Latest News: posted 2 December
Council approves application
Havant Development Management Committee approved the Tesco application on Thursday 29 November however the campaign continues.
The saga which ran for 15 months ended when the council approved the plan 7 to 4 against. This despite a petition and letters of over 2000 names, advice from the council's own consultants, DTZ, not to do it, condemnation from business groups etc. Lots of money for everything offered by Tesco for improved links with town, subsidized bus service and road works all made necessary by Tesco new building.
The Localshopslocal case was that that the appication failed 4 the 5 PPS6 criteria, scale need, access and impact on vitality and viablity to the rest of the town with a weak retail base. Tesco argued that there was clear need because their existing store was overtrading, lots of Havant people were using their Tesco Extra product in Portsmouth and Chichester and that a new store in Havant would pull them back that meant more linked trips and more business for other traders. It would regenerate the entrance to the town and create 300 new jobs.
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Our view was that:
- the clawback to Havant was unproven.
- The new jobs would be at the expense of local businesses whose market share would be reduced by Tesco.
- There were environmental issues to do with air quality, congestion, flooding and that the water protection.
- Critically DTZ said that a new store of the size proposed would be a competitor to the town and not complementary to it.
On the night we fielded six deputation from six organisations while the opposition put up 1 councllor, a grumpy local resident and Tesco. Tesco claimed the petition was nothing against the 28,000 cistomers going to their store and the 'silent majority' would approve.
4 councillors of the 14 man planning committee failed to show up leaving around 31,000 electors ( whose shops would be affected) unrepresented in the debate.
Our next step is to write to GOSE and try to get it called under S 77 ( shopping directive) on the grounds that the need is overstated by Tesco, the impact in terms of how it was calculated and officers admission that 31 local shops would be mediumly to severely impacted, AQMA concerns, public opinion and the fact that there are already 10 supermarkets within a 15 minute drive
Objectors at the meeting were
- Lulu Bowerman Emsworth Business Association
- Mr Ince Havant Business Group
- Ms Bowerman Keep Shops Local
- Mr Mackey Emsworth Residents Association
- Ms Holt Friends of the Earth
View the Agenda for the meeting here.
The HBC officers have reccomended acceptance of the proposal despite the negative report from their own consultants. Details of these reccomendations can be found here.
Victory in Northfolk!! - Tesco proposal thrown out in Sherningham
State of play at meeting on 29 november
- The council has had just under 200 letters so far. Current score 5:1 against.
- Our petition of has 1700 signatures (target 2000) and a petition FOR of just 46.
- Tesco's in store poll claims 136 votes with two third for and a third against.
Radio Solent
Sue Holt from Havant FoE was a guest on BBC Radio Solent's Breakfast Show 23. Radio Solent linked the interview with our campaign against the Tesco application.
Competition Commission
The Competition Commission's interim report is published this morning. It more or less says the sector is healthy but that land banking and relationships with small suppliers need attention. It proposes more supermarkets in areas dominated by one brand. It acknowledges the thousand of representations its had on the death of the High St and other sustainability issues but pushes them into the long grass saying they form no part of the Inquiry's brief.
In summary we are no further forward on the vexatious questions of the impact of supermarkets on local economies and communities. There is no comment on the fastest growing and most worringly segment of their offer,namely non food lines. There's little comfort for farmers, smaller shops and relative cost of food. Its comments about local competition would not apply to us locally given the choice of 7 supermarkets within a 15 minute drive. I can't see it helping Tesco but they could be relieved to see that the criticisms are fairly bland.