This is Surrey Today
Monday, December 26, 2011
TESCO has unveiled plans for a smaller store in Ashtead than originally intended, following concerted action by campaigners.
On Tuesday, the supermarket giant announced fresh proposals for a store on empty land it owns at 53 to 57, The Street.
Campaigners opposed two previous plans on the site but Tesco won planning permission for a 750 square metre store following a public inquiry last August.
However, permission was granted on condition that 74 long-term parking spaces at Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall (APMH) were relocated by Mole Valley District Council to allow 181 short-stay parking spaces at the store.
After lobbying by Ashtead Residents’ Association and campaign group Save Our Village Environment (SAVE), the council said it would not move spaces without a mandate from residents.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
The new application gives NO additional car parking space for customers, which was a key requirement for the previous application. It should therefore be rejected again until this need is met
I do know Ashtead well, and live close to the Tesco in Craddocks. Whilst that store has contributed (along with the “new” independent butcher’s) to a resurgence in economic activity in that area, it has also contributed to a number of problems: Traffic resulting from customers and traffic resulting from deliveries.
The proposed size of the Tesco in The Street, together with a lack of adequate parking provision, is clearly going to cause havoc in the Peace Memorial Car Park and surrounding areas. The Craddock’s store delivery lorries also cause problems, which will be even more severe in The Street. It is difficult to see how the junction of The Street and Woodfield Lane will operate effectively with the increased traffic that a store of this size will generate.
In summary, a sensibly sized store would be welcomed, but the current plans are clearly unsustainable and have not addressed the fundamental problems of parking and traffic.
Madras, There’s nothing wrong with a Tesco that fits the space available. We simply want any store to not produce excessive levels of traffic , parking or lorries, so that Ashtead is not spoilt without reason – so no growing up required …..
Then clearly Madras you don’t know Ashtead very well. We already have a local Tesco here, plus an Alldays convenience store and bigger supermarkets less than 2 miles away.
There are Tesco stores all around the country, everywhere. Grow up, is this really such a distressing issue. I think having a local Tesco to buy food and drink is quite convenient.