Around 300 people attended the Alban Arena tonight to witness a major step forward for our campaign and the future of St Albans. Tesco's plan was rejected on 10 grounds, with two being added during the debate! The application rejected on the following grounds (quickly paraphrased!):
1. The plan does not reflect local distinctiveness, is not integrated with its local context, and harms the visual amenity of the street scene.
2. It includes the loss of locally listed buildings
3. The development would have a negative impact on highway safety, capacity and free flow of traffic.
4. The entrance gates to the servicing area interfere with free and safe flow of traffic.
5. The development would overshadow and overdominate 3-27 Alma Road and cause harm to the residential amenity of the people living there.
6. The size and extent of the car park would harm the amenity of local residents through noise and disturbance.
7. The potential of risk of pollution to 'controlled waters'
8. The harm to community facilities caused by the increase in living space.
9. The effect of traffic on air quality
10. The principle of the vitality of the City Centre.
Thanks to Ian Langford, Peter Trevelyan of the St Albans Civic Society and Cameron Lavin of the Whitecroft Residents Association who spoke during the 10 minute public session. A massive thanks to the councillors from all political parties who raised key issues and spoke against the development.
Above all, thanks to you all for your support...
HOWEVER,
As Churchill said, 'this is not the end, it is not the beginning of the end, but it is the end of the beginning'. We have shown that Tesco can be defeated, but it now has a number of options - it can appeal the council decision or it can bring forward another application. Either option will need renewed opposition - we will let you know all developments and what you can do to continue to support the Stop Tesco campaign.
UPDATE: Here's the St Albans Review's immediate report!
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7 comments:
Fantastic work by everyone involved in the campaign so far! Long may the hard work against Tesco continue...
This is the best news I've heard all year and confirms my belief that the people of St Albans can beat an entity like Tesco, in line with so many cities which have done the same thing. We must fight on against Tesco ruling the world!!
Great work everyone, I think we can enjoy a moments celebration, but Tesco will be back.
I think weve shown what we dont want - I think we now need to come up with a vision of what we do want to use the site for, so we can rally people around that when Tesco come back with a scaled down version of their existing plan
Rob Smith
Is it true that Tesco have aquired the land where the old firestation was in Harpenden road and are just about to submit an application ? I heard this from quite a reliable source who had seen the documents ?
Here's an article about the proposed site for a supermarket: http://www.stalbansobserver.co.uk/search/display.var.2216845.0.new_site_earmarked_for_city_supermarket.php
this fire station rumour keeps coming up - how do we find out if its true?
The only thing I know is that the council suggested it as a possible option (along with London road site) in the LDF consultation document but didn't think it was more than an idea.
Stop Tesco please keep stopping Tesco!!!!!
Go St Albans, I've been backing Stop Tesco for ages!
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