Epsom Guardian
7:30am Thursday 16th September 2010
By Paul Teed
A convenience store built in a 17th century Grade II listed building has been granted permission to put up “garish” new blue and yellow signs that make it look like a “Cadbury’s Flake wrapper”.
Councillors said Alldays, in the Street, Ashtead, should be allowed to erect the illuminated fascia after hearing it needed to attract more customers to compete with Tesco, which is due to build a new supermarket nearby.
The shop was built at the front of one of the oldest buildings in the village, and Ashtead Residents’ Association opposed its application for new signs because it feared they would be too bright.
However, Mole Valley Council’s development control committee unanimously approved the make-over.
Ashtead Village Councillor Chris Reynolds said: “They should be congratulated for looking ahead and doing some work preparing to fight the fight, because they are going to have a battle on their hands.”
Ashtead Park Councillor Chris Townsend added: “We have to remember what’s been happening recently in Ashtead…
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This is Surrey Today
Friday, September 03, 2010, 08:00
By Luke Bishop Luke.Bishop@EssnMedia.co.uk
Conservative District Councillor Chris Hunt talking to S.A.V.E supporters outside the Tesco site, on The Street, Ashtead Village.
AN ASHTEAD councillor has spoken of a “ray of hope” for residents over plans to build a Tesco in the village centre.
Although the plans to build a supermarket on the former Esso site in The Street were approved by planning inspector Nicholas Hammans, he insisted that the car parking situation was sorted out before building commenced.
In his report Mr Hammans said: “No development hereby permitted shall commence until the district council has confirmed in writing that it has made arrangements for the relocation of the existing 74 long-stay parking spaces in the Peace Memorial Hall Car Park and that all 181 proposed parking spaces shall be short-stay spaces to be retained thereafter.”
Chris Hunt, a Conservative councillor for Ashtead Village, thinks this may be the chance for the council to force Tesco to come back with a smaller store.
He said: “The consent is not quite what Tesco needed. The fact that the long-term parking spaces have to be reallocated before any development can start could be the sting in the tail for Tesco and the ray of hope for residents and visitors to the Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall car park.
“Unless of course perhaps people are willing to have their gardens and homes knocked down or Tesco are going to buy up one of the local pubs…
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This is Local London
7:30am Thursday 9th September 2010
By Charlotte Lowe
The owners of Streatham’s small independent shops fear plans to increase the size of a new Tesco superstore will put them out of business.
The supermarket giant submitted an amended planning proposal last month to increase the size of its proposed store, part of the Streatham Hub development, from 40,000 to 60,000sq ft.
A retail impact assessment to gauge the threat to nearby businesses was not submitted with the application, sparking fears among businessowners their livelihoods’ futures were not being taken in to account.
A worker at family-run off-licence Chimes Corner, in Streatham High Road, said it would not renew its lease because of the development.
He said: “Tesco does not care about the impact on local trade…
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This is Local London
7:10am Sunday 5th September 2010
By Paul Teed
Campaigners opposed to a new Tesco in Ashtead have refused to accept a planning inspector’s approval lying down and vowed to continue fighting the supermarket giant.
Villagers said they hoped Mole Valley Council – which twice turned down Tesco’s applications and spent thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ cash on legal fees during an appeal – would disrupt the chain’s plans by not letting it use the Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall car park.
Planning inspector Nicholas Hammans gave the go-ahead for the new store, in the Street, Ashtead, last week, but imposed a condition that the authority needs to create 74 extra long-stay spaces to reduce the problems of increased on-street parking and ensure adequate room for the supermarket’s customers…
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BBC News
4 September 2010 Last updated at 12:00
Supermarket giant Tesco has won permission to build a new superstore in a West Yorkshire town after a controversial planning appeal.
Bradford Council rejected the firm’s plan to replace its existing store in Ilkley with a much bigger one on a former industrial site.
The government’s Planning Inspectorate has overturned the council’s decision following an eight-day public inquiry.
Campaigners said they would continue to fight against the store.
Residents’ group Ilkley Residents Against Tesco Encroachment (Irate) collected thousands of signatures against the plans…
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Construction Enquirer
Aaron Morby | Fri 3rd September | 7:35
Tesco has been given the green light to build four new stores as it ramps up expansion plans.
The supermarket chain has won over local councillors with promises to create jobs and contribute to town improvements at three of the schemes.
But the massive increase in selling space is stirring up campaigns against Britain’s biggest supermarket.
Campaigners claim Tesco is using its financial muscle to bulldoze through building plans ahead of tighter regulation powers coming into force.
The new stores will be built in Hull, Consett, Galston in East Ayrshire. and Ashtead…
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Get Surrey
By Guy Martin
September 03, 2010
TESCO has vowed to work with the council and community to iron out potential problems with the store it can now build in Ashtead.
Permission was granted by a government planning inspector for a supermarket to be built in The Street, as he allowed the smaller of two proposed stores to be built, as well as nine flats above, despite Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) refusing these plans.
Even after the inspector’s decision last week, lingering doubts remain over parking…
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Discount Vouchers News
1st September 2010
by Katie Naylor
Tesco, one of the leading UK supermarket retailers, has been accused by its critics of pushing through expansion products in attempts to rapidly start and complete construction of new stores. The critics argue that the retail giant is in a rush to complete construction since the Competition Commission initiatives which would put more stringent controls on expansion projects are soon to be implemented.
The current Competition Commission initiative involves what is referred to as a competition test, or a set of rules which would prevent Tesco from opening large supermarkets in over 300 communities in which it already has a significant presence, although these tests have not yet been ratified by the Government. Those opposed to the increased construction movements by Tesco, including Tescopoly, allege that the firm has started new projects at an alarming rate, with 47 new build, extension, or refurbishment projects started since the beginning of the year, at a total cost of over £300 million…
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The Independent
By Stephen Foley in New York
Thursday, 2 September 2010
European multinationals are exploiting America’s weak labour laws to suppress unions, claims report by Human Rights Watch.
European companies, including the UK retail giant Tesco, are facing criticism from a leading human rights organisation for allegedly exploiting weak labour laws in the US and bullying employees to prevent them from joining unions.
Human Rights Watch says European multinationals talk nicely about labour relations at home, but pay scant regard to them overseas. In a report published this morning, the New York-based campaign group says that managers at Tesco’s new mini-market chain in the US, Fresh & Easy, have created an anti-union atmosphere, and that employees who want to organise union activities live in fear for their jobs…
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