Shrewsbury Tesco cannot increase space for non-grocery goods
Friday 3rd September 2010, 11:05AM BST.
Retrospective plans by supermarket giant Tesco to increase the amount of space it uses for non-grocery goods at its Shrewsbury ‘Extra’ store have been rejected by councillors.
Campaigners, who packed a meeting at the Shirehall yesterday, today celebrated the stance taken by councillors and said the decision would provide much-needed relief for town centre traders.
Tesco submitted fresh plans for its Battlefield store after admitting it had “inadvertently” breached its planning consent at the site.
It has been using an additional 624sq m over the permitted figure. The store was applying 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.
Members of the central planning committee agreed yesterday to reject the plans on the grounds it conflicts with two local policies and one central government policy concerning planning.
But Susan Bates, council solicitor, said it would have to be referred to the strategic planning committee as it went against officer recommendation and there was a risk on appeal that it may not be defendable.
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Poppycock, the town centre was dying long before Tesco added a few yards of non grocery retail space.. excuses excuses excuses..
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The town centre was losing its popularity before Tesco came along. The main reason the attitude of the council over car parking. What is the cost of all these appeals etc. to the council. Again more beaurocracy and money wasted by our custodians of taxes.
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Agreed, Tesco should be allowed to do whatever they want. All town shops should be closed down and the area converted to a world class skate park. This would also cure the parking problems. The stupid council have not even considered this option. Who needs rules; Anarky Rulz.
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A retrospective planning application relating to the the use of 624sq m over the permitted figure reflects the sheer ‘arrogance’ of Tesco and its disregard for local democracy. I try not to use that store – it is far too big and the staff seem poorly trained in ‘friendly’ customer relations, and the news that it was trading contrary to its original planning application came as no surprise.
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Most people want these cheap quality goods exactly as Tesco supply with the option of free adjacent parking in a pleasant shopping atmosphere. The councillors are completely out of touch with public need. Perhaps they are too used to supporting the wholly unrepresentative Town Centre Residents Association and their ilk rather than the shopping public.
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So does this mean then that they will deny ASDA the ASDA home living store that they will be putting on the netto site then? the one that is even closer to the town that is overpriced and has nowt but charity shops and mobile phone stores.
I think i’ll go back to doing my shopping off this thing they call the internet, wait that can’t possibly also killing off the town could it?
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