Tesco in Trafford: Community Blackmail
Article published: Wednesday, September 30th 2009
Local residents are continuing a long-running campaign opposing the development of a new “mega-Tesco” in Stretford and Gorse Hill. The proposed Chester Road site would create a behemoth of 140, 000 square feet, the largest Tesco in the UK, for the moment at least.
The development is being pro
moted on the grounds that the money from the sale of the land will be used in the rejuvenation of Lancashire County Cricket Ground. However, this has forced them into a position of “community blackmail”, whereby residents are being forced to accept a development that is harmful to local businesses and the community as a whole in order to pay for another feature of the locality. Local opposition groups have cited evidence of similar, if not identical projects, being financed through Lottery funding or other non-corporate sources in order to avoid such a problem.
Moreover, it seems that size matters far too much to Tesco when it comes to the Chester Road site. Having been granted planning permission, the store has engaged in a lengthy battle with the local authorities concerning the exact size of the new branch.
What initially began as a 48,000 sq. ft project was then subject to a further application for a 90,000 sq ft store, which the council rejected on the grounds that this would threaten the existence of local businesses. Rather than continuing with the initial proposal, Tesco proceeded to apply for another planning application, this time for a store covering 140,000 sq ft, an action clearly designed to render local businesses entirely defunct as it would stock many other things besides food – less “every little helps” than “don’t buy anything anywhere else”.
Tesco have also conveniently submitted the planning application just in time for a government proposal that would change the way local authorities examine the need for out-of-town shopping centres and their impact on the local community.
Local opposition groups have been quick to point out that were Trafford Council to accept the new proposal it would contravene both their development plan for the local area and their recent publicity campaign to encourage support for local trade.
Local resident Debbie Ellen said: “We are not challenging the need for a food store on this site, but we are challenging the need for a store of this size. The few local traders that are in this area have said that they are considering selling up before the store opens because they cannot see how their business will survive.”
More information at noMegaTesco.blogspot.com
More: Manchester, News
Comments
-
Good luck – Tesco tend to win the hearts of the authorities!
I heard recently that one in every 8 pounds in the UK is spent at a Tesco. Their chief exec was asked what he thought of this, and reportedly replied that it meant there were still 7 more to go!!
It’s worth having a look at http://www.tescopoly.org
Comment by lou on October 1, 2009 at 8:50 pm
The comments are closed.
