A letter in the St Albans Review and Observer and the Herts Advertiser from Malcolm Edwards of Stop Tesco. The letter points out that Tesco cannot claim support from last year's retail study as its proposed site is not in the City Centre.
Dear Sir,
Many local residents have been receiving literature from Tesco recently concerning their proposed development on the Evershed's site in London Road, St Albans. However, there is one glaring error that totally undermines their cause.
The supermarket giant's website, www.tescostalbans.co.uk, has a 'benefits' page which starts with the sentence 'A retail study carried out last year by consultants on behalf of the Council confirmed that St Albans needs a new foodstore to keep people shopping locally'. We have obtained a copy of the survey and while the sentence is factually correct, the survey does not support a new supermarket on London Road. The retail study in fact recommended a food store in the centre of the City, around the location of the police station. This site is easily accessible by public transport, and would definitely allow people to walk into the centre after shopping.
The Eversheds site is outside of the City centre as defined by the report. It will be very difficult to get to by public transport, which will encourage excess car use. As it is highly unlikely that anyone will walk up the steep hill that is London Road to do additional shopping, it will also prove a massive threat to the businesses in the centre of the City.
We urge everyone to make their objections felt on www.tescostalbans.co.uk.
The full retail report can be seen here.
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