Residents ‘aghast’ at size of mega store (From News Shopper)

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Residents ‘aghast’ at size of mega store

10:45am Wednesday 7th May 2008

comment Comments (47) Have your say »

By Linda Piper »

MORE details have been revealed about supermarket giant Tesco's plans to build a mega store in Bexleyheath.

Residents were joined by Bexleyheath and Crayford MP David Evennett and Bexley councillor Simon Windle at one of the final three design workshops, organised by the company and its partner, St James's Investments, to explain the project and hear local people's views.

Tesco wants to demolish the landmark building, formerly the Woolwich Building Society headquarters, on the corner of Erith Road and Watling Street, and at the end of Bexleyheath Broadway, and replace it with a giant Tesco store, housing and other commercial uses.

Claire Summerfield, of Erith Road, claimed residents were "aghast" when they realised how large the proposed store will be.

She says residents were told, at 80,000 sq ft, it could be twice the size of the Morrisons store in Erith.

It could also be up to six storeys high, and include flats above the store.

Residents were also told St James's Investments have bought a number of flats and at least one house in neighbouring Pinnacle Hill, which borders one side of the site.

Ms Summerfield said residents again voiced concerns about traffic in Erith Road and were told two days of traffic counts and modelling were carried out on a Friday and Saturday.

The results will be included in the company's planning application for the site, but as yet, no proposals have been formulated to deal with the extra traffic.

Residents also made a number of suggestions for what could be included in the development, such as a theatre, public meeting rooms and a health centre.

As a result of the workshops, the companies say they have 10 different potential models for the project.

Tesco and St James's Investments now plan a public exhibition before lodging a planning application with Bexley Council this summer.

Residents were also told during the two years St James's Investments has owned the Woolwich site, there had been numerous negotiations with the council about redeveloping the civic offices site as a Tesco store, but these had been rejected by Bexley which is now marketing the site itself for redevelopment.

Details of the workshop discussions will be available in Bexleyheath's Central Library or by calling 0800 977 8791 or emailing bexley tesco@londoncommunications.co.uk

A spokesman for the two companies said St James's Investments owns five properties in Pinnacle Hill which came with the site when they bought it.

It will be keeping those residents informed of its plans.

He added: "The companies had hired consultants to do one of the largest traffic modelling exercises in London for the scheme.

"The height of the store has not yet been decided, but the Woolwich building is five commercial storeys, or eight residential storeys, high."

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Your Say YourShopper

Your Lord, Erastus Theobald Piggott, Harrods says...
11:28am Wed 7 May 08

If only the planned supermarket could be a Waitrose.

Still, at least it isn't going to be a LIDL.

Your Lord, Erastus Theobald Piggott

Report this post »

j, bromley says...
12:15pm Wed 7 May 08

I would like to see more of Tesco's presence in Hayes & WestWickham.Sainsbur
y's have an unfair monoply in our area.

Report this post »

Jacky, eltham says...
1:28pm Wed 7 May 08

When are the Monopolies Commission going to stop these giant stores from marching across the country, stamping on local shops and destroying our towns and their identities.

Report this post »

Jane, says...
1:30pm Wed 7 May 08

For goodness sake STOP MOANING !

How exactly is it going to effect you ?

Report this post »

Pinnacle Hill Resident, Bexleyheath says...
1:35pm Wed 7 May 08

I was present at one of the workshops, it was a complete farce. Totally patronsing all in attendance, smugly knowing that whatever we have to say wont be listened too. This application will go through its almost a forgone conclusion.

Report this post »

Jacky, eltham says...
1:44pm Wed 7 May 08

Jane wrote:
For goodness sake STOP MOANING ! How exactly is it going to effect you ?

It affects everyone with limited mobility and other special needs who need their local shops and communities for quality of life. My family (who live in the area) included!

Report this post »

Your Lord, Erastus Theobald Piggott, Waitrose says...
1:47pm Wed 7 May 08

Surely someone with limited mobility and 'special needs' gets someone else to do their shopping.

It seems that the majority like to moan for the sake of it.

It is going to be built so just get used to the idea!

Your Lord, Erastus Theobald Piggott

Report this post »

Jacky, eltham says...
2:04pm Wed 7 May 08

Surely the whole idea behind Newsshopper asking for comment is to stimulate and encourage debate and air concerns. Why should the arrogance of some people deny an opportunity to others

Report this post »

OCT, Never never land says...
2:05pm Wed 7 May 08

WHOSE NAME IS IRONICALLY AN ANAGRAM OF THE BALD PIG ARSEGUST TOOT???

Report this post »

Pink Kitten, London says...
2:09pm Wed 7 May 08

Think how wonderful it will be for the people of Erith, after they have raided the bargain buckets of Primark they can buy the economy baked beans from Tesco. Every little helps!

Report this post »

OCT, Never never land says...
2:19pm Wed 7 May 08

GOD !!!
ERASTUS BORES ME BUT CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT PINK KITTEN DOES?
SHE CANT, SHE HAS TO USE HIS AMMO. DONT TRY TO JUSTIFY YOUR EXISTENCE WITH A COMMENT, YOU CHEAP CLONE!!!!!

Report this post »

Jane, says...
2:24pm Wed 7 May 08

Jacky wrote:

Jane wrote: For goodness sake STOP MOANING ! How exactly is it going to effect you ?
It affects everyone with limited mobility and other special needs who need their local shops and communities for quality of life. My family (who live in the area) included!

oh get over it!

This is a sign of the times, and anyway the local shops are alot more expensive than Tescos so people will save money !
Also there will be alot of room for people with wheelchairs to get round the shop

Just stop putting a downer on everything.

p.s
hopefully the unemployed of Bexletheath can get off their arses and get jobs too !!!

Report this post »

NL, Dartford says...
2:24pm Wed 7 May 08

Lord Erastus - How dare you make such assumptions about people with limited mobilty and special needs. Having some control over their own lives and being able to do things for themselves such as a bit of shopping means a GREAT deal to the majority of people in such a situation. I pray that someone is more understanding to you should you ever find yourself in such a situation.

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Wink Wink, says...
2:26pm Wed 7 May 08

OCT wrote:
GOD !!! ERASTUS BORES ME BUT CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT PINK KITTEN DOES? SHE CANT, SHE HAS TO USE HIS AMMO. DONT TRY TO JUSTIFY YOUR EXISTENCE WITH A COMMENT, YOU CHEAP CLONE!!!!!

I think you will find that ERASTUS and PINK KITTEN are infact the same person !

Report this post »

Rich, Lewisham says...
2:27pm Wed 7 May 08

j wrote:
I would like to see more of Tesco's presence in Hayes & WestWickham.Sainsbur y's have an unfair monoply in our area.

There is a new Tesco's near the dump in Holmesdale Road and the other is in Elmers End. There is nowhere else to put one.

There is a Tesco's Local in West Wickham near the Mcdonalds drive through.

Report this post »

j, bromley says...
2:45pm Wed 7 May 08

Rich

The new store will be in Bromley and the Tesco's local is in Shirley and is not a supermarket.

Report this post »

Sunny, London says...
3:04pm Wed 7 May 08

If you take a look around you and see how FAT the generation is and that includes the FAT kids walking to school with their FAT moms eating a bag of sweets because she cannot be bothered to give her child a slice of toast of a weetie isn't it any wonder they have had to make the supermarkets MASSIVE to hold the FAT people in it?? Take a look at the USA - massive shops for massive people.

P.s my mother is paralysed from a stroke and she does go shopping on a regular basis in her automatic wheelchair, but even I am not going to get stupid about someone else's views - NL from Dartford - calm down!

Report this post »

Jo, Bromley says...
3:05pm Wed 7 May 08

You have 3 Tesco's within 5 minutes of each other in Shirley/West Wickham and Elmers End. You have the one by the drive threw, the Tesco's local on Glade side and then the big on next to Elmers End train station! I like Tesco's but would like more choice of shops

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AP, At work says...
4:10pm Wed 7 May 08

Pink Kitten wrote:
Think how wonderful it will be for the people of Erith, after they have raided the bargain buckets of Primark they can buy the economy baked beans from Tesco. Every little helps!

How long did it take you to think of that? Stupid little girl.

Report this post »

Pink Kitten, London says...
4:25pm Wed 7 May 08

AP you play the same boring record all the time. Get back to work there are more trollies that need to be collected!

Report this post »

AP, At work says...
4:35pm Wed 7 May 08

Pink Kitten wrote:
AP you play the same boring record all the time. Get back to work there are more trollies that need to be collected!

I see you're still having trouble spelling trolleys. I wonder if 'Your Lord' will punish you for being so stupid?

Report this post »

Pink Kitten, London says...
4:43pm Wed 7 May 08

Well AP we know you will be happy about the new Tesco super store, it means a new job for you, they will be employing lots of people to collect the trolleys from the car park.

Report this post »

AP, At work says...
4:53pm Wed 7 May 08

Honestly I have a decent job in the City but if I did collect trolleys for a living what would be wrong with that? Is it that you think you are better than everyone that may earn less money than you?

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Teresa Tesco, Welling says...
4:59pm Wed 7 May 08

Seeing as the dump that is tescos in welling is closing for the redevelopment of flats and premises, i welcome a decent store tescos offer fair prices. If you live near it close your door and forget about it and shop in expensive sainsburys - note just hope the staff from welling and transfered to bexleyheath !!!! not a brain cell between them

Report this post »

P_Man, Erith says...
5:53pm Wed 7 May 08

Your Lord, Erastus Theobald Piggott wrote:
Surely someone with limited mobility and 'special needs' gets someone else to do their shopping. It seems that the majority like to moan for the sake of it. It is going to be built so just get used to the idea! Your Lord, Erastus Theobald Piggott

That's just great! So someone who is disabled or elderly should just stay indoors all day and get someone to do all their shopping.

Most people like to retain their independence, and should have local shops to go to.

Report this post »

george, Bexley says...
8:23pm Wed 7 May 08

Pink Kitten wrote:
Think how wonderful it will be for the people of Erith, after they have raided the bargain buckets of Primark they can buy the economy baked beans from Tesco. Every little helps!

More like nick the baked beans, thats if the 229 bus driver doesnt spot their out of date pass.

Report this post »

Tam, says...
10:51pm Wed 7 May 08

Why dont they use part of this site for the ice rink that so many people wanted as there was nowhere for them to build it? Just an idea :)

Report this post »

a local, barnehurst says...
11:00pm Wed 7 May 08

Jacky wrote:

Jane wrote:
For goodness sake STOP MOANING ! How exactly is it going to effect you ?
It affects everyone with limited mobility and other special needs who need their local shops and communities for quality of life. My family (who live in the area) included!

then they will have a nearer super market......i don't see what the problem is....did we not have this when asda was first thought of in bexleyheath!!!!

Report this post »

COLIN, SOUTH DARENTH says...
12:27am Thu 8 May 08

ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS TESCO DARTFORD NEEDS YOU.

Report this post »

happy, erith road says...
4:54am Thu 8 May 08

welcome tesco, about time you came to bexleyheath! unlike all the other miserable old sods that live nearby, i cant wait! i use tesco at lakeside every week, at least i will save the toll money now! asda is crap in bexleyheath and all this about local traders loosing out, how many people can say they got to local shops to buy their meats and vegs these days, and how many small shops on the broadway sell these. nearly everyone goes to either sainsburys or asda at bexleyheath, so as far as i can see it will be the supermarkets fighting each other. eberyone stop moaning about, i bet you change your mind when its built and you shop there, just hurry up and build it. oh by the way all the people on erith rd take down your silly 'say no to tesco' posters, they make the properties in the area look a mess!

Report this post »

Jimbo, Work says...
7:57am Thu 8 May 08

All this moaning is pointless. I bet the majority of you will shop at Tesco's at some point, if & when it is built.

Report this post »

Tess, Erith says...
9:23am Thu 8 May 08

Pink Kitten wrote:
AP you play the same boring record all the time. Get back to work there are more trollies that need to be collected!

Change the blooming record, How many times are you going to chuff out the same old lines!!!!

Report this post »

Tess, Erith says...
10:46am Thu 8 May 08

happy wrote:
welcome tesco, about time you came to bexleyheath! unlike all the other miserable old sods that live nearby, i cant wait! i use tesco at lakeside every week, at least i will save the toll money now! asda is crap in bexleyheath and all this about local traders loosing out, how many people can say they got to local shops to buy their meats and vegs these days, and how many small shops on the broadway sell these. nearly everyone goes to either sainsburys or asda at bexleyheath, so as far as i can see it will be the supermarkets fighting each other. eberyone stop moaning about, i bet you change your mind when its built and you shop there, just hurry up and build it. oh by the way all the people on erith rd take down your silly 'say no to tesco' posters, they make the properties in the area look a mess!

I knew i had been to Tesco somewhere a few months ago could'nt for the life of me remember where it was. I had a good spend up on the kids summer clothes and was very pleased with the booty i got, Good quality and very trendy.
Hooray for Tesco!!!

Report this post »

kay, erith says...
10:56am Thu 8 May 08

End of the day if u wanna b there, you'll be there. Fact of the matter is Asda is far waya from Tesco's would be nice to see the competitors in one town. There isn't a decent tescos around here except the tiny one in Welling and it will bring far more jobs.

What exactly is the problem?

If you don't want to shop there then don't. If you do, then do!!!!

Report this post »

Losing Grey Cells, Sidcup says...
12:07pm Thu 8 May 08

Bring it on! Do what I did and buy shares in Tesco's. Makes me feel much better spending my money in there.

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plantlady, Bexleyheath says...
5:52pm Thu 8 May 08

I think it's a shame that such an iconic building will be demolished. Why can this not be adapted for flats and the supermarket (as we all know WILL be built, regardless of protest) be built at the rear where the older buildings are?

Or would that involve too much common sense?

Report this post »

bexley resident, home says...
10:22am Fri 9 May 08

happy wrote:
welcome tesco, about time you came to bexleyheath! unlike all the other miserable old sods that live nearby, i cant wait! i use tesco at lakeside every week, at least i will save the toll money now! asda is crap in bexleyheath and all this about local traders loosing out, how many people can say they got to local shops to buy their meats and vegs these days, and how many small shops on the broadway sell these. nearly everyone goes to either sainsburys or asda at bexleyheath, so as far as i can see it will be the supermarkets fighting each other. eberyone stop moaning about, i bet you change your mind when its built and you shop there, just hurry up and build it. oh by the way all the people on erith rd take down your silly 'say no to tesco' posters, they make the properties in the area look a mess!

I completely agree with you, I also live nearby and welcoming the new tesco, at least it wont be another sainsburys! and the food at Asda is disgusting, always rotting, sainsburys standards are getting very near to the same level as Asda but just more expensive, Bring on the new Tesco!!

Report this post »

Terry, Dartford says...
11:12am Fri 9 May 08

Tesco's will bring a lot to the area, including jobs, and a choice. If people do not like it, then shop elsewhere. Unfortunately, local shops can not compete with the big shops as they do not have the buying power. I hope they can survive. The council needs to insure that the infrastructure is in place as big shops always end up with lots of parking and traffic. Improve the roads, so local people do not suffer. The council needs to get the balance right.

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squeekymoo, belvedere says...
2:57pm Fri 9 May 08

i do wonder about the impact on emergency services as down the road is the ambulance and fire station - Erith road is busy enough with normal traffic including tose to and from A2 also the bus traffic from the depot just hope the energency services will be able to get through

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Mike, Bexleyheath says...
10:52pm Fri 9 May 08

I don't want the Tesco as it will be in a residential area. Keep the shops to the Broadway and then it will compete with Asda fair & square. Traffic will be a nightmare, noise from crushing machines and delivery HGVs, 24hour free car park will attract car crime, I could go on but I believe it is a fore gone conclusion that Tesco will be built. Residents are doing what they can to make their voices heard - how would you like an 8 storey superstore at the end of your garden? And so what if the 'say no to Tesco' posters make property look cheep. They will be losing thousands from their house prices when Tesco arrives.

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jim, Martins Avenue, Bexleyheath says...
11:26am Sat 10 May 08

Peple please get a grip. How really is it going to affect our roads. If the council moved in there our council tax would prob increase. Has anyone thought about the jobs this will generate.

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SE London, SE London says...
9:04pm Sun 11 May 08

I think the planned Tesco Store for Bexleyheath is excellent. The Bexleyheath and Erith areas needs more large supermarkets. Nothing wrong with supermarket own label brands. Anyway half the time your only paying extra money for the name.

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JT, Belvedere says...
11:42am Mon 12 May 08

I don't really live near where the proposed Tesco will be so don't really care about any of the locals feelings. IT is in a nice driving distance for me to do my shopping and thats all I care about! BUILD IT!!!!

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P diddy, The Pimp Pad says...
11:55am Mon 12 May 08

Word up homies, P diddy in da house, make some noise. I shop at Tesco and if anything dis store is not big enough, it should be da UKs first drive thur supermarket. Word to the locals stop yer illing, if yer don't like it MOVE.
Peace I'm outta here

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wendy, Welling says...
3:04pm Mon 12 May 08

I thought they were going to buld an even bigger tesco in Welling where the one is now near embassy court thats why all the shops have been closed down.Or have i got this completly wrong.It seems silly to have two Megga ones right next door to each other.

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Anon, Da heef ! says...
10:06am Tue 13 May 08

Isnt Tesco's where Lord Erastus and Pink Kitten buy their best clothes ? (La-daaa-de-daaaa...
.)

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Pink Kitten, London says...
3:51pm Wed 14 May 08

Let me hum a little tune for you Anon,

Everybodies talking at me... I don't hear a word they say!

Report this post »

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