RUMOURS have abounded over the past week about the progress of the East Street redevelopment and the acquisition of the land needed for the scheme. Developer Crest Nicholson ended up quashing one rumour with a statement that Sainsbury's is still committed to the project, after Jeremy Hyman, of pressure group CEASE, queried the company's continuing involvement at Waverley Council's East Street consultative forum last Thursday. Another statement followed after a spokesman for St Martins, owner of the current Sainsbury's store site and various small shops in the vicinity, made clear at a private forum that the acquisition of its land, which is key to the scheme, was not yet in hand. Finally, the subject reared its head again on Tuesday, through a public question at a meeting of the full Waverley Council. In the first statement, a spokesman for Crest Nicholson explained: "The joint venture partnership of Sainsbury's and Crest Nicholson remains fully committed to the regeneration of the East Street area. "While much of the work being undertaken at the current time may not be in the public eye, Sainsbury's continues to play a major part in the development proposals, as it has done throughout the scheme's progress and will do going forward as we move towards the planning application. "In the meantime, Crest, Sainsbury's and the rest of their development team welcome the forums as a very useful and constructive process for explaining key elements of the scheme in some detail and understanding the range of feedback presented." As reported last week, Waverley Council officers have been instructed to investigate the use of compulsory purchase powers. The surprise announcement that Crest has not yet negotiated the acquisition of St Martins' land was made at the forum organised for invited townspeople by Major Bryan Sell last Friday. St Martins' senior property manager, Stephen Tusler, told those present: "We would be willing to sell if someone was willing to come along and have a sensible discussion with us." He said that Crest Nicholson had been talking to St Martins "on and off" for four years, but added: "We have not heard from them for the past year." Asked by The Herald about this claim and whether land acquisition problems could further delay the planning application for the scheme, Crest Nicholson commented: "Land assembly is not linked to the planning application and both processes run in parallel, with final land assembly normally following planning consent. "In fact, if there were to be a need for a compulsory purchase order, then this would necessarily have to follow planning consent. "Therefore, the planning application will not be delayed by CNS' discussions with St Martins and other landowners. "CNS has made repeated offers to St Martins - including three formal offers and at least 10 informal offers - and St Martins has not responded to our most recent request for a meeting. "For that reason, CNS is currently focusing on the design of the scheme and will revert to St Martins at a later date. However, CNS remains willing to meet St Martins at any time to continue negotiations." The issue was raised by Ann Thurston, of East Street Action, in a question at the full Waverley Council meeting on Tuesday. She said the pressure group had received information that neither Waverley nor the developer was in negotiation with St Martins or F & C Property Asset Management (owner of the cinema site). "Is our information correct?" she asked. In his reply, East Street portfolio holder Chris Mansell commented: "Attempting to answer speculation relating to any negotiations relating to the East Street Regeneration Project is a diversion from taking necessary action to make further progress. "Such negotiations as have been, are, or will be, taking place have to be confidential to give agents and officers of the council the opportunity to achieve the most favourable terms for the council and in the public interest. "The situation is continuing as normal for a significant development project at this stage. "In the light of your question, Waverley has instigated an inquiry and I can assure you your information is incorrect."
