Hundreds meet to discuss a new Tesco for Gloucesterhsire
Plans for a new Tesco store in Churchdown met with a mixed reaction from the 200 residents who gathered to discuss the proposal.
Campaign group Churchdown Against Tesco Site (Cats) held the meeting at St John’s Church Hall to talk about the proposed supermarket at the former Hurrans Garden Centre in Cheltenham Road East.
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The Tesco meeting
The meeting on Monday was chaired by Gordon Goodman, of Church Road, who said: “I am not against Tesco, I am against Tesco being at that site.
“It will threaten the village atmosphere. It will threaten the shops we have here at the moment. I want these shops here when I grow old.”
Gloucestershire County Councillor Bill Whelan (Lib Dem, Churchdown St John), who was at the meeting, said he is neither for or against the plans.
He said: “I am not associated with Cats, I just represent all sides and want the best for the community.
“I can see the benefits of having it on my doorstep, but we have to be careful. For example, the traffic assessment Tesco has done in its planning document is not a true representation of the area.”
The plans for the site include a 2,230sq m food store – about half the size of the Brockworth Tesco – with 107 parking spaces, 40 cycle spaces and an ATM.
At the meeting, one resident of Purton Lane said: “My main concern is with the increased traffic that this would cause. The roads here just aren’t equipped to deal with all the comings and goings that a Tesco store would bring.”
However, another resident said he approved of the plans for the new supermarket. He said: “I personally would welcome a Tesco store. It would give us a local shop at this end of the village.”
Another householder was concerned with the potential noise a Tesco store would bring.
He said: “They say there will be between two and five deliveries a day, plus you’ve got the bin men and the refrigerator lorry too, it will be horrendous.”
In the application a Tesco spokesman said: “The proposed store will substantially improve the foodstore offer in Churchdown.
“The proposal is practical, sensitive to the surrounding area and improves the appearance and function of the site.
“The positioning of the proposed store, along with highways improvements, and pedestrian crossings, will increase accessibility of the site for pedestrians and cyclists alike.”
The application is currently being looked at by Tewkesbury Borough Council.
For more information visit the planning section at www.tewkesbury.gov.uk.
16 Comments
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by dean, churchdown
Sunday, April 11 2010, 10:26AM
“know one carry about all the cars parked op houses in st johns.the noise from lorrys going to the shops to.has anyone ever stopped to asked the people op how they feel.op hurran site is just the cop shop and half the time they never there,so know one op to moan.”
by Reg Parker, Sandycroft Rd. Churchdown
Thursday, February 11 2010, 12:14PM
“I wish to draw attention to the fate of Bishop's Cleeve, a village about Churchdown's size. At the centre, the modern High Street of thriving shops, including post office, newsagents, bank, meeting the day-to-day needs of locals and taking an active interest in them. Enter Tesco, creating noise and congestion, with cynical disregard for anything but their own interests. The High street is dying.
Churchdown with Innswoth is also centred on a busy parade of shops and nearby Parton Road supermarket. Tesco at Cheltenham and two in Gloucester within ten minutes' drive show their Churchdown plans are to swamp the area. You will meet local people in a local shop; you might not in Tesco.
Do we really want Chuchdown to become the anonymous housing estate preferred by those who want a mere dormitory?
occasional visit show some corner shops in Gloucester sell some groceries cheaper than supermarkets.”
by Net, Churchdown
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 9:18PM
“Nobody is concerned about the prospect of a retail outlet and take away that is under going planing permission on the old Downshire car site on Cheltenham East then?? Great lots more choice with this and Tesco......... Churchdown won't know what's hit it!! Hope they build it!”
by MRW, Brockworth
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 1:12PM
“everyone objected in Brockworth but it still got built, I am sure a lot of residents look forward to having it built as they won't have so far to go for their supermarket shop. Good luck to you all with your campaign”
by Jeannie, Berkshire
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 1:00PM
“I lived for many years in Churchdown and in the name of green and not travelling miles to other supermarkets Churchdown needs TESCO!”