The answer seems to be that they all work in mysterious ways, as the report "New Supermarket gets the go-ahead" (Courier, October 31) suggests.
As your report notes, Morrisons in 2004 having conveniently allowed planning permission on their existing site to expire, announced it wanted to build a new £15 million store.
The proposed site was on seven acres of protected green belt, occupied by Illingworth Sports and Social Club. This proposal was backed by the planning department despite the fact that the Unitary Development Plan (UDP) stated that "playing fields and sports grounds are a scarce resource and the loss of any part of a playing field may represent an irretrievable loss."
The UDP also noted that "in Calderdale there is a deficiency in the provision of open spaces when compared to the National Playing Fields Association standard of open space provision."
Morrisons and the planning department argued that a new site was necessary because obstacles at the present location precluded any further development or enlargement, despite the fact that there was underdeveloped land next to the existing supermarket.
According to Morrisons' misleading questionnaire (or as they laughingly called it, "public consultation exercise") there were "significant constraints" to development at the present site. These included "highway safety, the relocation of the electricity sub-station and operational problems".
The latter, believe it or not, included in evidence to the public inquiry that the car park sloped, despite the fact that there has been no seismic tremor at this location in living memory.
Morrisons were also prepared to stoop to moral blackmail in their efforts to build at the Illingworth Sports and Social Club. They stated in their evidence to the Public Inquiry that if they did not get their own way, "there will come a time when the present store has to close."
Thankfully, the Inspector at the Inquiry was not taken in by any of this hogwash and seven acres of playing fields and green belt were saved for future generations.
Another of the "significant constraints" claimed by Morrisons was "the need to purchase additional land and buildings."
Presumably, as this newly-acquired land is significantly less that seven acres, Morrisons have saved a considerable amount of money. In their "public consultation" they claimed -albeit erroneously as the purchase price for the playing fields would have been ring-fenced by the Council - they would provide "replacement facilities elsewhere in the area for the ISSC".
Further, Morrisons stated that they would "provide additional junior pitches and improved changing facilities at Beechwood Park, significantly enhancing the facilities available to all local residents."
It will now, of course, be very interesting to see if Morrisons great concern for the improvement of the sports facilities in North Halifax comes to fruition. As their acquisition cost for a smaller piece of land will result in a considerable saving, they might now like to make a donation to upgrade the current sporting facilities at the ISSC and help other local organisations. There again, pigs might fly.
Finally, perhaps the planning department and Calderdale Councillors could explain how the insurmountable problems that precluded the development at the existing site have, magically, been overcome.
Peter Gould