Thumbs down for Tesco plans

Exclusive by Sam Malone

27 June 2008

INDEPENDENT traders in Barbourne have breathed a collective sigh of relief after planning chiefs stopped plans for a new supermarket in their tracks.
The Standard reported in April how traders along Upper Tything and Barbourne Road had been shocked to discover that Tesco had submitted a planning application to build a Tesco Express store on the site of the old Esso petrol station.
But planners have now rejected the application on the grounds that Tesco had not proven the store would not have an adverse impact on local traders.
The news was welcomed by traders who said the arrival of Tesco would have been a sad day for the area.
David Jones, owner of the Modern Newsagent on Upper Tything said: “Around here there would have definitely been blood spilt - that is how strong the feeling is.
“The people of Barbourne know what it would all mean - shutters are already pulled down and shops are permanently closed and Tesco would just force even more to shut.”
Jenny Collins, co-owner of Jenades delicatessen said: “It is a good decision, I’m glad the council have seen sense because we don’t need it, we have Costcutters for a local store and we don’t need another one.
“I hope local people voted with their pen and paper. Lots of people came in asking what to do, so if as many people that came in to us responded in writing then there would have been a lot of people.”
Paul O’Connor, the council’s planning manager, said Tesco had not provided enough evidence to the council that there was a need for a new store in Barbourne and that they had done little to ease many local residents’ fears on the effect it would have on the community.
He said: “They haven’t demonstrated the need for that level of convenience store outside the city centre nor have they provided sufficient evidence that the plan would not have an adverse impact on the local shops.”
Mr O’Connor also said that under the city council’s local residential plan, any development on the site needed to include at least 40 per cent affordable housing and that neither application had provided enough residential capacity.
One of the applications proposed 12 flats incorporated into a three storey building while the other proposed 18 flats into four storeys.
Both plans featured proposals for 386 square metres of retail floorspace on the ground floor with 19 car parking bays.
The Standard had yet to receive a comment from Tesco as we went to press.

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