Sheringham Tesco inquiry goes to Cromer

A public inquiry into Tesco's plans for a store at Sheringham cannot be held on the site because of disabled access problems at the town's community centre. Campaigners had hoped the 12-day appeal could be staged at the centre to make it easier for local people, especially traders, to attend.But the inspector who will chair the hearing in July has ruled it out after visiting the building - so the sessions will be held at the district council chamber in Cromer instead. Inspector Christina Downes said the centre's main room was on the first floor and only accessible by a narrow flight of stairs. Although Sheringham would be more convenient for locals she had to take account of the duty of public bodies under the Disability Discrimination Act to enable people who were wheelchair-bound or with mobility difficulties to be able to take part. The inquiry will begin at July 1, and look at North Norfolk District Council's refusal of one Tesco plan and failure to deal with another. The company wants to build a store on the Cromer Road in a scheme which would see them relocate the town's fire station and community centre which would have to be knocked down to make way for the development. Sessions will run from 10am to 5.30pm most days, but 9.30am to 4pm on Fridays. It might be possible to run a 7pm session at Sheringham to help people who cannot attend during normal times, but the inspector will decide on that at the start of the inquiry when she has gauged the level of public interest.