“We’ve been told the supermarket is needed for local Park Town residents who want a supermarket they can walk to. So, why does it need a car park with 108 spaces?

– Liberal Democrat leader Cllr. David Franks.

At a meeting of the Council’s Development Control Committee on Wednesday evening as Labour councillors tried to force through approval for a plan to build supermarket on the former bowling green in Gipsy Lane, Liberal Democrats employed a little used provision in the Council’s standing orders to block the scheme. By using this device, Liberal Democrat councillors removed the right of the Committee to make the decision leaving the members only able to recommend that the plan should be approved to the next meeting of the Full Council.

“We’ve been told the supermarket is needed for local Park Town residents who want a supermarket they can walk to,” claimed Liberal Democrat leader, Councillor David Franks. “So, why does it need a car park with 108 spaces? It seems every week the Labour council finds an excuse to build on another park or green open space. They will not be happy until they have covered every blade of grass in Luton with concrete and it’s time to call a halt.”