For a man with no immune system, I’m doing alright.
- Bucket list Ben
Shrewsbury Tesco wants more space to sell non-food items
Thursday 8th July 2010, 4:00PM BST.
Supermarket giant Tesco has submitted fresh plans to increase the amount of space it can use for non-grocery products at its Shrewsbury store.
The move comes after the store admitted it had “inadvertently” breached planning rules over the issue.
Tesco has resubmitted a planning application to vary a condition of consent originally imposed by the Secretary of State in 2004 before the store in Battlefield was built.
The condition said it could use no more than 1,447 sq m of floorspace for “comparison goods”, such as clothing, footwear and household goods.
But Tesco has admitted it has been using an additional 624 sq m over the permitted figure. The store has also been using 269 sq m of sales floorspace than allowed.
Shrewsbury Town Centre Residents’ Association previously raised concerns about the issue at the store, which opened in 2007.
Now Tesco has applied for the condition to be amended to allow it to have 4,789 sq m of sales floorspace including 2,071 for non-grocery goods.
Today Selby Martin, of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said the store’s breach was “deplorable”.
But Tesco spokesman Tony Fletcher today claimed the amount of space the store was using for comparison goods had been defined after discussions with Shropshire Council officers.
Mr Martin said: “Tesco are describing this as an inadvertent breach but I think it is deplorable that a firm like Tesco should abuse its position and strength and push through an increase in comparison goods and sales space in conflict with the condition imposed on them and it shouldn’t be allowed.”
Andy Boddington, chairman of CPRE Shropshire, said the council must refuse the application.
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.

All I can say is – Tesco through and through. (I know people who have had to work on their behalf & they hated the job) They will carry on doing it for yrs and yrs because nobody ever has the balls to stand up to them in Court once and for all because they are trying to take over the nation, they live to their own rules and screw everyone else.
Report abuse
Oh look.. Shrewsbury Town Centre Residents’ Association raising concerns again that dont exist. If Tesco want to offer the public what they need then let them
And if they can do it cheaper than other stores then we all win
Report abuse
So if shops in the town centre cannot compete and close, that’s not a problem with you then?
Report abuse
not a problem at all … .. … if they cant compete then thats thier loss
its much easier to keep the traffic out of the town .. u can wiz into Tesco and out again in 5 mins… town takes hours
Report abuse
Oh no – what will we do without all those greeting cards & mobile phone shops? Oh yes I think we’ve got one or two coffee shops as well!
Report abuse
(Not the same Mark as above).
I’m afraid it’s not a problem for me either; if competition benefits the consumer, then I’m all for it.
Report abuse
Not really, can’t say i’m that bothered by mobile phone, charity, cheap-but-tat-bargain and Coffee shops.
Report abuse
The STCRA are just trying to divert everyone’s attention away from their humiliating defeat over the quarry.
Report abuse
Why am I not suprised.its about time planners take note of this practice, as it not the first time and know doubt not the last.
So I call upon the planners and stand firm and refuse the increase,and fine them so much they have gone over the size they were allowed, also make them to reduce the the size of the store.
Firstly back to what was in the plans, then that again, with no appeal against it allowed. It might make them think again when building their stores
Report abuse
Dear the Star
After years of reading your paper i fail to understand why Tesco is such big news for you
every time i look in the paper Tesco seems to feature in the headlines.
Does Shrewsbury have no other news going on in the town.
Tesco employes a large number of people (as do the other supermarkets in the area) and i feel you have a vendetta agaist this particular company . Please can we get back to real news in the town and get back to the good old days of this paper
Report abuse
Try this link. http://www.shropshirestar.com/?s=shrewsbury&searchsubmit=Search
(The Tesco story is in there, but you don’t have to read it.)
Report abuse
Tesco are like a cuckoo. They start off small, then they wriggle and wriggle and wriggle, a little bit at a time, until they’re the only bird left in the nest. This is their modus operandi across the whole of the UK.
If you allow a Tesco store to get a foothold in your town, you can wave bye bye to the town’s beating heart and soul a few years down the line.
Report abuse
How dare they bring cheap affordable goods to the town..
Report abuse
this is an outrage this whole area will be ruined
as with the incinerator proposal our planners are rubbish and give in to big business every time
Report abuse
pow wow poodle planners, bend over poodle here comes the rottweiler of big business to wreck our medieval town again, just be a lap dog why dont you softies
Report abuse
for god sake, i feel there is more important news out there than this.
when i have done a full weeks work and only 1 day off a week and got shopping to do, then why should i have to waste that day off going from shop to shop in the town which could take hours and will cost a forturne to park. when i can go to one shop get it all and be back home in about an hour and half and not have to pay for parking then let them carry on.
they are alot cheaper and our town is full of rubbish shops any way.
even if i was going clothes shopping i would go to telford or chester not this town.
Report abuse
why has the shropshirestar only ever print negativty and attack the tescos stores shrewsbury, u never publisise what they do for the community. they are a large employer of the community.
customers have a right to choose where they shop and the selection of shops in shrewsbury dont always reflect what tescos sell.
the cost of parking in town and selection of shops prevents people going in to the town centre not the supermarkets out of town
Report abuse
i am sure that there is more important news out there than this.
when having to do my shopping then i would rather go to one shop than go to shop after shop. and pay a fortune to pay to park.
the fact that people have less time to do shopping so they would rather one shop and get it done in an hour not taking all day.
the selcetion of shops in our town centre are not the best and would rater go further a field for speacial shopping or clothes shopping.
let the conusmer decide what they want
Report abuse
I remember when Carrefour opened, I lived in bridgnorth, it was cheaper to drive and shop,,more choice etc,
Shrewsbury it has cobble stones to rick your ankles, pedestrian area up pride hill which is torture to push a pram/pushchair buggy, I shudder to think how wheel chair user get on.
Having to doge chairs tables on what used to be pavements outside catering establishments, I wonder if they have paid taxes or more important had permission off DR Shranks/Mr Martin alias the Residents Assoc.
I shopped in Asda I noticed they had moved the clothing forward in a sales drive. Did they check they are floor space complaint? same for all retailers to B&Q they have displays in their foyer so do Sainsburys it is called displaying your wares to sell to pay high rates and taxes, pay wages. SO DR Shranks do you know I do not care, but if you are just singling out Tesco, without any checking on other simaler retailers then it undermines your argument and makes your efforts no more than vandetta and shame on the star for siding with you.
Morris are going to build in Barker STreet How are they goiing to get the the large lorries to the site to fill the shelves which was the very reason Tesco could not open in the Loop, I witnessed a jugglenaut attempting to get in the riverside with great difficulty so come on Dr Shranks supermarket oppose the congestion that morris’s will bring and the more empty shops.
Report abuse
They identify a growing market like an expanding town and make sure that they get the best performing position.
Report abuse
Be honest now, I bet you nay-sayers have all shopped in Tesco and even purchased some of the items that are sold against plans….Why should we have to subsidise the town centre by paying extra for product and parking, when it;s cheaper and more convenient to shop at Tesco and thats the exact reason they have grown to the size they are – by filling consumer need at a competitive price.
Report abuse
Here we go again, people banging on about Tesco being the death of the high Street when it has as much to do with the Internet.
Look folks retail is evolving and its the consumer demands that are changing the way we shop, whether you like it or not Its us the public that are killing the High Street and Tesco are just providing us with a convenient way to shop.
If you want traditional High Streets then i suggest you visit Blists Hill or some other Victorian Museum..
Report abuse