When we met Tesco's Michael Kissman, he made a sensible point - that if local people wanted to use the Eversheds site for community uses, we should ask the council to compulsorily purchase the land. So, we've taken him up on the idea - the letter below is even now on it's way to the council! If you'd like to write a similar letter, please write to Mr Dean Goodman at the same address! We'll let you know what the council says.
Dean Goodman
Head of Planning
St Albans District Council
Council Offices
Civic Centre
St Peters Street
St Albans
Hertfordshire
AL1 3JE
Re: Compulsory Purchase of Proposed Tesco Site
Dear Mr Goodman,
We are extremely concerned at the possibility of the old Eversheds printing works being developed in a way that adds little or no value to St Albans and the people that live here. The use of the site as a supermarket is not the best use of the land.
The area in question is large and in a fantastic position. It represents a tremendous opportunity for the city and is too valuable to be used for merely another supermarket.
We would strongly urge the council to consider using its powers to compulsorily purchase the land and promote a more sensible and useful development. This could use the existing factory building, and with thought produce a project providing social and family housing, along with school and recreational facilities.
The entire area could be the subject of a master plan that includes the disused cinema building on London Road, the school building on Alma Road and the run down and empty housing currently owned by Tesco. By making use of the available land and existing facilities in a structured way the result could be a real asset to the city and the criticism of St Albans becoming another clone town would be well and truly kicked into touch.
We understand that this course requires vision and courage but have every faith that the council has this at its core and can assure you of massive support from the people of St. Albans. Over 5000 people have signed the petition saying that a supermarket is not the correct option on this site and many people have sent us their ideas on alternative uses. We would be very keen to meet with you to share some of these ideas and discuss the best way to proceed for St. Albans.
Yours sincerely
Mike Dilke
Stop Tesco
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2 comments:
Compulsory purchase of the former Eversheds site sounds attractive but does anyone really think SADC would have the courage to take on the corporate muscle of Tesco? Think of all those (alleged) new (low-paid) (unskilled) jobs the councillors could claim they have "created" in St Albans.
Then there's the Tesco plan to sort out traffic problems in the London Road/Alma Road area, some of which of course were created by Herts Highways constant meddling with traffic flows through the city. If the 'Tesco approach' doesn't actually work Herts County Council and St Albans Council, orchestrated by the yellow jacket experts at Herts Highways, will shout in unison: "Don't blame us, it's not our fault, blame the Tesco suits for leading us gullible sheep into believing they could solve all our traffic problems (although it's conceded we forgot to take into account the thousands of extra car journeys to get to and from the new store)".
Then there's the cost of compulsory purchase, the huge legal bills Tesco will force the council to incur - all this at a time when the cost of the Park Street RailFreight public inquiry could force the council into local government equivalent of bankruptcy.
Final thought - why would Mr Kissman (sounds like a wind-up-Moe-the-bartender Simpsons name) be encouraging St Albans Council to complulsorily acquire their site? Think about it. Shooting both feet off and scoring own-goals comes to mind.
Tesco has adopted an aggressive approach not only on other competitors such as Asda or Sainsburys but has also attacked local businesses and producers. How can a small business ever compete
with the giants. There is currently no protection for the small business owners or producers who have direct competition from these corporate giants.
Some example of thier tactics include ownering other brands such as costcutter (local shops) and also having to deliver to their metro and costcutter stores with non tesco branded vehicles. surely Tesco are aware that they hated for this muscling in apprach but still employ tactics to dominate the small and local business scene.
PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION IF YOU FEEL THAT TESCO AND OTHER CORPORATE GIANTS NEED TO BE REGULATED OR BETTER STILL STOPPED FROM ENTERING INTO DIRECT COMPETITION WITH SMALL BUSINESSES.
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Tesco-/
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