| A showdown between Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and West Berkshire Council over the controversial £120m Park Way shopping centre has been ruled out until April - newbury.net has learned.
Dozens of local people have objected at the size and scale of the complex after this website revealed details of the seven-storey high project, lodged by Standard Life Investments three days before the Christmas holiday period.
Mr Prescott’s Government Office of the South East has warned it may ‘call in’ any planning consent given by the council. Protesters claim that the plans for 1000 new retail jobs are unsustainable in a town with 700 unemployed, and that the existing infrastructure won’t be able to cope with the extra traffic predicted.
Other objections range claim the scheme is contrary to government policy on tall buildings in historic towns, on demolishing listed buildings, and have questioned why the council selected Standard Life without showing the public the other designs.
GOSE rarely overrules local council decisions, but campaigners are hoping to delay a final decision until the next council elections in May 2007, where a “Stop the Vision” coalition is planning to contest several seats in Newbury. | 
