Francis O'Sullivan, Ramsbury Road, St. Albans sent us this email after sending them to Tesco:
A new Tesco store is the last thing that St. Albans , and particularly London Road , needs. So, I oppose the development of a Tesco superstore at the former Evershed's site.
This area of St. Albans has a proud history and has been a vibrant part of the city in the past. Today, of course, it’s an eyesore and is far from the gateway to St. Albans this beautiful city deserves.
But why is that?
It was Tesco themselves who created the problem. They were the ones who bought up houses and land and allowed them to deteriorate. And yet, they position their proposals as “breathing new life” into London Road as if it was some sort of philanthropic act.
The reality is that this proposal is going to have a far more detrimental effect on London Road than a beneficial one. Why? Because:
- it is planning to demolish a number of beautiful Victorian houses that are part and parcel of St Albans, its heritage and history, and which aren’t in a conservation area for nothing
- it will utterly change the character and way-of-life of communities such as Inkerman Road for the worse
- it will congest an already overloaded thoroughfare with 500 more cars an hour; not to mention the heavy goods vehicles that will have to keep the store supplied.
- it will create an environment that will be identifiable by traffic noise and exhaust fumes, rather than the “greener future” portrayed by Tesco
There are other ways to breathe new life into London Road without building a giant superstore and car park. There are other ways in which Tesco can contribute to the well being of St. Albans (if that's what they want to do) without razing listed buildings to the ground and creating unnecessary “retail environments” (improving their city centre store, for instance). And there are ways in which St Albans District Council can stand up to Tesco and protect the heritage of St. Albans .
St. Albans doesn’t need this store; and it’s clear residents don’t want it either.
Have you written to Tesco to voice your opinion about their plans for St. Albans? If so, send us a copy of what you sent and let us know if it's ok for us to republish it here.
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1 comment:
Sir,
My comments posted on the Tescos website:
A Tesco store in this part of town is totally inappropriate for a number of reasons:
1. Traffic. Alma Road, Lattimore Road and London Road (not to mention the rest of St Albans) are already in gridlock for much of the day. No road widening is going to alleviate this problem simply move it further up the road.
2. Existing provision. The town is already very well provided for with existing supermarkets.
3. Jobs. Tesco’s argument of job creation is meaningless in St Albans.
4. Impact on existing shopping. St Albans’ town centre is already under sufficient stress due to high rents and the ineptitude of the town council. Increased traffic congestion and the migration of shoppers to your proposed store will increase this pressure.
5. Track record in St Albans. Tesco already have a store in St Peter Street and it is probably fair to say that it is the least pleasant shop in St Albans (certainly in the High Street). It is a shabby run down store in architecturally the ugliest building in the centre of the town. Further everybody in St Albans knows that it frequently reeks of stale urine where the alley beside it is used as a toilet in the evenings – particularly unpleasant for a food retailer. This store has been a mess for the 25 years that I remember walking past it and even if it where to be updated tomorrow I would personally not allow the owners to have another go in the area.
6. Tactics. Tesco are widely recognised as being a less than perfect neighbour. I believe that the tactics used to secure planning on the site (including allowing the existing property to decay to the point of nuisance) are underhand and should not be rewarded with a grant of planning permission.
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