I INITIALLY applauded county councillor Giuseppe Fraschini's decision to break rank and criticise the plans for Firepool with his petition.

I certainly wish more of his Conservative district colleagues had done the same.

As one of three members on the Planning Committee who voted against this proposal, I agree that that plans for another food store and a large retail store are completely wrong, as Taunton already has more than plenty and as the world moves more and more to online shopping, finding businesses interested will be very difficult.

READ MORE: Calls to scrap supermarket plan for Firepool

However, I find it odd that Councillor Fraschini chose to make this petition AFTER the decision had been made. I also don’t remember seeing him on the night voicing his disgust. 

Simply a case of closing the stable door after the horse had bolted I’m afraid.

CLLR CHRIS BOOTH
Councillor for Halcon
Taunton