Say NO to a bigger Tesco
localshopslocal
An alliance of residents, businesses and environmental groups working to save local shops
Tosco plans to demolish its Solent Road shop and create a mega store with over twice the sales area.
Built on stilts to accommodate more cars, the Tesco Extra will face towards Havant Town and offer more food as well as non-food products such as electricals, furnishings, gardening, a pharmacy, optician etc.
Tesco say the new edge of town store will help Havant town centre, provide more choice, create jobs and regenerate the area. But retail experts, engaged by Havant Council, disagree and say the development is too big for the town and could potentially damage its 'viability and vitality'. Given its fragile retail health even a slight switch of trade to Tesco could add to the growing list of vacant shops. And the threat goes beyond Havant to Emsworth, Leigh Park and Hayling Island.
Tesco insists that there will be more linked trips between the new store and Havant town. They have produced a survey that shows 20% of customers using their present store go on to the town centre frequently while the rest visit occasionally, rarely or never. Asked why people don't visit the town shoppers told Tesco that there's not enough choice, the shops are of poor quality and parking is scarce and expensive. Nothing in Tesco's new plans will resolve these valid points.
If it goes ahead the new store will add to the already severe traffic congestion around Langstone. PM10 & NOX levels of pollution from waiting traffic means that Park Road South will become an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA). CO2 emissions will rise at a time when global warming is top of the agenda. The emissions from demolition and reconstruction will more than wipe out Tesco's attempts to look green. New jobs are unlikely since Tesco's main aim it to take business away from ASDA in Bedhampton. Some too may come from Sainsbury and Morrisons but many local people already work for these stores.
Tesco are offering Havant Council over £600,000 for new pavements, crossing and even a bus subsidy for the number 36 to bring people into the store.
DOUGHNUT EFFECT
Widely recognised by planners when shops move out of the centre to leave a hole in the middle (like Halfords)
What can you do about it ?
Write Now Detailed Information Where and When to Write
Questions & Answers
- Q:Why are Tesco expanding?
- A They say they need to compete on an equal footing with ASDA. Their present store is too small for this
- Q How much bigger is the new store?
- A. The existing store is xxxx sq.m and the new one will be xxxth sq.m., 246% bigger
- Q If the council were why have they allowed Wickes and Solent Retail Park
- A The problem started when Tesco got their present store through on appeal 10 years ago.
- Most people would have preferred Potash Terrace but that went to Wickes.
- Q Won't it be good for Havant?
- A It certainly will be good for Tesco
- Q Isn't this just an anti Tesco campaign
- A No, Tesco is a part of the retail mix and is the town's principal food store. Size and impact are the issues.
TESCO FACTS AND FIGURES
- Tesco plans to open 124 new stores in the UK before the end of the financial year.
- Only four UK postal districts are without a branch of Tesco - Harrogate (Yorkshire), the Shetland and Orkney islands, and the Outer Hebrides.
- Tesco has 33% of the UK grocery market.
- There are nearly 1,900 branches of Tesco in the UK.
- That works out at a profit of £77 every second.
- Tesco employs 450,000 staff worldwide.
- Tesco's Chief executive Terry Leahy earns nearly £4 million a year.
- Tesco had global sales of £41.8 billion last year
Tesco campaigns elsewhere
A good ANTI-TESCO site from St Albans
- Farnham, Surrey
- Amersham, Bucks
- Bexhill, West Sussex
- Andover, Hants
- Petersfield, Hants
- Abingdon, Oxfordshire
- Bittern Park, Southampton
- Lewis, East Sussex
Plus dozens of sites throughout the UK
For more information: www.tescopoly.org.uk
Take action and oppose Tesco's plans today
Write or email your views to the HBC planning office
The planning application reference is 06/58840/014 and it can be viewed HERE on Havant Council's web site. type or paste the application number into the first box and click search. To view the details click the application number in the pale green box on the next screen.
The deadline for comments is 18th October but the officer may accept later submissions. You can send your comments to Havant Council by email or post . Address and email HERE
The main government policy documents relating to the application referred to in Havant Borough District Wide Local Plan are PPS1 (delivering sustainable development) referred to by HBC here and PPS6 (maintaining the vitality of town and local centres) referred to by HBC here another guideline used by HBC is PPG13 (on transport) referred to by HBC here, of the the . There other relevant sections of the plan.
Objection must be material to the planning application. You can apply to form a deputation to address coucillors when they consider the matter on 1st November.
Published by shoplocalshop Campaign, 26 Beach Road, Emsworth, Hants PO9 2JE email: tescopoly@havantfoe.org.uk
Latest News
Our petition has gone to over 900 and more are coming in all the time; well over 1000 looks possible.
We are planning another leaflet for the town centre ward as we suspect at least one of its councillors will speak up for it. Excellent press coverage continues We will be out in Emsworth town centre on Saturday 27 October doing petition, in Leigh Park Saturday 3rd November and Hayling Saturday 10 November. It has been suggested we do a demo at the town hall when the committee meets on the 29th November. Channel Five have shown interest and South Today. Thanks to members who have helped us get this far. There's still a long way to go.