presslogo
 Login             
 
 

 

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

Here's where we keep articles from the local papers...

FEARS OVER SUPERMARKET ARE VOICED


Belper News 26/5/07

By Debbie Lockett

HUNDREDS of people have voiced their fears of what will become of Belper if supermarket giants Tesco move in.

Residents turned up in their droves to support new protest group Belper Against Tescos Superstore (BATS) at its first meeting at the Lion Hotel.

Andy Minion, from BATS, said: "The overwhelming feeling at the meeting was that A) there's a lot of enthusiasm for the campaign and B) that people are feeling let down by the powers that be."

There was a strong fear among residents that the Tesco's 'super plan' may be a done deal.

It is no secret supermarket bosses have been consulting a number of different bodies about building a development at the Meadows Edge site.

But plans cannot be made public until an application is submitted.

One of the residents' main concerns was the effect Tescos could have on Belper's small retailers.

Dave Wells, from BATS, said: "Tesco will only come here if they can make profits, profits which won't stay here in this community. If they come it will be at the expense of local businesses. Tesco would kill our shops."

Many residents also felt that Belper does not need the relief road which is expected to be part of the
proposal.

Mike Beavis, BATS member, said: "As far as I am aware the road is only their because Tesco need it, it's simply a feeder road into their car park."

Residents agreed it should be renamed 'a link road'.

The group decided the best way to tackle their campaign is by focusing on planning issues as reasons to refuse the application once it is submitted.

Alan Jackson, from Jodrell Avenue in Belper, said: "Tescos are one of the most ruthless organisations that exist the UK. They employ high powered solicitors.

"I am more than willing to go through their application and assist in tearing it apart."

BATS is now working on an action plan and will be forming sub-groups to focus on; planning, the media, community liaising, conservation liaising, petitions and fundraising.

Fury over town plan

POLITICAL back-biting and sniping has broken out over plans for a new library in Belper.
Conservative and Labour councillors have exchanged accusations of bias over the planned Tesco development in the town which includes the promise of a new library.

And this is all before the supermarket giant has even submitted a planning application.

The county council is putting together plans for the £1.7 million library development to be built in Derwent Street close to the suggested location for the superstore but town councillors are adamant the Market Place would be a better site.

Meanwhile the people of Belper have voted for Market Place as their preferred location for the development, on the Belper News website www.belpernews.co.uk. More than 60 per cent said they would prefer to see the library there versus 16 per cent who voted for Derwent Street, almost the same number of people who thought Herbert Strutt School would be a good site.

When discussing the library plans this week Cllr Alan Cox, said: "My concern on this is the county council appears to have already decided that Tesco is going to happen."

He added: "If Tesco's does not happen is it (the library] going to go in the middle of a derelict site? I would rather it go in the Market Place then we might get it a bit sooner."

Labour county councillor Bob Janes, member for cultural and community services, slammed Mr Cox's allegations that the county had made up its mind on the Tesco development.

He said: "I am sorry but that is not the issue. I am not going to comment on that because it is about the library."

He insisted the county council would not consider the Market Place as a site for the library.

In a letter to the town council he wrote: "It seems that consulting the town council would be an empty exercise – given that it has clearly a prejudiced position in this case."

He said one of the key criteria in finding the right location for the library is picking somewhere which is already busy.

"We don't use libraries to attract people to places in the town that are not busy. It is quite deliberate there is no point putting a library out of the way where people aren't going to be able to get to it. It's not what libraries are for, you put libraries where there are the most people," he added.

Meanwhile residents in Belper are preparing to have their say.

* Protest group, Belper Against Tesco Superstore (BATS) is inviting residents to its first meeting on Thursday at 7.30pm at the Lion Hotel.

* The civic forum also voted this week to have an 'immediate reaction' if Tesco does submit an planning application.

TALK OF ANOTHER TESCO IS DRIVING THEM BATS

BY MELISSA BECK

09:30 - 18 May 2007 Derby Evening Telegraph

People fighting proposals for a new supermarket in Belper are preparing to hold a public meeting.

Tesco is in talks with Amber Valley Borough Council about erecting a 80,000sq ft store in Derwent Street.

The plans could also include a feeder-road from the existing Morrisons roundabout to the new store, a new library, houses, smaller shop units and a petrol station.

But many residents and shopkeepers say the town already has enough supermarkets, as there are already branches of the Co-op, Somerfields and Morrisons in Belper.

Protesters also fear that the new store could drive local businesses, such as bakers and butchers, out of business and that traffic in the town would be greatly increased.

A group of residents from the town have now formed action group Belper Against Tesco Superstore to fight the plans and will hold their first public meeting on Thursday.

Group member Julie Wozniczka, of Mill Lane, Belper, said: "People in the town have many concerns about having another supermarket in Belper.

"It's a town with its own character and we're concerned how a new store will affect the local community and atmosphere of the town.

"That whole side of the town would become a series of supermarkets and car parks so that anyone visiting Belper or the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site would just see two big supermarkets as they drove into the town."

Ms Wozniczka said residents were also concerned about the effect the store could have on the volume of traffic in Belper.

She added: "If you live in Belper and you were travelling to the store, you would have to drive through the Market Place to get to it, and this would cause congestion through the town."

Ms Wozniczka said the meeting was being held to bring residents together who may wish to support the campaign.

Resident Alistair Cain, of Nottingham Road, Belper, agreed that there were enough supermarkets in the town already.

He said: "I don't see why we need another big supermarket when the land could be used for something else."

A planning application for the store has not yet been submitted.

Amber Valley Borough Council asked Tesco late last year to undertake work to assess the economic impact on the town as well as its effect on the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.

The authority also asked the supermarket to compile a detailed transport assessment on how the store might impact traffic in the area.

Tesco has stressed that the plans are at an early stage and it has pledged to discuss the proposals with local people.

The meeting takes place at 7.30pm in the Lion Hotel, Bridge Street, Belper.

Derby Evening Telegraph 15/5/07

SUPERMARKET PLAN TO INCLUDE HOUSES, LIBRARY AND NEW ROAD

BY CHRIS MALLETT

09:30 - 15 May 2007

A New Tesco superstore could be built in Belper.

The supermarket giant is in talks with Amber Valley Borough Council about erecting a store in Derwent Street,

The plans for the 80,000sq ft shop could also include a feeder- road from the current Morrisons roundabout to the new store, a new library, houses, smaller shop units and a petrol station.

But some shopkeepers in the town have expressed fears that another supermarket could take customers away from their businesses.

Carl Whysall, the council's director of borough development, said a planning application for the proposals had not yet been submitted but planners were in talks with Tesco about key concerns.

He said: "Tesco was asked late last year to undertake work to assess the economic impact on the town as well as its effect on the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.

"We also asked for a full, detailed transport assessment as a large store will obviously bring more traffic to the area.

"Some of the work has been completed by Tesco, but not all.

"The planning and conservation officers need to have these discussions with Tesco to ensure they are properly considered and addressed.

"It is to ensure that when a planning application is submitted, it addresses in detail the key considerations identified in an open and transparent way."

The council is hoping to prepare a draft development brief for the site, which will be subject to public consultation before becoming part of the criteria against which a planning application will be determined.

An application is expected later this year.

Max Curtis, Tesco corporate affairs manager, said: "We are talking with Amber Valley Borough Council about building a store in Belper but it's at a very early stage.

"If and when we come forward with something, we would want to have an open dialogue with the local community."

James Dodes, manager of Doolittles Pet and Aquatic Supplies, said: "It will tempt more people not to shop in the town centre. We have enough supermarkets with Morrisons, the Co-op and Somerfield, we don't need another one."

And Sally Stubbs, manager of Allsop's Bakery, in King Street, agreed that another out-of-town store could affect trade.

She added: "I think the main problem is traffic because it will obviously mean more cars clogging up the town's roads."

Michael Hulett, manager of greengrocers Fresh and Fruity, said: "We tend to get customers who avoid supermarkets."

Protest group form in bid to stop Tesco

By Debbie Lockett

"The more of us who oppose this, the better chance we have of success."

Quote By : David Wells, spokesman for BATS

A NEWLY-FORMED anti-Tesco protest group has called a public meeting next week.

Belper Against Tesco spokesman – defeated Green Party candidate David Wells – said: "The more of us who oppose this, the better chance we have of success."

After months of speculation Amber Valley Borough Council has finally admitted it is in talks with the supermarket giant.

Borough development director Carl Whysall this week told the Belper News: "We want to be open and say these discussions are taking place."

Local authorities enter into negotiations with major developers as a matter of course. Mr Whysall said: "We are going to be working with them (Tesco] more closely. If we don't they will hit us with a planning application and we will be fighting a rearguard action."

The protest group claims the Tesco plans to build a superstore to the west of the town centre will hit small businesses and result in Belper losing a vital part of its character.

Mr Whysall said the council has a number of concerns including how the supermarket would effect the town's heritage and how shoppers would reach the new store.

He said Tesco was asked late last year to carry out investigations into how its plans would affect Belper. Although some of the work has been carried out the group's key concerns remained.

Tesco was unavailable for comment as the Belper News went to press, but it is understood the council would like to mount a public exhibition in the town of the draft development brief for the site before anything is approved.

Authority officers have advised Tesco to set up a liaison group with local people.

Mr Whysall said: "We feel it is the correct way to work, it they talk to the interested people as a group the good points and the bad points can be taken on board."

Belper Against Tesco holds its first meeting on Thursday, May 24, 7.30pm at The Lion Hotel, Bridge Street. The group urges everyone interested to go along.


 


Home Links Downloads Feedback Press Help Us!


www.bats.fusiveweb.co.uk   



Copyright (c) 2007 BATS Belper Against Tesco Superstore Member of the Fusive Network ¦ Powered by FusiveWebTM click here to get your FREE website.