BEXLEYHEATH: Objectors to new Tesco store take to Bexleyheath's streets (From News Shopper)

BEXLEYHEATH: Objectors to new Tesco store take to Bexleyheath's streets

8:20am Wednesday 25th March 2009

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RESIDENTS and politicians turned out in force to make their feelings known about revised plans to build a new Tesco store in Bexleyheath.

They were demonstrating outside the former Woolwich building in Erith Road, which would be demolished to make way for the new store, and were joined by ward councillors, Bexleyheath MP David Evennett and Howard Dawber, prospective Labour Parliamentary candidate for the seat.

Inside the building, Tesco was holding an exhibition of its new plans for the site, which include cutting the retail space from 120,000 sq ft to 80,000 sq ft, reducing the proposed number of homes from 400 to 150.

It also plans £2m worth of improvements to the Erith Road / Watling Street / Broadway / Gravel Hill junction and additional environmental features.

Tesco says it revised its plans after listening to public feedback on its previous proposals.

Residents say the site is the wrong one for such a massive development and described it as “a massive warehouse-sized portable building dropped into the middle of a residential area.”

Mr Evennett said: “Tesco still isn’t listening to local people.

"I share residents’ concerns about the increase in traffic, pollution and parking problems that this development could cause.

"I am also worried about the impact that a store of this size could have on local small businesses."

He added: “If Tesco really was listening to residents, it would withdraw its current applications for an even larger store.

"It should go back to the drawing board and heed residents’ concerns."

Mr Dawber said: "It is clear that there is very strong local opposition to this scheme.

"Tesco is now proposing a slightly smaller store but it would still have a significant impact on people who live here with extra traffic and noise.

"I am angry that Tesco was allowed to put in two identical applications on its large scheme - a very underhand tactic to confuse local people and to minimise the number of objections."

He added: "Far from improving the area, a giant Tesco will draw trade away from local independent shops and damage Bexleyheath as a shopping destination."

After viewing the revised Tesco proposals, ward councillor Simon Windle said: "I am pleased Tesco has realised its original plans were far too extensive but it still doesn’t yet seem to have appreciated this site is entirely the wrong location.

"Erith Road divides this site from the rest of the town centre and is simply not suitable for something of this scale."

He added: "Having just looked at its proposals, it would appear that Tesco's traffic modelling is utterly farcical.

"Everyone knows that there are huge traffic jams at this junction but Tesco is showing free-flowing traffic at peak times currently."

Tesco is expected to submit a revised planning application revised application in April or early May.

But a decision is unlikely to be made before the end of the year, or possibly early next year.

Neither of the current applications has yet been withdrawn.

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