Public protest over Tenbury Wells Tesco plan
Friday 8th October 2010, 12:05PM BST.
Campaigners fighting plans for a Tesco superstore in Tenbury Wells were due to gather for a public protest outside the town’s Pump Rooms today.
Members of the TesNO group were expected to meet at 4pm to issue a statement outlining concerns over the planned 15,000 sq ft store.
The protest has been organised to coincide with an exhibition inside the building by Tesco officials, outlining proposals for the store on the town’s cattle market. Tesco says it could create up to 150 jobs.
Residents have also claimed the Teme Bridge, which would form a major access point for the store, is in need of “overdue substantial maintenance work”.
Initial plans for the store were withdrawn in July after the company failed to get consent to demolish the nearby Russell Baldwin & Bright building.
But revised plans have been submitted, which include a circular entrance way, a reduced service yard to allow parking for up to 100 cars, improved landscaping along the River Teme and altering site levels to prevent flooding.
The superstore has divided public opinion in the town with some claiming it will create much needed jobs and others fearing it could sound the death knell for a number of local shops.
Andy Stevenson, one of the campaigners, said some residents and business owners were expected at the meeting, and added: “Many of these people will be members of the TesNO group who have very specific concerns about Tesco’s aims in Tenbury and how these would affect our existing struggling high street shops and the Teme Bridge.”
A Tesco spokesman has previously said: “We believe a Tesco store offering a quality affordable food range will encourage more people to shop locally.”
Most Commented
- Shropshire Council will face £8m redundancy bill
- Clampdown on Shrewsbury chuggers
- Bishop's gay marriage views do nothing to support bible teachings
- Letter: Alcohol price plans annoy me
- Planners ordered to stay on Newport visit bus
- Letter: Angered by close encounter of the furred kind
- Letter: No sense in overseas job adverts
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.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
A wide range of Tenbury locals and businesses don’t want a supermarket like this either in -or- out of town.
We’re well serviced with some great local food shops already as well as 3 other supermarkets in town already. If we really need a Tesco fix then we’ll either drive the 15 or so minutes to the Tesco in Ludlow or order online and get their groceries delivered to our door.
We don’t want our highstreet to die-off after a Tesco moves in either. There are many unfortunate examples of this in the UK which include: Hucknall in Nottinghamshire, Galashiels in the Scottish Borders and Stalham in Norfolk.
Don’t want, don’t need and won’t suffer a Tesco in Tenbury.
Report abuse