London News and Reviews

People power defeats Tesco

The site: It was formerly home to government offices

Tesco has been forced to back down over plans for a £150million development after a year-long protest by residents and shopkeepers.

The supermarket giant has withdrawn a proposal for a massive store and 662 homes.

Protesters said the 13-acre development would have brought gridlock to already congested roads, increased pollution and destroyed local businesses.

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The decision comes after a Competition Commission report highlighted concerns about the emergence of bland "Tesco towns". The retailer takes £1 in every £3 spent on groceries in Britain.

A spokesman for Tesco said the retailer would submit revised plans for the site in Tolworth, near Kingston, South-West London, that would "better meet local needs".

Management consultant Patrick Nairn, 60, who helped co-ordinate the protest against the development, said there had been almost universal opposition to the plans among locals.

He said: "When we found out about Tesco's proposals we started knocking on doors in the area to let people know what was going on. Almost every person we spoke to was against it.

"The opposition just snowballed. We started a petition which got almost 3,000 signatures, and there were several public meetings where people spoke out vociferously. In the end they just couldn't ignore us."

Retired surveyor Ray Broom, 77, and his wife Beryl, who live near the proposed development, wrote letters to the council and spoke out in public meetings.

Mr Broom said: "Everyone did their bit to stop it going ahead. There was great spirit in the opposition. The whole scheme was completely misconceived.

"It would cause terrible traffic problems and destroy the character of the area by putting local stores out of business."

Councillor Vicki Harris said the success of the protest showed that "people power" could stop unpopular developments.

She added: "We've sent out a strong message that when locals pull together and stand firm they can make a difference. It is hard work but well worth it."

When Tesco bought the Tolworth land in 2002, Kingston Council made it clear it was "not an appropriate location for major retail development".

Despite the guidelines, the retailer went ahead with the application.

The proposed development is next to the A3, a road said to be the most heavily used nonmotorway in the UK.

Miss Harris said: "The site is less than two miles from a vast Tesco Extra at New Malden, so we say it was completely unnecessary.

"The main concern was the massive increase in traffic it would bring."

Opponents also said the extensive high rise housing development would spoil the low rise character of the area and put extreme pressure on parking places in nearby residential roads. It would also put an extra strain on already over-subscribed medical services and local schools.

Greengrocer Ratnam Kesavan, 34, who runs a store across the road from the proposed development, said the Tesco would have been "disastrous" for local shopkeepers.

He said: "Tesco stocks everything we have at very competitive prices, so it is hard for us as an independent business to keep up."

A Tesco spokesman denied that there had been "overwhelming opposition" to the development.

He said: "We believe we can improve the plans originally put forward. Over the next few months we will continue to listen to the views of local people and with their help will bring forward plans that better meet local needs."

The Competition Commission plans to examine whether Tesco and other supermarkets have established local monopolies to dictate prices and levels of service.

The commission has found evidence that some are using underhand tactics to grab custom from independent rivals.

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