We've been asking residents and concerned citizens who visited the exhibit of Tesco's St. Albans plans to write and tell us what they found out. Ian, who lives on Orient Close, provided us with an extensive list of information based on his chat with the staff at the exhibition.
On Saturday we voiced concerns here that most local residents were unaware of the exhibition, as were market traders.
This has now been confirmed by a resident of Alexandra Road who said that despite claims from the Tesco spokesperson at the exhibition to the contrary, no leaflet drop was made to homes in the immediate vicinity of the site. Having spoken with three households which will back up to the site, Tesco also failed to leaflet homes on Bedford Road until a copy of the plans was dropped through the door at around 1.30pm on Sunday. (Please note: concerned residents did leaflet Bedford Road, some of Alma Road and some of Inkerman Road early Saturday)
At the exhibition, members of our website team found out that Tesco owns 11 homes on Inkerman road, three of which they plan to demolish. They also plan to build exactly eight car parking places to "alleviate local parking problems". We find it quite convenient that the number of car parking places to be built by Tesco coincides exactly with the number of homes it plans to retain, and likely rent out, on Inkerman Road.
After the exhibit had ended, we found a small group of Inkerman Road residents discussing the plans in front of their homes. One couple say they were told on Friday that half the terrace on the west side of the street was to go to make way for part of the Tesco car park then, the following day, were told that only three houses on the opposite side would be demolished. Perhaps a Tesco spokesperson - we know you've been visiting the site - would like to respond publicly here to questions about which homes exactly will be demolished on Inkerman Road and what the outlook from remaining homes will be.
The highway's expert at the Tesco exhibition confirmed that there would 4-500 vehicle movements per hour in to the store. But, he said, the vast majority of those will not be new traffic. We pointed out that the environmental impact of 4-500 vehicles per hour entering the car park, driving around looking for a spot, parking, being turned off then started up again would be greater than if those cars simply passed through the area. He confirmed that this was true - the environmental impact would be greater, but went on to claim that the footprint of "exhaust plume" would be quite small and would only affect "the immediate area". That's not particularly comforting...
The rest of what we asked confirmed what Tesco's spokespeople had already told others .
Did you find out anything new, or contradictory, to the information already supplied here? Having now seen the plans, do you have any thoughts or feelings about the development you'd like to share?
Please send us an email: tescocampaign@yahoo.co.uk
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