Croxley Tesco refused (From This Is Local London)

Croxley Tesco refused

10:01am Friday 20th February 2009 in

By Neil Skinner »

Skip social links
Print
Email
Comments(15)

Plans to build a Tesco convenience store in Watford Road were thrown out by councillors last night.

The company wanted to build an Express store and seven flats on a former car showroom site next to the Shell petrol station.

Many residents and councillors, however, argue the development would bring traffic chaos to an already busy road and kill off smaller rivals.

The controversial application, heard by Three Rivers District Council last night, has now twice been rejected and twice withdrawn since it was first submitted in 2006.

After hearing speakers for and against the proposals the council’s Development Control Committee decided to ignore the advice of its planning officers and unanimously rejected the scheme.

The committee, urged on by nearly 100 local residents and traders, ruled the development would:

Damage the appearance of the street scene
Cause traffic congestion – mostly because of a lack of parking spaces
and prove too cramped for residents’ peace and comfort

The decision was met with a sustained round of applause from Tesco’s opponents – many of them shop owners. The council, however, has repeatedly said it cannot refuse applications on commercial grounds because it would almost certainly lose any subsequent appeal.

The Croxley Green Residents Association (CGRA) has campaigned against the plans from the outset.

Spokesman Stephen Martin spoke of his incredulity at a Hertfordshire Highways traffic report purporting minimal impact. He also expressed regret a detailed counter survey compiled by CGRA members had been rejected out-of-hand.

The only people who believed the former document (valid subject to an £82,000 Tesco payment for road improvements) to be correct, he added, “are Tesco themselves, Hertfordshire Highways and the council’s planning officers.”

In a surprise move, Tesco did not send a representative to speak at the meeting. Parish Councillor Frank Brand, however, did speak in favour of the plans. Stressing the need for greater choice, he described many of the objections as “utter poppycock.”

He asked: “Why does the name of Tesco seem to bring so many objectors out? Most people sitting here this evening shop in Tesco anyway."

He added: “In many other areas Tesco sits happily alongside other food outlets. In fact some of these shops even benefit as a result. In these times of recession this store will create 30 jobs. This should be welcomed.”

Tesco now has three options: appeal the council’s decision, make an amended application, or walk away from the development.

Spokesman Carol Leslie said the company was disappointed and would be “considering its options.”

Comments(15)

shavedhead23 says...
10:42am Fri 20 Feb 09

I guarantee you, they'll be back, a mere 100 people calling themselves the "CGRS" I call em rebels without a pension high enough to live on, will come back, Tesco does not lose, I worked for them years ago, so sleep tight my little 100...for now