A delighted public gallery rang with applause on monday night after Tenbury Town Council voted to reject Tesco's superstore plans for the town's cattle market site [again]. In addition, the Town Council revealed the results of a recent 'local businesses' survey related to the Tesco plans.
Tesco Rejection.
The Council voted to reject Tesco's latest plans after a vote of Councilors ended at 5-4 against the plans. There were mixed opinions voiced from the Councilors on the Tesco issue during debate with some citing the local business survey which appeared to show a majority support for a Tesco. One Councillor, an architect by trade, argued that the consequences of additional traffic from a store of the proposed size would cause substantial traffic congestion around the entrance to the site and the site itself - which would have clearances of only 50cm when Tesco delivery HGVs drove through the store's car park. Another Councilor countered that deliveries would only happen between key time windows. Sadly though, we know from the experiences of many staff at Tesco Ludlow that these delivery windows are routinely flouted by both Tesco and their 3rd party HGV deliveries. Also mentioned was that the bridge would now remain in it's present format so existing Teme bridge queues would be exacerbated substantially too by potential store traffic and deliveries.
The Council voted to reject Tesco's latest plans after a vote of Councilors ended at 5-4 against the plans. There were mixed opinions voiced from the Councilors on the Tesco issue during debate with some citing the local business survey which appeared to show a majority support for a Tesco. One Councillor, an architect by trade, argued that the consequences of additional traffic from a store of the proposed size would cause substantial traffic congestion around the entrance to the site and the site itself - which would have clearances of only 50cm when Tesco delivery HGVs drove through the store's car park. Another Councilor countered that deliveries would only happen between key time windows. Sadly though, we know from the experiences of many staff at Tesco Ludlow that these delivery windows are routinely flouted by both Tesco and their 3rd party HGV deliveries. Also mentioned was that the bridge would now remain in it's present format so existing Teme bridge queues would be exacerbated substantially too by potential store traffic and deliveries.
Feedback from the local community on the decision.
The decision by Tenbury Town Council was commended by many locals in later correspondence with our group. Examples of these include:
The decision by Tenbury Town Council was commended by many locals in later correspondence with our group. Examples of these include:
"Fantastic news – well done!" from Mrs H, Nash, Tenbury Wells.
"Was a pleasure to be there yesterday evening and see democracy in action. I had little experience of how these things work. Yes for sure the size is way over what is needed in tenbury and my main argument has always been why can't we get a sensible scaled down tender from a different superstore (eg, Sainsburys or Waitrose)..?" Brigid O'Hea-Eakins.
"Just wanted you to know how thrilled and delighted I am after reading your email. I know just how strongly you all feel about the 'Tesco issue' as my sister and nephew... live and work in Tenbury and it means so much to them to keep Tenbury unspoilt and the delightful place that it is." Gail Cooke.
"This is a good result. I was interested at the meeting in the Mary Portas comment - when people were asked to describe their ideal small town they basically described Tenbury! Sometimes people don't recognise what they've got until they lose it - at which point it is too late and there is no going back." Mrs Averil Opperman
"Tenbury Town Council have clearly realised the scale of the threat from Tesco to the town's independent shops. I'm pleased that they've made an informed and considered decision on this issue..". Mrs S, mother with young family, Tenbury Wells.
Local Businesses Survey.
Regarding the local business vote, there has been much subsequent discussion about whether it accurately reflects the views of general businesses or local shopkeepers. If you were to think about how many shopkeepers there are - numbering in the region of 35, and focussed a poll just on them we believe that the results would have been very different and either much nearer a 50/50 vote or possibly majority against the Tesco plans. Consider too that the shopkeepers in the main feel directly threatened by Tesco and their plans as opposed to many of the other businesses such as the vets, the dentist and the pubs who won't feel the same threat to their livelyhoods from the plans. This was very much a perspective reflected by Clr Eric Hudson who claimed that the poll didn't really reflect the views of the local shops.
Kibbler's Cobblers.
Having attended the TTC meet on monday 26th Sept ourselves, we have to take issue with Adrian Kibbler's 29th September Tenbury Wells Advertiser account of the proceedings in which he claims that the Lady Mayor 'told the audience ...to be quiet'. We don't recall this at all, the mayor may have reminded all at the start that the audience couldn't speak as this was an extraordinary meeting but we recall no such overt reprimands once the meeting was underway.
Intimidation?
The Tenbury Advertiser's thu Sept 29th article seems to centre on alleged 'intimidation' towards Councilors. If you read it through though - there is no actual evidence or details of 'intimidation' discussed, it's purely only suggested or implied. In reality no one in that audience either: ran up to a Councilor during session and physically or verbally heckled them, stood over them while they voted in a secret ballot or cornered them outside the meet before the vote [or anything of that nature].. Indeed if anyone had acted in such a manner they would have been ejected from the chamber - but no-one was.
Instead of the so-called 'intimidation' splashed across the Advertiser's front page, the audience merely clapped after Clrs pointed-out concerns about the plan themselves followed by clapping and cheers towards the meet's end when it became clear the the secret ballot was against Tesco's plans. Hardly the 'intimidation' as painted by the Advertiser.
It strikes us that these claims are just tabloid creative writing though to try and beef-up a thinly-veiled pro Tesco article masquerading as (supposedly) impartial journalism.
And finally.
We'll end on the view of another Councilor who passionately aired his worries towards the end of the meet and said:
"...if they [Tesco] come here then it'll cripple this town".
shocking made up rubbish from the advertiser
ReplyDeleteGood for Tenbury Town Council - great that they finally see the gravity of the threat that Tesco poses to the town.
ReplyDeleteWe should be supporting and helping nurture our small highstreet shops - which help form the fabric of the town. Especially so in this age where all highstreets are more and more challenged.
ReplyDeleteIt would be suicidal to invite Tesco in to Tenbury for various reasons but in particular in this poor financial climate. The shops wouldn't stand a snowflake's chance in hell of surviving.
My link explains more.
it is strange 2 c but the concil do sem 2 b the voice of sanitee on this. we do not need a big suprmrket in tenbury.
ReplyDeleteGreat to see somebody posting the TRUTH about the Tenbury Town Council meeting .
ReplyDeleteWe need another supermarket but nothing like on the scale of the Tesco plan. Smaller while preserving the Old Infirmary for a new Museum, providing community space and parking too would be a preferred combination. Give us a small Waitrose or an Aldi instead.
ReplyDeleteTesco bosses have been left red-faced this week after publishing inaccurate figures over controversial plans for a new multi-million pound Whitchurch store, the Chronicle can reveal.
ReplyDeleteIn public consultation data submitted to Shropshire Council, a pie chart detailing public reaction to the scheme is incorrect and indicates a false picture of public support. Angry campaigners say the error is a ‘deliberate’ attempt to mislead council chiefs.
The survey was carried out by Community Connect Ltd and Four Communications plc on behalf of Tesco, and shows 47 per cent of respondents in favour of the overall scheme at Edgeley Park and 48 per cent against it, with five per cent undecided.
But out of the 397 people asked for their views, 216 actually registered their disapproval, which equates to 54.4 per cent, with only 43.6 per cent in favour.
Campaigners claim one of the key requirements of a scheme that requires open space is to prove it has widespread support, and say the company has ‘massaged’ figures to force through the controversial plans.
Tesco admitted the gaffe but maintained that new figures gathered since the first report – through a freepost service – has seen the opposing viewpoints narrowed, with another 41 people in favour of the out-of-town store and just four against it.
Bosses said the updated report had been submitted to the council but had not yet been published by them.
Resident John Dodd said: “The application should fail as the clear requirement to show widespread support is not met.”
Simon Lyon, a committee member of anti-Tesco campaign group Whitchurch 21, said: “It’s either been done on purpose or it’s a terrible error and it does beg the question ‘what else are they getting wrong?’ because this isn’t even GCSE maths – it’s extremely amateur.”
Simon Hoare, spokesperson for Tesco, said: “We got our maths wrong initially and we apologise unreservedly and put our hands up for that.
“However, since then an addendum report has seen the figures updated which weren’t in the first report because of a delay. These have superseded the first set of figures.
“Popularity or otherwise of a proposal is not the basis for taking a decision. These are taken against both local and national planning policies.”
Rename it the Tenbury Fantasiser?
ReplyDeleteThis process is utterly flawed and undemocratic. Have the Councillors been asked to put forward their individual views and why they are voting the way they are? They should also be asked as to how the feel that their views are representing and supporting the people who put them there and thus be of benefit to the town and the people who make their livelihood in Tenbury?
ReplyDeleteThis process it utterly flawed and undemocratic. Perhaps the Councillors could be asked as to how a vote like this could possibly be supporting Tenbury residents and people who already have shops in the town.
ReplyDelete