Tesco store changes are belatedly approved
Tesco has averted a planning hitch over its latest Southampton store.
The retailer persuaded councillors to give it retrospective planning permission for alterations to the building - five weeks after it opened.
Dozens of letters of objection were received by the city council to the unauthorised changes to the firm's ninth Express store in the city.
It opened at the end of February on the site of the former Shell petrol station in Cobden Avenue, Bitterne Park. Full planning permission for the store was given in March 2006, but Tesco later made changes without asking the city council.
| “All of us are fed up with Tesco believing they can do exactly what they like.” | | Councillor June Bridle |
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The council's planning panel begrudgingly approved the amendment works to the roof, new signage, drains and a rear door that were not approved by planners.
In return Tesco has agreed to a highway condition survey, resurfacing a pavement, upgrading a traffic island in St Catherine's Road and making a transport contribution.
Panel chairman Councillor June Bridle said: "All of us are fed up with Tesco believing they can do exactly what they like."
Objectors had wanted a survey to see whether additional traffic from shoppers to the store would endanger pedestrians and air quality. They also warned that increased competition would harm other businesses in the area.
Tesco this week denied accusations that it has too much of a stranglehold over the UK grocery market.
A Tesco spokesman said: "During the construction period it became evident that some minor amendments could be made to further enhance the development and we submitted a planning application to this effect. In no way do these minor modifications affect the principal use of retail."
12:01pm Thursday 5th April 2007
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CommentPosted by: mark, Southampton on 1:59pm Thu 5 Apr 07
I live near this store and it is causing problems with traffic. Their delivery lorries are parking in the road and cars are trying to turn across oncoming traffic to get into the store. Tesco's are allway putting in retrospective planning applications and certainly in Southampton they allways get them. Did the triangle really need this store?
I live near this store and it is causing problems with traffic. Their delivery lorries are parking in the road and cars are trying to turn across oncoming traffic to get into the store. Tesco's are allway putting in retrospective planning applications and certainly in Southampton they allways get them. Did the triangle really need this store?
Posted by: Des Grunthelled on 2:11pm Thu 5 Apr 07
Keep an eye out for which members of the council are driving around in new cars or suddenly able to afford that well earned ski-ing holiday. Back-handers galore down at the council.
Keep an eye out for which members of the council are driving around in new cars or suddenly able to afford that well earned ski-ing holiday. Back-handers galore down at the council.
Posted by: Elections are coming up on 2:32pm Thu 5 Apr 07
Elections are coming up, and in the meantime there will be platitudes galore from the politicians. But remember how little they have helped or talked to you in the last year, and what a pigs ear they have made in Southampton.
Elections are coming up, and in the meantime there will be platitudes galore from the politicians. But remember how little they have helped or talked to you in the last year, and what a pigs ear they have made in Southampton.
Posted by: Anlage, Southampton on 5:19pm Thu 5 Apr 07
[quote]In return Tesco has agreed to a highway condition survey, resurfacing a pavement, upgrading a traffic island in St Catherine's Road and making a transport contribution.[/quote]
Are they saying that the Council gave Tesco planning permission for this store without even considering the traffic inplications?! Absolutely unbelievable! Any idiot could have seen this was going to make an already nightmarish junction even worse (apart from our idiot councillors of course).
In return Tesco has agreed to a highway condition survey, resurfacing a pavement, upgrading a traffic island in St Catherine's Road and making a transport contribution.
Are they saying that the Council gave Tesco planning permission for this store without even considering the traffic inplications?! Absolutely unbelievable! Any idiot could have seen this was going to make an already nightmarish junction even worse (apart from our idiot councillors of course).
Posted by: Dave, Eastleigh on 5:21pm Thu 5 Apr 07
Better planning by Tesco would have avoided the necessity of changes in the development. Tesco needs to watch becoming another Walmart type store and risk being classed as a predator and destroyer of local shops as Walmart has in the US.
Better planning by Tesco would have avoided the necessity of changes in the development. Tesco needs to watch becoming another Walmart type store and risk being classed as a predator and destroyer of local shops as Walmart has in the US.
Posted by: Hard worker, same as other people on 11:27pm Thu 5 Apr 07
What a load of crap. Why you people think that you know what happens behind the scene is beyond me!!! I'm fed up with people like you. I work for the council, and I work very hard. If I do go on holiday or buy a car it’s because I earn it. What makes you think that we get it easier than other people? It's the top dogs of the council you are referring to, not the 'normal' workers.
Don't tar us all with the same brush!!
What a load of crap. Why you people think that you know what happens behind the scene is beyond me!!! I'm fed up with people like you. I work for the council, and I work very hard. If I do go on holiday or buy a car it’s because I earn it. What makes you think that we get it easier than other people? It's the top dogs of the council you are referring to, not the 'normal' workers.
Don't tar us all with the same brush!!
Posted by: Hard worker, same as other people on 4:47am Fri 6 Apr 07
That was in response to Des Grunthelled
That was in response to Des Grunthelled
Posted by: James, South-West on 11:19am Mon 24 Dec 07
So none of you shop at Tesco then?? You all complain about new stores opening then a few weeks later the very people complaining about them being there are in there shopping, its better then having a derelict space for vandals, and brings trade and jobs into the local area, hypocrites.
So none of you shop at Tesco then?? You all complain about new stores opening then a few weeks later the very people complaining about them being there are in there shopping, its better then having a derelict space for vandals, and brings trade and jobs into the local area, hypocrites.
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