Is this the final countdown? With court-assisted mediation between Progressive Enterprises Ltd, owners of the Countdown brand and the two appellants to the Stratford District Council consent having failed to come to a resolution, a hearing date has now been set for December 15.
Liam Dagg, the council's director of environmental services says, "it's unfortunate that the parties are now proceeding to court as it can be a drawn-out process". He adds that there is still "a possibility" for the case to be settled out of court.
Liam says that the council has already filed its evidence, as has the New Zealand Transport Agency and Progressive Enterprises. The appellants have until the end of September to submit their evidence and by mid-October each side will be presented with the opposing evidence to allow for the filing of rebuttal.
Liam says landscape architects and traffic engineers from each side have been encouraged to work with one another leading up to the hearing to enable court proceedings to move as quickly as possible.
Jason Kowalewski, manager of Amity Court Motel on the property neighbouring the proposed supermarket, looks forward to the supermarket opening in Stratford.