The Objections Have Started

Thanks to those people who have already written to register their objections to Tesco's development and copied us in at tescocampaign@yahoo.co.uk.

Janet Theakston has kindly let us post her comments, which cover many of the areas that local residents are very worried about. She wrote,

'I object to the Tesco proposal to build a supermarket on the old Eversheds site. There is no need for a further supermarket in St Albans - we are well served already. A supermarket where sited would draw custom away from the town centre, which, like other centre sites are underthreat from out of town shopping sites to the detriment of the heart of our historic city, which must be preserved. I object to the destruction of some of the houses/buildings in Alma Rd/London Road as being unnecessary and altering the character of the area.

'The traffic problems on the London Rd/Alma Rd junction are already terrible - I pass this junction twice daily on my way to the station - it is regularly blocked. Tesco's "solution" of an extra traffic lane on London Rd is a joke - it would do nothing to relieve the huge amount of extra traffic generated by a supermarket, certainly not massive delivery lorries. The noise, light and air polution would be awful.

'There could be so much better uses of that large site: housing, especially low cost housing for key workers in an expensive area would be great; also we need more primary school places - the housing on the old Oaklands College site will add to this need. This would be a much better site for a cinema/arts/theatre/community use development than the suggested site at the back of the Alban Area.

'Come on St Albans Council - think creatively - our lovely historic city is worthy of something much better than an unwanted and much opposed commercial development which will bring misery to those who live nearby. Be the ones that stand out against the Tesco land-grabbers and listen to what local people have to say. Sir Terry Leahy might not be impressed but St Albans residents will be! Please reject this proposal.'