffic generated by the supermarket would increase carbon emissions.
The field is an important carbon sink.
- herbivore grazed grass an important carbon sink
- the soil an important carbon sink
Sainsbury’s would not only increase the traffic, they would destroy a vital carbon sink.
Sainsbury’s claim to be offsetting carbon by sticking solar panels on the roof, using green electricity, charging points for electric vehicles.
Setting to one side the carbon offset scam, a market for spivs speculators and bankers, it does not counter the destruction of a carbon sink for the creation of a massive traffic generator.
If Sainsbury’s wish to stick solar panels on their stores, add charging points, that is fine, but are they, or is it simply greenwash to obtain planning consent? The charging points would be a requirement of any new development.
local wildlife
Unlike a field of crops, unspoilt pasture is teeming with wildlife. An important site for wildlife.
The development of the site would lead to destruction of an important wildlife site. The lighting would be detrimental to wildlife.
Sainsbury’s claim to be creating a wildlife habit at the rear of the store. This should be treated as a sick joke. They are creating ponds for runoff. These would be contaminated with oil from the parking. We have wetlands, the river and the drain, thus creating a couple of ponds no advantage, especially when polluted with runoff, and this does not mitigate destruction of unspoilt pasture.
In the vicinity otters and kingfishers.
Has an independent Environmental Impact Assessment been carried out? If not, why not?
mental health
There is a growing body of evidence of the importance of green space for our mental health and wellbeing.
When we destroy green space, we not only destroy wildlife habitat and reduce biodiversity, we destabilise Gaia and damage our own mental health and wellbeing.
food security
The one thing coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine, plus log jams at ports, has demonstrated, is the fragility of our food supply chains.
Global warming will make the fragility of our food supply chains worse.
We do not therefore destroy prime agricultural land for the profit motive of a greedy supermarket chain, especially when there are easily accessible alternatives to shop locally.
traffic
The recent opening of the bypass has led to a marked increase in traffic passing by Ferry Lane and through the village. Very noticeable when waiting at Ferry Lane Bus Stop for a bus into Lincoln. The level of traffic has more than doubled.
This development would lead to a substantial increase in traffic, as admitted by Sainsbury’s in their application for a pedestrian crossing.
Traffic lights at the railway bridge, slowed traffic will extend back to the roundabout on the bypass, then cause the bypass to back up.
Traffic will consist not only of cars, but also delivery lorries and vans.
Noise, pollution, CO2 emissions.
Locals will have difficulty getting in and out of their drives leading to inevitable accidents.
We should be reducing traffic, encouraging use of public transport, cycling walking, not generating more traffic.
job creation
The usual myth of job creation peddled.
Large supermarkets destroy jobs, they do not create jobs, if take account of jobs destroyed elsewhere in the retail sector.
If look at jobs per capital investment or jobs per square footage, it is lower than that in local small shops.
It is well documented large supermarkets do not create jobs, and yet they still peddle this myth.
local economy
Of no benefit to the local economy, whereas local businesses recycle money within the local economy, adding value to each and every pound spent. Large corporate stores drain money out of a local economy.
Sainsbury’s claim fresh bread, meat.
The dough is brought, in baked. We have a baker about to open in the village, Quality bread in Lincoln. Quality meat at the butcher in Heighington, and at Pepperdine’s and Redhill Farm shop in Lincoln.
Fruit and vegetables, street market in Lincoln High Street, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, greengrocer in Bailgate, farmers market once a month in Castle Hill in Lincoln.
The quality of produce from local businesses, and service, far higher than will find in Sainsbury’s.
And for those who wish to shop in supermarkets, no shortage in the locality. It could be argued there are too many, chasing a saturated market.
Lincoln or Heighington only a bus ride away.
Sainsbury’s claim to be reducing car trips (can use the bus), but clearly not the case else why a need for a car park for 80 plus cars?
precedent
A very dangerous president would be set.
Open season for commercial development all the way back to the bypass.
of no benefit to the village
This large store is not being proposed to benefit Washingborough, it is to add to the profit of Sainsbury’s to bring in customers from north and south of Lincoln via the bypass, and from surrounding villages further afield which will cause increased traffic through the narrow streets of Washingborough.
What would benefit Washingborough would be a small convenience store where currently located a pizza outlet. This would provide choice. Though I doubt sufficient demand in a village for two convenience stores when the village was not able to support three pubs.
No benefit, but a large number of dis-benefits.
references
- Shopped: The Shocking Power of British Supermarkets — Joanna Blythman
- Not On the Label — Felicity Lawrence
- ReGenesis — George Monbiot
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