Our campaign, however, has only just begun. Why? Because we feel very strongly that allow Tesco to build an inappropropriate and unnecessary store on the edge of centre Evershed site in St. Albans isn't the right thing for our community. We are opposed to the demolition of locally listed homes that form part of a sensitive conservation area. We are opposed on the grounds of the environmental impact of an estimate 500 additional motor vehicle movements AN HOUR in the area surrounding the store. We are concerned about the effect of such a store upon local businesses, city centre shops and our thousand year old market. We fear that already congested roads - important access roads into the city and to the nearby St. Albans City Station - will become even more gridlocked.
Do we really want to all Tesco to vandalise our city as shown in the artists impression of Alma Road below?
Our city, our communities and our families deserve for something more suitable to be built on the Evershed site, something that benefits us all. That could include new homes built alongside and in keeping with the existing locally listed buildings, including affordable housing for local people and incorporating environmentally sustainable features, a sorely needed new school for the area, local shops, and other things that local people - not Tesco shareholders - want and would benefit from.
In the coming weeks our campaign will be ramping up and we'll be asking for your support. Not just by voting for us in a web awards competition, but by putting your name to our cause, writing your letters of opposition, and making it known that our community can and will stand up together in opposition to Tesco's plans. Stay tuned.
[The composite image above was created by local resident Simon Dowell who created the images based on an interpretation of the plans revealed by Tesco and shown on their website for the St. Albans development. We thank Simon for his kind permission to use these images here.]
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