Yet again, this time through the charade of so called ‘consultation’, Tesco has demonstrated its utter contempt for the residents of Ashtead.

Simple lack of time makes it obvious that no account can have been taken by Tesco of any of the very real concerns raised with it by residents at the meetings/exhibition over the past few weeks, any more than residents’ concerns have previously been taken into account by Tesco (except where forced upon Tesco through the planning process).

As I have said in previous posts, it is absolutely essential that residents lodge their views with MVDC and make it clear to their local councillors they expect residents’ views to be respected. In particular, those local councillors who are not constrained by their membership of the Development Control Committee (which will ultimately make the decision on Tesco’s application) can have no reason not to be actively working towards achieving an outcome on the Tesco site which reflects the clearly and consistently expressed wishes of the residents they represent.

Lidl’s location lends itself to an under store parking solution, whereas the same approach on the Tesco site would, I suggest, simply lead to many of the problems which the residents have identified.
Whilst parking is a crucial issue, it is not the only issue.

Because the fundamental cause of most of the residents’ concerns is the excessive size of the store, the obvious solution is to significantly reduce the size. This, of course, is something Tesco will not contemplate voluntarily so it falls upon MVDC councillors to ensure the planning process forces an appropriate development outcome upon Tesco in line with wishes of Ashtead residents.

There can be little doubt Tesco will keep trying to get their way, all the time denying (well they would say that, wouldn’t they) the obvious consequences of what they propose. It is therefore vital residents continue to make their views known and that their representatives do just that ie represent the views of those they represent.

It is all too easy for opponents of any planning scheme to be labelled NIMBYs, but in this case, the issue has to be brought back to what is that is actually being opposed? Certainly not the notion of development or a store on the site and SAVE/ARA have been quite clear on that.

I oppose the oversized and inappropriate development of a site on a prominent busy public highway, in the centre of the village and in area that already has parking issues, with very little regard for the impact on its surroundings.

In my mind, the only place for parking is under the store with rear access.
Lidl have provided us a great example in Leatherhead of how this can and should be achieved. An appropriately sized, basket only- front access only store with contained onsite parking is something I would personally support. This would help alleviate the demand for onstreet parking on the A24 (the Street), and pressure for parking at APMH and surrounding streets.

If Lidl can lead the way and manage that, why cant these guys!! ??

In essence, these concerns largely stemmed from one basic fact – the excessive size of the store proposed which:
(a) directly impacts traffic numbers,
(b) left no space within the Tesco site itself for the parking demands and movement of delivery/service vehicles arising from the development, and
(c) resulted in the development encroaching unacceptably on neighbouring properties, particularly those at the rear of the site.

It is not surprising then that in a subsequent survey of Ashtead residents carried out by SAVE and the ARA 78% of the 2252 respondents indicated that any new store development on the site should be restricted to a convenience store ie a store similar in size and content to the existing Tesco Express at Craddocks Parade. Residents recognise that a development of the size of the Craddocks Parade Tesco Express would (a) provide the best chance of avoiding the traffic problems, (b) allow sufficient space within the site itself for parking and the movement of delivery/service vehicles, and (c) move the development further away from the neighbouring properties.

How has Tesco responded to the clear and unequivocal views expressed by the overwhelming majority of the residents of Ashtead?

Tesco is now proposing a store almost THREE TIMES the size of the existing Tesco Express and only marginally (less than 10%) smaller than its previous proposal, a store taking up almost the whole of the existing site.

Tesco is always very quick to say that it will consider the views of residents and take those into account in its plans. Words are, of course, easy and cheap. Perhaps Tesco can explain just how, in any meaningful way, the publicly expressed concerns of the residents (indicated above) have been taken into account in its new proposal.

As for the recent public exhibition in the APMH by Tesco of its new proposal, no forms were provided for attendees to register their comments/feedback on the proposal but forms were provided for attendees to indicate what goods they would like sold in the proposed store. In other words, there was no genuine attempt by Tesco at community consultation on its new proposal – in fact, it was simply the presentation of a fait accompli.

No one should be surprised at Tesco’s approach and it is little wonder Tesco has zero credibility with the residents of Ashtead.

It is clear that Tesco is simply out to optimise its commercial position within the constraints (such as they are) imposed upon it by the planning process and that Tesco will say and do whatever it feels necessary to achieve that goal.

It is also clear that Tesco has absolutely no regard for the views of Ashtead residents and does not care about the irreversible impacts of its development upon Ashtead, except to the extent those impacts are consistent with its commercial aims.

These are not criticisms of Tesco’s approach (since it is only to be expected) but a statement of the obvious reality residents are confronted with.

It is imperative residents and, more importantly, their representatives (councillors, the ARA and SAVE) recognise this reality and accept that taking a reasonable approach with Tesco is fruitless, since it will never be reciprocated. Tesco is not reasonable. Tesco simply does what Tesco wants whilst telling the world how reasonable Tesco is.

Although Tesco may not have given residents a genuine opportunity to comment on its new proposal, residents will have the opportunity to submit their comments on the proposal with MVDC, as part of the planning process, once Tesco has lodged its formal planning application with MVDC, which is expected to be within a few weeks.

It is essential that as many residents as possible make their views known in the planning process so that the apathy (or the ‘oh no, not again’ factor) that Tesco is relying upon does not occur.

Residents should also make their views clearly known to their Ashtead councillors and to James Friend (Leader of MVDC) as, from various recent press comments and as incredible as it may seem given the views of the residents they represent, it appears local councillors may be taking the view any development on the site is better than fighting for a development that is right for Ashtead.