Great Support At Public Meeting

It was standing room only at the Trinity URC Church in St Albans earlier this evening (Tuesday 29th April) as campaigners, politicians and local residents met to discuss the latest news about Tesco's London Road development and to show solidarity in opposing it.

Speaking at the meeting were:

Mike Dilke of Stop Tesco St Albans: In introducing the meeting, Mike spoke of the importance of the campaign focusing on finding a positive outcome for the former Eversheds site, and not being just against Tesco's current plans. He also emphasised the importance of immediate action, with a tight deadline for objections to be made.

Simon Grover of St Albans District Green Party spoke of the impact of the planned superstore on local shops and the vitality of the City Centre. Simon talked about the negative impact of Tesco on four other UK cities. In one, Cirencester, a new Tesco in a position around as far from the centre as that proposed for St Albans led to a 38% decline in local retail stores. He also spoke of the impact of superstores on local economies - with money being sent to head office rather than being spent in the local area.

Cllr Roma Mills, Labour Party Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, spoke of the impact on local people. She pointed out the massive local traffic problems and urged those present to write to Hertfordshire County Council as well as St Albans District Council to ensure that the County Council objected to the development vigorously on traffic grounds. She also spoke of the environmental degradation that a new supermarket would cause.

Sandy Walkington, Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate spoke of his experience of campaigning in the area 20 years ago and the 'spick and span' houses owned by the Evershed family around the site - comparing them unfavourably to the current state of the area after 8 years of Tesco ownership. He also spoke of other campaigns around the country that successfully had opposed Tesco.

Nadia Davies, Conservative District Council Candidate, spoke of her experiences as a local resident, as well as the importance of using the site to ease St Alban's urgent housing needs. She also read out a statement from MP Anne Main, which concluded 'I am sure that most of you have already formally lodged your comments on the proposal with the Council, but if you have not I would urge you to do so as soon as possible. I sincerely hope that the Council feels, on balance, that it can refuse this proposal on good planning grounds.'

Ian Langford, one of Stop Tesco's planning volunteers, then shared some of the information he had obtained from Tesco's application. In particular, he argued that Tesco had significantly underestimated the problem of pollution in the area. To support this point, he produced figures that showed that Tesco's computer modelling of nitrogen dioxide levels in 2006 had underestimated the actual measured level by 18% and in doing so took the level under the EU 'safe' level. The same computer model was then used to derive even 'safer' figures for a 'post-Tesco' level. Unfortunately the computer model seemed to avoid pollution from stationary cars.

Mike Dilke then read out a message of support and encouragement from the Mill Road campaign in Cambridge - the campaign succeeded in preventing Tesco from opening an Express store in the city.

Peter Trevelyan of the St Albans Civic Society hosted a question and answer session, before Mike Dilke rounded off the event with a call to arms - and handed the Stop Tesco St Albans petition of over 5,800 names to the politicians present.

After the meeting, a number of volunteers signed up to deliver over 1300 extra leaflets and to help campaign in the City Centre. A significant amount of money was also raised to support further work. Thanks to all who attended!


UPDATE: Thanks to the Herts Advertiser for covering the event!