I have to concur regarding trough snuffling clowncil members. We have no ASDA in our town despite the chain submitting many applications in the last 20 years or so. On one occasion they were refused on the grounds, "There is already an over-provision of supermarkets in the area." Less than 6 months later, Sainsbos built on the same site because the paid into some community fund that paid for new schools and upgrade to the local community centre.
Since then ASDA has had at least 3 applications rejected for similar reasons, yet Waitrose, Aldi and Lidl have all had applications approved and brand new stores built.
Odeon group had a planning application for an entertainment complex rejected on the grounds they would not agree to provide a free bus service to & from the out of town site. A few months later the clowncil granted an application to Vue.
There are many more instances of skullduggery, most of which folk wouldn't believe - including the reason we have no cable services in our area