Tenbury MP Harriett Baldwin has called on Tesco to work with Tenbury if they want to build support for a new store.
Harriett Baldwin confirmed she has agreed to meet representatives from the company who are keen to work with the town to help fund significant improvements as well as building a new ‘eco-store’.
Harriett said: “I met with the Tesco Corporate Social Responsibility team and asked if the company could work with local residents to improve the town’s amenities.
“Of particular interest to me were proposals to help win extra funding for flood defences for the town, which are badly needed.
Harriett added: “Tesco representatives are keeping me informed of their plans and are answering my questions. The company is keen to hear local views on how it can best make a contribution to the community.
“I have actively suggested that they speak to the Environment Agency about the town’s need for investment in flood defences.”
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26 comments:
I can't believe many people will be in favour of the flood defences once they study the plans in detail.
Over 500 Tenbury residents have objected to the Tesco plans in Tenbury to date. I think Harriet needs to listen a little bit more to the very real concerns of her constituents as opposed to platitudes from big business.
The best ' contribution to the community' that Tesco can make is to withdraw its planning application and leave Tenbury be. How absurdly naive of Harriet Baldwin to presume that her status as West worcestershire's MP gives her the freedom to enter into some kind of negotiations with Tesco on Tenbury's behalf. It's like saying 'Good News! I've arranged for you to be eaten by a Lion not a Crocodile'
Strictly speaking, Harriett may still be talking to Tesco on behalf of the majority of her constituency. (and even if she isn't she has certainly been contacted by a goodly number)
Of the 500 letters, (not sure where this figure has come from) quite a few are from outside the constituency. It then depends how you count the numbers left. Are they in favour or neutral. The protesters will always be more motivated to register their objection.
If you are of the opinion that Tesco always win in the end (which they nearly always do if (IF) they are committed to a site, then it is better to ensure that the Town gets the most planning gain possible.
I just checked. There are 51,801 people living within 20 minutes drive of Tenbury Wells. Nearly 30,000 (57%) are ABC1.
The 500+ objection letters were delivered to MHDC today by reps of the Tenbury 'TesNO' group. They represent both Tenbury-based and people from the locale who regularly shop in Tenbury as I understand. I guess that MHDC's planners will add them to the ones they're received already from other individuals.
Did anyone get to speak with Harriet this afternoon at the Pump Rooms?
With the greatest respect Milender, how absurdly naive of you to assume that she is not representing a majority of people in Tenbury who are not actually opposed to a supermarket in Tenbury.
I don't really want a Tesco in Tenbury if I am honest, but think it's the only economically viable option for the eyesore that is the old market site. Unless Mr Chase develops a philanthropic ideology all of a sudden, he is not going to consider options that do not give him a return on his investment (why should he? - would you?).
Therefore, aiming to get the very best out of the situation for the town IF planning is eventually approved, seems a sensible approach to me. Also, how refreshing to see an MP taking the initiative for a change, instead of whining about expenses.
I understand Mr Chase wanting a return on his investment. I also think that the site as it stands at present is a derelict mess in the main. I can't help but think though that [in this day and age] that this little bit of brownfield land at the heart of a community should be developed to best enhance the wellbeing of that community.
Does it really have to be a big [by Tenbury standards] generic corporate supermarket that's portrayed as our only option [or economic saviour] in these discussions? I know too that times are hard and many public development grants have been culled but there must be other pots of money as yet untouched that could be put towards re-developing that land in a beneficial way that doesn't hang on us all beholding to big business? Other areas locally such as central Worcester are re-developing their riverside as open, well-lit and landscaped areas with public art and cafes [I know, I was involved with their consultation exercises]. Llangollen, another small market town has refurbished it's run-down Riverside Park in recent years too creating a well landscaped area with picnic site, multi-use games area etc - clearly their local councilors saw the potential for the site and how it could be integrated into the community while helping to attract sorely needed additional tourist income to the town.
Where are the people talking about the bigger picture in Tenbury then? The greater good, the legacy left by this generation of local people for the successive ones? If we allow a clone town supermarket block to occupy all that unique space with it's 100's of square feet of tarmac - then that's it for that site. It's unlikely we'll ever have this chance as a community to have our say and to influence development on that site again.
Tesco Want Me OUT!
I have worked for Tesco for over 6yrs, and seen myself as a valued member of staff. I like my job and tended to think it was a good enough company to work for until recently. My personal feeling at the moment is I am just a number ...as long as you fulfill your contracted hours every day then things are wonderful, the minute you are off sick it's another story.
My child recently developed a life time illness, which requires a lot of hospitalisation and medication. This is all new to us and we were finding life as a family quite difficult, I have used my holidays to attend hospital appointments with my child to save my ass being kicked. I have planned a few days absence as well but after the initial few days of being off, Tesco preaching they will do all they can to support me has worn off ...now they want me at work regardless of my situation.
I feel under a certain pressure to not be off work and made to feel guilty for being sick. The interrogation you receive when you go back is humiliating and just bang out of order, where else in the world of employment even with a doctors note are you made to sit in front of 2 managers (1 taking notes) while you explain why you have been off?
Then to top it all your then made to sit outside while these 2 managers discuss you and you then have the added privilege of being shouted back in to hear your fate. Surely it is not acceptable to make your employees feel like this? This feeling is widspread across Tesco. I don't even think they are allowed to treat school kids like this any more, a lot of my managers agree with how I feel but say its company policy.
I feel very let down by Tesco and i'm verging on handing my notice in which is a shame because through no fault of mine or my childs; I feel im being left no choice
'Every little helps'i think NOT!
There have been objections to the store in Machynlleth A new Tesco store in Powys is in doubt after the assembly government ruled the planning application should be refused on highways safety grounds.
The supermarket is earmarked for a site in Machynlleth, but assembly government officials became involved because it is on a trunk road.
It said the development would compromise safety for road users.
Tesco has been asked to comment, but Powys council said the company had withdrawn its application.
Among the reasons for refusing the application, assembly government officials said Tesco had failed to "demonstrate safe and appropriate links for pedestrians and cyclists between the store and the town's central core at Heol Maengwyn".
They said "forward visibility around the wall of St Peter's churchyard is considerably substandard", and a "proposal to signalise the clocktower junction would necessitate departures from national design standards, which may potentially compromise safety".
Jeopardise
A Powys council spokesman said the council had received notification that the assembly government was directing refusal on highway grounds.
"This and other planning issues will be considered by the planning committee next week," said the spokesman.
"Tesco withdrew its application for a store in Machynlleth on Tuesday. This application was due to be presented to the council's planning committee next week (29 June)."
At present, some people in Machynlleth travel 18 miles (28.9km) to shop at a supermarket in Aberystwyth, even though the town has smaller food stores.
Tesco has said its supermarket would provide shoppers with more choice.
But objectors have said the development could jeopardise small independent shops.
In 2008, there was a protest by local people who carved "No Tesco" in pumpkins.
Campaigners staged their protest during a parade to mark Halloween and Samhain, a Celtic festival celebrating the end of the harvest, on 1 November.
Lets hop this happen in Tenbury
Bumblebee, I take on board everything you have said but with Worcester and LLangollen, who owned the land you refer to? I suspect it was public sector owned, which would make things much easier. Hadn't got to raise literally millions to buy the land from an owner with a high street chain snapping at his/her heels. If it did hold the land, the council, if it then sold to a high street chain at the expense of it's town's/city's culture/heritage etc would then face the wrath of its residents etc.
We are not in this position in Tenbury with the market site and an ideal world we certainly don't have - unfortunately.
As for the comments of the last Anonymous poster, unfortunately it's not just Tesco that hold the ground in not being sympathetic to employees personal circumstances. The private sector generally is increasing taking the same approach. Even the public sector is being squeezed to such an extent that staff who previously enjoyed flexibility to enable them to deal with very difficult family circumstances might not face the same approach today.
There is no easy answer to any of this but we must not miss the opportunity to do something, or the chance may not come again. Maybe the mere fact that Tescos are jockying for position might mean others with more palatable solutions to us come to the fore. However, to simply say NO means we might miss the opportunity forever.
Respectful as always to the views of others.
the tesno is a con campaign anyone that try to put a argument is not added to the blogg
YES TO TESCO DONT LET THE HYPERCRITES WIN
Why should the No campaign publish pro comments. Where is the Yes campaign website (other than a closed facebook page)
correction the tesno is not a website it is a blogg a big difference hypercrite
Eh? http://no.tenburytesco.co.uk/ is a website!
Sure, it uses blogware - but that doesn't mean it isn't a website.
At least using the blog format you have a chance to comment. They may not publish all comments. (Neither do I) If comments are abusive, or are too personal then I can't publish and neither can they unless they want to be spending time in Court. Some of the comments on the facebook pages are in my view 'actionable' but at least they are identified to the contributor so it's the person who wrote them most likely to get an problems and not the host.
Mmmnn, listening to the comments of anonymous, anonymous and anonymous..
'Anonymous' makes a good point - where are all of the local 'Yes' to Tesco posters and publicity - explaining just why it's a good plan to allow Tesco [or any other big corporate supermarket] to come and knacker Tenbury's small highstreet shops?
bumblebee u are a hypercrite
Hypercrite (sic) had me reaching for the dictionary to check what it really meant.
Hypocrite
(1) A person who engages in the same behaviors he condemns others for.
(2) A person who professes certain ideals, but fails to live up to them.
(3) A person who holds other people to higher standards than he holds himself.
(4) Someone who complains about something but finds themselves doing exactly the same thing
"i hate people that complain about other people, they're SO annoying!"
(5) A person who fails to practice what they preach
As I'm just a local resident concerned about the town and I've no formal link with any of the local shops - maybe you could explain exactly why I'm a hypocrite [given the clear explanation below]?
the people that have objected to tesco u tell me they wont go in to the shop i think they will if only to be nosey.
If we are unfortunate enough to have a medium-sized Tesco built in Tenbury then folks won't have much choice than to use it as the rest of the food shops will slowly disappear from the highstreet.
If you want some kind of proof of this [which has happened in numerous Market Towns in the UK where Supermarkets have muscled their way in] then look no further than the Govt's own studies on Supermarkets being built in/on the edge of towns.. "The Impact of Large Superstores on Market Towns and District Centres" a 1998 report commissioned by The Dept of Environment, Transport and the Regions concludes that when a large supermarket is built in or near a town centre, other food shops lose between 13% and 50% of their trade.
Support a Tenbury Tesco [or any other large corporate supermarket chain] and the end results are likely to be the demise of Tenbury's highstreet food shops. And that's according to our own Government's statistics...
that report is 12 yeaRS OUT OF DATE
THINGS HAVE CHANGE SINCE THEN GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT
It's a fair cop guv'nor.. That report isn't from this or last year..
You make the point that the situation's changed since then though. Maybe you could tell me about any recent government reports that counter these figures or disprove them maybe? Happy to listen to any clear counter evidence you've got..
around that time 1998
wal mart was meeting tony blair at no 10 to see how they would be welcome to the country they bought asda out and everything started to change from there competition was starting to provale
so it time now bowketts and spar started to faCE up to things they had it to good over the years
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