Tesco's plan is finally in, and we need everyone to help us ensure that the council rejects it. Here are the key things you can do to help....
VIEW plans, Ref Nos 5/2008/0369 and 5/2008/0370 . (Click on the link to find them - or you can go to the Civic Centre Council Offices in person if you're in the area)
OBJECT, in writing, to The Head of Planning and Building Control, Civic Centre, St Peter’s Street AL13JE or email planning@stalbans.gov.uk giving your full name and address. Make use of the planning points below, and quote the reference numbers. The date by which objections must be received is 7th May 2008. Remember, if you don’t write, you waste all your previous campaigning efforts!
DISPLAY our campaign posters, which you can download here.
WRITE to the local papers, the St Albans Review and the Herts Advertiser, setting out your objections
VOLUNTEER to help the campaign by delivering leaflets or manning a city centre stall by clicking here
KEEP IN TOUCH. Keep visiting the website or sign up on the right of the blog for email updates.
WATCH OUT for the date of the crucial Plans Referral Committee meeting – and be there!
PLANNING POINTS - these are our key objections to the Tesco plan. You might want to use some of this information in your letter, but please don't just copy and paste it.
- Traffic in the London Road area is already very bad. This proposal will make it much worse, with 70% more lorries and cars on London Road. Air quality would be adversely affected – nitrogen oxide levels already exceed EU limits.
- A supermarket would drain trade and vitality from our main St Peter’s Street shopping area, and be a real threat to the City Centre and our historic 1,000 year old markets. 83% of local businesses oppose Tesco.
- It would have a damaging and irreversible effect on the character and tranquillity of a unique group of Victorian residential streets in the Conservation Area. Some houses are to be demolished. Over 5,500 local people have signed a petition against the development.
- Once on site, Tesco may apply for extended opening hours – or, as in Hertford, to double the size of its building. It has to be stopped NOW!
- The Evershed’s site was once given planning permission for housing – there are much better uses for this site which can truly revitalise the area and add to St Albans’ economic and social development, including a much-needed primary school. The area is one of the last big development areas left; the opportunity could be lost forever. Over 80% of local people polled by the St Albans Review opposed Tesco’s plans.
2 comments:
I called the council yesterday to find out when the Tesco planning application would be available on line and they told me there were some problems scanning the document but it would be "soon".
I asked about the deadline for comments and was told that it was 3 weeks from when the plans were visable on the website and when the letters to neighbouring properties had gone out (also not yet happened)
I asked if she was sure this was correct and the lady assured me it was - might want to check out again just to check but might give us some more time
Although not directly connected with Tesco, you may be interested to know another application has gone in to demolish the Odeon cinema.
Look for applications 5/2008/0694 and 5/2008/0695 to log any comments.
Personally I think a restoration of the exterior and a conversion inside to offices or some such would be much better...
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