Green Party

Local residents will be joined by Green Party Councillor Adrian Ramsay at a demonstration outside the new Tesco store on Unthank Road when it opens tomorrow morning (Wednesday 14th July, 7:45am).

Residents will gather to express their frustration that a Tesco store is opening despite the application being turned down by the City Council and hundreds of people objecting to the plans.

It is the culmination of a six year battle between Tesco and local residents which reached its climax last year when a Planning Inspector ruled that the plans could go ahead. In that six year period the City Council rejected Tesco applications on five occasions, with Green Party Councillors campaigning against the plans throughout.

Adrian Ramsay, a Green Party Councillor for Nelson ward, which starts on Unthank Road, has played an active role in the Residents Against Unthank Tesco campaign since it started in 2004.

Adrian Ramsay, who has pledged that he will not use the new Tesco store, commented: “I will continue to support the local businesses in the area. We cannot allow the opening of this Tesco to be at their expense.

"I know that there is a strong feeling among residents in the area that we need to unite behind the independent businesses. Research shows that a pound spent in a local business is almost twice as beneficial for the community as the equivalent spent in a supermarket like Tesco [1].

“Local campaigners will be monitoring activities at the new store to see if Tesco sticks to the agreements regarding delivery times and frequency. We are concerned that bringing lots of new delivery lorries to the street will add to congestion.

"The biggest frustration is that this store is being opened against the wishes of the local council and the majority of local residents. It should not be possible for supermarkets to submit repeated applications for the same site and then appeal to a remote Planning Inspector to make a decision. Green Party MP Caroline Lucas will be challenging the planning laws on this in Parliament."

Notes:

[1] See: http://www.neweconomics.org/sites/neweconomics.org/files/Plugging_the_Leaks.pdf p.32

Write a comment

• Required fields are marked with *.

Name:
Email:
Website:
Subject:
Comment: *

Help prevent spam - enter security code above: