Survey casts doubt over Tesco plans for town (From Daily Echo)
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Tesco planned for Broadlands Estate too big for needs, says business survey
8:56am Thursday 22nd November 2012 in News
Survey casts doubt over Tesco plans for town
A RETAIL study casts doubt on the size of Tesco's controversial proposed store for Romsey, according to the town's Chamber of Commerce.
It claims that the Test Valley Borough Council-commissioned report on the future shopping needs of residents suggests that a future town store would not need to be of the size proposed by the supermarket giant to cater for Romsey.
Tesco wants to build a 35,000 sq ft - or 3,252 sq m - store on a six-acre site known as Fairground Field, on the Broadlands Estate.
It says it will provide 200 jobs and draw people in to the town benefiting town centre businesses.
However, opponents fear that the store will cause congestion and harm trade in existing shops.
The Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners report will help inform plans for future retail developments in the borough and forecasts the amount of 'retail floorspace' that could be supported in Romsey and the town's future needs.
This is calculated on existing demand from the Romsey population and additional demand due to population growth.
It states that, from 2016 to 2021, Romsey would require a food store size of between 1,100 sq m and 1,300 sq m for main and bulk food shopping.
David Willox, joint president of Romsey Chamber of Commerce, said: “The report makes it clear that a store of the size proposed would have a significant impact on the town centre and it's also clear that a store of this size is not required.”
Mr Willow said he believes that overall to attract a supermarket chain in, to satisfy that supermarket's inevitable demand for non-food items and to stop people continuing to leave Romsey to shop a total floor space of 2,000 sq m up to 2,500 sq m would actually be justifiable.
He said his discussions with other supermarkets had arrived at a similar figure and that if too small the store would end up competing with Romsey's other supermarkets.
He added that another important aspect of the report was its appraisal of the National Planning Policy Framework which now requires councils to pursue policies that support the vitality and viability of town centres.
However, he said he was concerned that alternative sites to Broadlands had been dismissed mainly on the grounds of cost.
Tesco refused to comment on the size issue but pointed out that the report found there were not any suitable sites for a supermarket close to the town centre of the size it is proposing.
Tesco corporate affairs manager, Simon Petar, said: “We are pleased that the findings of this independent study agree with our own assessment.
“Namely, that there is no suitable, available and viable site in the town centre which could accommodate a store and car parking of the size needed to attract customers back to Romsey.”
A Test Valley spokeswoman said the report would help inform the council's decision making as “additional evidence which is taken into account when considering and planning local developments”.
She said the brief given for the study was a broad assessment of the viability of potential development sites.
Comments(11)
wossit
says...
10:45am Thu 22 Nov 12
ohec
says...
11:22am Thu 22 Nov 12
wossit wrote:So you are one of the numpties that are blaming Tesco for everything, do you not understand that the big boys as you call them are just catering for the needs of the general public, it is the public that wants them yes some might complain about a store in Romsey but those same people are also happy to drive a few mile to another of the big boys stores. If these stores are so bad why do so many use them, if you feel so strongly against them don't use them then you will be happy and so will the thousands that do want to use them.Ask some of those people objecting if you can have a quick look in their cupboards/fridge chances are you will find products from the big boys.
Tesco's is like a parasite, It won't be long before its just the big boys left selling the same generic goods
sarfhamton
says...
11:30am Thu 22 Nov 12
aldermoorboy
says...
11:35am Thu 22 Nov 12
housewife
says...
11:54am Thu 22 Nov 12
BUT
the issue is not so much NIMBY
as the fact that this is the WRONG location for a supermarket.
.
That side of Romsey already has Aldi, the Co-op and Waitrose.
The north side of Romsey has NOTHING.
.
Put the shop where the customers are.
Whitenap / Abbotswood.
.
Rather than where Tesco have been offered the land at a knockdown price.
ohec
says...
12:38pm Thu 22 Nov 12
wossit
says...
3:07pm Thu 22 Nov 12
ohec wrote:Sure as eggs are eggs it will kill the small traders in the Town centre, as for catering for are needs, do you think that is first thing that comes in to their heads ? Of course not money, shareholders and profit ! and do you really think they care about the town centre ?
wossit wrote: Tesco's is like a parasite, It won't be long before its just the big boys left selling the same generic goodsSo you are one of the numpties that are blaming Tesco for everything, do you not understand that the big boys as you call them are just catering for the needs of the general public, it is the public that wants them yes some might complain about a store in Romsey but those same people are also happy to drive a few mile to another of the big boys stores. If these stores are so bad why do so many use them, if you feel so strongly against them don't use them then you will be happy and so will the thousands that do want to use them.Ask some of those people objecting if you can have a quick look in their cupboards/fridge chances are you will find products from the big boys.
ohec
says...
5:33pm Thu 22 Nov 12
wossit wrote:Oh boy you really are a bit thick its the people that use the stores that make the profit for the shareholders, but nobody makes people shop in their stores people go there for convenience/choice and price.
ohec wrote:Sure as eggs are eggs it will kill the small traders in the Town centre, as for catering for are needs, do you think that is first thing that comes in to their heads ? Of course not money, shareholders and profit ! and do you really think they care about the town centre ?
wossit wrote: Tesco's is like a parasite, It won't be long before its just the big boys left selling the same generic goodsSo you are one of the numpties that are blaming Tesco for everything, do you not understand that the big boys as you call them are just catering for the needs of the general public, it is the public that wants them yes some might complain about a store in Romsey but those same people are also happy to drive a few mile to another of the big boys stores. If these stores are so bad why do so many use them, if you feel so strongly against them don't use them then you will be happy and so will the thousands that do want to use them.Ask some of those people objecting if you can have a quick look in their cupboards/fridge chances are you will find products from the big boys.
Shopping has changed people no longer have the time or the inclination to wander our streets they just want to park the car push the trolly around the store and go home, household shopping is now considered to be a chore that has to be done not a pleasure as it once was.
hmw
says...
7:44am Fri 23 Nov 12
ohec wrote:Speak for yourself, I love ogling the Asda dollies
wossit wrote:Oh boy you really are a bit thick its the people that use the stores that make the profit for the shareholders, but nobody makes people shop in their stores people go there for convenience/choice and price.
ohec wrote:Sure as eggs are eggs it will kill the small traders in the Town centre, as for catering for are needs, do you think that is first thing that comes in to their heads ? Of course not money, shareholders and profit ! and do you really think they care about the town centre ?
wossit wrote: Tesco's is like a parasite, It won't be long before its just the big boys left selling the same generic goodsSo you are one of the numpties that are blaming Tesco for everything, do you not understand that the big boys as you call them are just catering for the needs of the general public, it is the public that wants them yes some might complain about a store in Romsey but those same people are also happy to drive a few mile to another of the big boys stores. If these stores are so bad why do so many use them, if you feel so strongly against them don't use them then you will be happy and so will the thousands that do want to use them.Ask some of those people objecting if you can have a quick look in their cupboards/fridge chances are you will find products from the big boys.
Shopping has changed people no longer have the time or the inclination to wander our streets they just want to park the car push the trolly around the store and go home, household shopping is now considered to be a chore that has to be done not a pleasure as it once was.
RomseySaint84
says...
4:15pm Mon 26 Nov 12
housewife wrote:Your Totally right. Why cant people see its the wrong area. Anybody who lives in Romsey will know how busy that part of Romsey gets. There is plenty of land there and loads of space to make wider roads etc.
I've not shopped in a Tesco for years.
BUT
the issue is not so much NIMBY
as the fact that this is the WRONG location for a supermarket.
.
That side of Romsey already has Aldi, the Co-op and Waitrose.
The north side of Romsey has NOTHING.
.
Put the shop where the customers are.
Whitenap / Abbotswood.
.
Rather than where Tesco have been offered the land at a knockdown price.
housewife says...
10:43am Thu 22 Nov 12
but not there
Whitenap and Abbotswood are where the people are. Build the shop there so that people can WALK rather than needing to drive.