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People power defeats Tesco
Last updated at 22:07pm on 21.02.07
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The supermarket giant has withdrawn a proposal for a massive store and 662 homes.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.
Reader views (13)
Tesco have yet to build the leisure centre over the road from the New Malden Store (the derelict building by the golf centre), that they renaged on when the New Malden store was built.
- I Taylor, Raynes Park
Tesco offer value and simplicity to local people. Communities really benefit from the great low prices and offers in their local Tesco store. At the end of the day, people will vote with their feet and they have a choice of many different other retailers (big or small) to shop in too. Tesco is a massive success story because it offers people what they really want nowadays - convenience which is essential to people's busy working lifestyles. If people don't like Tesco they don't have to shop there do they? No one is forcing them too. So go Tesco you are certainly liked and wanted by me!
- Christopher Mann, East Grinstead, West Sussex
I'm fully expecting to see the Governments headed paper to say “UK Government sponsored by Tesco" at some point.
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford
Will there ever come the time when you realize that the the main reason why the "evil" Tesco is successful (and that the "supermarket cancer") spreads is because you, the consumer, vote with your sterling? Want a change? Put your money where your mouth is - or own up to the fact that it is not the supermarket bogeyman that will put your "thriving local shops" out of business but you, the almightly British Consumer.
- Sergei, New York
Tesco have recently bought the pub in our village and are planning to turn it into a store. There is huge opposition to it as we already have a Tesco superstore only 5 miles away and a Tesco Express 1 mile away. We also have quite a thriving community of local shops which will be decimated if they are succesful. There is nowhere else in Cuffley for families to go and eat out apart from the Harvester and the community would be better served by a similar operation. We have already lost our greengrocer and butcher because of Tesco, we don't want more empty shops and small businesses going bankrupt. The traffic would also be horrendous. Terry Leahy lives in Cuffley and should know better than anyone how the local area and population will be and have been adversely affected by this supermarket cancer.
- Sharon Hicks, Cuffley, UK
Great news. Tesco are fundamentally evil in the way they treat their suppliers and bully and deceive councils in their planning applications. In Finchley, they agreed with a carpet showroom to take over the lease later on and sneak another supermarket in.
Good stuff Tolworth. Now just boycott their Tesco Extra before you lose all other shops in the area.
- Rich, London, UK
Tesco should go ahead with a revised development plan which would include a leisure centre for the local people with concessions for the unemployed similar to what lambeth council runs ie. 60% off at off peak times to the local community. There should be community facilities also, like a seperate youth club and community centre and a small park for adults and children with skate boarding and cycle areas as well as workshops for the creative community so that people can eat their food and get fit at the same time.
- Kriss, UK
I can't believe people were opposed to developing this vile stretch of the A3. At the moment it is filled with simply nothing and the Tesco plans would have rejuvinated the tired old place. I look forward to seeing the new plans put forward by Tesco and will be backing them vocally 110%.
- Marc, Tolworth, Surrey
An inspiration to other campaigns, like the Dorking SOS campaign against a proposed Sainsbury's. Congratulations to Tolworth!
- Mike Reed, Dorking, UK
I am so pleased we have won.
- Sybil Short, Tolworth, Surrey
As a local resident it's great news, but I fear that Tesco will bribe, buy and bully its way to getting their own way eventually. How many supermarkets do they think we need?
- Terry Wright, Surbiton, Surrey
This is great news! It's really good seeing people coming together and opposing giants like Tesco from ruining the community. We definitely need more proactive people like the Tolworth group.
Well done!
- Jimmy, London UK
The people of this country have so much power they do not, but can, use.
- Bernard Lawson, London
