'Stop Tesco Owning Partick'

james73 · 'Stop Tesco Owning Partick'

Group steps up ‘Tesco Town’ fight

PROTESTERS fighting plans to build a giant Tesco in the West End of Glasgow
are to stage a public meeting.

The Stop Tesco Owning Partick lobby group plans to detail its case against
the supermarket giant ahead of a public inquiry next month.

Tesco bosses have submitted two planning applications, one relating to a
stand-alone store in Partick's Beith Street and another for a superstore
with 915 student flats and a 600-space underground car park.

The public meeting is scheduled to take place at Partick Burgh Hall on March
25 at 7pm, and the public inquiry is expected to be held sometime in April.

The campaigners' claim their detailed submission opposing the plan, which
has been dubbed Tesco Town, lists around two dozen objections which they
claim do not comply with policies or run contrary to planning guidelines.

The issues include the impact on existing shops, traffic levels, air quality,
the scale of the buildings and the materials which would be used.

Tesco's plan has attracted around 1000 letters of objection and more than
400 e-petitions.

James H

james73

From Future Glasgow

Fjord

Haven't the brown envelopes exchanged hands yet

james73

poodiecat

Obviously not a fan of these developments nor of Tesco, but those pictures remind me of the work they're doing along the Clyde in town where the Casino is. Does anyone know more? I am not sure if there are any negative implications to this but I sure do like the look of a green riverside.

james73

‘Tesco Town’ inquiry may last fortnight

A PUBLIC inquiry into controversial plans for a Tesco superstore in Partick
could last up to two weeks.

More than 1000 objections have been lodged against the proposal, which
includes flats and an underground car park.

Protest group Stop Tesco Owning Partick (Stop) has campaigned to
prevent the superstore, dubbed Tesco Town, going ahead.

The development is planned for an area of derelict land between Beith
Street and the River Kelvin.

Nine days have now been set aside for the public inquiry, at which both
sides will give evidence to a Scottish Government reporter.

It will start on Tuesday, April 22, and carry on to the Friday of that week.
If necessary it will run from Monday to Friday of the following week.

The inquiry was ordered by the Scottish Government after Tesco
complained about the length of time Glasgow City Council was taking to
decide on the application.

Tesco wants to build a 7500sq m superstore, 915 flats and a 600-space
underground car park on the site.

The inquiry, before reporter Michael Culshaw, will be held at the city
council's Cafe George premises at 266 George Street.

James H

james73

Inquiry starts into planned 'Tesco Town'

CAMPAIGNERS were today taking on the might of Tesco at a public inquiry
in Glasgow.

They began outlining their opposition to a planned superstore in Partick,
which has been dubbed "Tesco Town" .

More than 1000 objections have been received, most complaining about
the impact a massive store would have on the area's existing shops.

Tesco also wants to build flats and a 600-space underground car park next
to the 7500 sq m store on land between Beith Street and the River Kelvin.

A public inquiry was ordered by the Scottish Government last year after an
appeal by Tesco about the length of time Glasgow City Council was taking
to decide on the application.

It began today at the council's Cafe George premises at 266 George Street
and could last a fortnight.

Tesco has insisted the development - on a former scrap yard - will be the
"missing link" between the new developments along the River Clyde and
the historic areas of Partick and Kelvinbridge.

The inquiry, in front of reporter Michael Culshaw, will hear from a number
of the campaigners.

It will hear claims that traders will suffer, that the already congested area
will see a huge increase in traffic, and that the superstore building will
"dominate" the area.

Tesco said it plans to "play a full part" in the inquiry.

James H

falseface

Near the Kelvin? What about the blinking water table?

Fjord

There'll be grid lock on the Expressway in both directions and on all the surrounding roads in the area with all those new traffic lights at Castlebank Street that have just been installed

scallopboy

james73

Tesco wants second store at ‘Town’ site

TESCO wants to open another store in the West End of Glasgow - just 100 metres
from its proposed giant supermarket in Partick.

Plans for the retail giant's latest Express store, which could create up to
250 jobs, were revealed on the first day of a public inquiry into so-called
Tesco Town.'

Tesco's first witness, town planning consultant Bob Robinson, said: "There
is a proposal at the moment to open a Tesco Express which is the more
convenience type of store."

Mr Robinson said the proposed Express store was near the site of the
planned Beith Street project and would provide a top-up shopping role.'

Tesco also recently launched another of its smaller stores on the site of the
former Creme de la Creme restaurant in Argyle Street - just half a mile
from the proposed Partick site.

James H

james73

Developers clash over Tesco plans

RIVAL developers clashed at a public inquiry over major superstore plans.

Tesco is appealing a decision to refer a planning application for a development
of supermarket and student flats at Partick, close to Glasgow Harbour to
the Scottish Government.

On day two of the inquiry, Patrick Clarkson, representing Tesco, stated a
plan by Glasgow Harbour to have a retail development on an adjacent site
would be more detrimental to traffic in the area.

However, he was interrupted by Glasgow Harbour representative Craig
Conal who objected on the grounds his client's proposal was not the
subject of the inquiry.

Mr Clarkson said: "Glasgow Harbour with twice the retail space is claiming
their traffic generation will be the same."

Then, as he was questioning traffic expert Michael Summers, he asked
what his assessment of the Glasgow Harbour plan would be.

Mr Conal objected, saying Mr Summers's written precognition did not
include any details of the Glasgow Harbour plan and questions on it were
out of bounds.

Mr Clarkson added: "I have no doubt this is embarrassing for Glasgow
Harbour. They are seeking to promote a scheme that's twice as large with
half the traffic."

Earlier, the parties exchanged views on the need for an environmental
impact assessment for the Tesco development.

Tesco claims a previous application which lapsed was screened for
assessment and a new screening was not needed under planning laws.

James H

james73

Tesco chief snubs invite to new superstore site

THE chairman of Tesco has turned down an offer to visit the site of the firm's
proposed superstore at Partick.

David Reid was approached by a leading opponent of the controversial
plan at the Taste of Scotland event in George Square at the weekend.

Mr Reid's rejection came midway through a public inquiry into the plan,
which has infuriated many in the Partick community.

Gordon Bickerton, a committee member of the Stop Tesco Owning Partick
(STOP) group said he took the opportunity when he heard Mr Reid was
giving a speech in George Square.

Mr Bickerton said: "I wanted to invite him to see the site personally.

"He could have heard a local resident's concerns directly instead of hearing
them through a flunkey.

"I didn't want to cause any embarrassment so I waited until his speech
was over then approached him.

"He was very polite but turned me down and said the decisions were not
his to make."

Mr Reid, originally from Edinburgh, was appointed Tesco chairman in 2004.

He was unavailable for comment.

James H

james73

Tesco in £1m bus link bill row

STORE giant Tesco is challenging calls for it to pay around £1million
towards the Clyde Fastlink transport service.

A public inquiry into the firm's proposed Partick development heard
developers are obliged to contribute to the planned integrated traffic link
from Glasgow Central to Glasgow Harbour.

But Tesco's legal representative Patrick Clarkson QC suggested the
company was unwilling to make the payment.

The row emerged during the second week of an inquiry into Tesco Town',
the retail giant's two planning applications for Beith Street, Partick, one for
a superstore and another for a superstore and 915 student flats.

Mr Clarkson also demanded to see a list detailing all other developers and
their contributions to Fastlink.

Glasgow City Council principal planner Jim Patrick told the inquiry that the
guidance is that developers should be asked to support it as they "would
benefit from it."

But Mr Clarkson pointed out that Partick Cross already had "first-class"
public transport infrastructure.

Mr Clarkson asked how much money developers had donated to the
scheme so far and "where it had come from?"

Mr Patrick replied: "We've had £3.6m. The council has given planning
permission to around 20 schemes where the developers have agreed to
make a financial contribution or a contribution in kind."

But Mr Clarkson said: "We (Tesco) are being asked to pay £1m towards
Fastlink which there seems to be no justification for, in our view."

The sides are being asked to agree conditions for the Tesco development,
should it be approved.

James H

james73

Tesco and council told to start talking on store

A CONTROVERSIAL superstore planning application took a significant step
forward after Tesco and council officials were told to enter talks to try to
reach agreement.

Michael Culshaw, public inquiry reporter, took the unusual step of asking
the supermarket chain and Glasgow City Council to agree a set of
conditions, should he "be minded to recommend approval" of the scheme.

After discussions, the major disagreement appeared to be whether the
store planned for Partick, in the city's west end, should be allowed to open
24 hours.

A list of 53 conditions was set out for the inquiry to consider, ranging from
a bat survey to drainage assessments and noise levels should it be given
the go-ahead.

Both parties failed to agree on the opening hours of the store which would
be sited at Beith Street in Partick.

In the list of conditions, it is stated: "The operation of the proposed
supermarket shall not begin before 0700 hours or operate after 2300
hours."

The reason for the condition was given as: "In order to safeguard the
property itself, the amenity of the surrounding area and the adjacent
proposed housing."

The car-park hours were also suggested to be between 7am and 11pm,
with measures to be put in place to prevent commuters using it as a free
car park.

James H

james73

Dead and buried?

PLANS for a massive supermarket development dubbed Tesco Town look
scuppered.

The retail giant wants to build a store and 900 flats in Glasgow's West End.
provided access to the new store and flats But it now looks likely the firm will
be forced to ditch its plans for the flats because a huge chunk of land it needs
for access to the plot is to be sold to another bidder.

The planned superstore could still go ahead if the company gets the
necessary planning permission for the site at the bottom of Byres Road in
Partick.

But the overall development would be much smaller - and would no longer
be anything like the scale of the original planned Tesco Town.

Access to the student flats was intended to be from a new roundabout to
be built on an area of land - currently owned by the city council - at Beith
Street.

Tesco and Glasgow Harbour, which is behind the massive housing and
leisure development on the banks of the Clyde, were both interested in
buying the four acre site.

Council bosses agreed to invite the companies to make a competitive bid
for the parcel of land based on its value as a site for housing.

Tomorrow the executive committee will be told Glasgow Harbour submitted
the higher offer of £4.1million and it should be sold the land.

If councillors agree to the recommendation, it will mean Tesco will not be
able to get access to the flats it wants to build.

James H

Fjord

Clear as mud

james73

Tesco told to 'do the decent thing and pull out of Partick'

TESCO was today facing calls to pull out of Glasgow's West End so the land
can be used for low-cost family homes.

The plea came after the Evening Times yesterday exclusively revealed
Glasgow City Council is set to sell a piece of land - essential to Tesco's
current plans - in Beith Street to Glasgow Harbour.

The £4.1million sale, due to be finalised by councillors today, scuppers the
retail giant's plan for a massive development dubbed Tesco Town.

Tesco needs the land to access 900 student flats they want to build at the
foot of Byres Road.

The firm has admitted if it cannot buy the land it will have to scrap its
housing plans but insists it will press ahead with a much smaller
development which will just involve a supermarket.

Glasgow Harbour refused to comment on the land sale today or to reveal
details of what they plan to do with it.

But Kenny McLean, SNP councillor for Partick West, urged the supermarket
giant to "do the decent thing" and pull out completely.

Mr McLean insists a new superstore is not needed in an area where many
local traders are struggling to survive.

He said: "If the land is sold to Glasgow Harbour, I would very much hope
they would build housing, including affordable social housing."

Campaigners fighting the Tesco Town development also called for the
supermarket to pull out of Partick.

James H

james73

Tesco turf war in rival's store plan

SUPERMARKET chain Morrisons wants to triple the size of its store in Partick,
Glasgow.

The move is a fresh blow to the controversial plan by rival Tesco for a
massive superstore in the area.

Company bosses have lodged an application with Glasgow City Council to
increase the size of the Vine Street store from 3221sq m to 9291sq m.

Details of the plans are not yet known but it is understood the extension
would be on land at Anderson Street currently used as a car park.

If the extension was granted the Morrisons store would stretch to Beith
Street and be only a short distance from where Tesco wants to build its
superstore.

A decision on the Morrisons bid, which is for outline consent, is likely to be
made at the council's planning applications committee in either August or
September.

But the move will increase pressure on Tesco, which was last week outbid
by Glasgow Harbour for a piece of land seen as crucial for access to their
site at Beith Street.

Partick councillor Kenny McLean said on Tuesday that he thought "the
writing was on the wall" for the Tesco development.

He added: "I am aware the Morrisons application would make their store
considerably larger than it is now.

"The Tesco supermarket plan is effectively a dead duck and I think
Morrisons realise that and see an opportunity for the future.

"I don't think both applications could go ahead and an application to extend
an existing store would be much more likely to get approval than an
entirely new one."

Mr McLean said he had not seen the Morrisons application in detail and
stressed it would have to be carefully scrutinised to make sure it was good
for the area.

The Tesco Town plan, which was lodged with the council in 2005, led to an
outcry from local residents and the formation of the pressure group Stop
Tesco Owning Partick.

As well as the superstore, the company wanted to build 900 flats and an
underground car park.

James H

james73

Green light for TescoTown plan (Evening Times)

SUPERMARKET giant Tesco has won its controversial fight for planning
permission for a huge supermarket and hundreds of flats in Partick.

Earlier this year, a two week public inquiry was held in Glasgow into two sets
of plans by the company for a site near the bottom of Byres Road.

One was for a large scale development with a 7435sq m superstore, 653
student flats, 220 private flats and leisure uses on the banks of the River
Kelvin, the other was for a stand alone superstore.

The Evening Times has discovered the Reporter to the public inquiry has
thrown out the plan for the smaller of the two developments but backed
what has been dubbed the Tesco Town scheme.

The decision has shocked local councillors and campaigners who fought
against the Tesco proposals on the grounds of traffic congestion and
pollution.

However despite the decision to grant planning permission, it is still not
clear if the store and flats will get off the ground.

Last month, the Evening Times exclusively revealed that Glasgow City
Council agreed to sell a piece of land in Beith Street, which is vital if the
larger development is to go-ahead, to Glasgow Harbour for £4.1million.

Without that land, it is unlikely the superstore and flats can be built.

But if an agreement can be reached with Glasgow Harbour, Tesco Town
now has the official go-ahead.

Partick West councillor Aileen Colleran admitted she was stunned by the
decision to grant planning permission.

She said: "I am disappointed because I felt the case against Tesco was
very strong.

"The one ray of light is that the Reporter to the public inquiry has not
recommended the stand alone store for planning permission.

"Tesco owns all the land for that so permission would have meant game
over. This story isn't over yet because the city council agreed to sell the
land in Beith Street to Glasgow Harbour.

"That means Tesco cannot go ahead unless the owners of that piece of
land agree to co-operate with them on the development.

"I wasn't in favour of either of the Tesco supermarket developments
because even the stand alone store was going to be big but we will now
just have to wait and see what happens."

Gordon Bickerton of campaign group Stop Tesco Owning Partick (STOP)
admitted he was shocked and disappointed by the Reporter's decision. He
said: "I cannot believe that a government department would fly in the
face of so much public feeling against this. I am astonished.

"I would have thought if anything had got the go-ahead it would have
been the smaller development given the level of protest there was about
the big one.

"This decision is unbelievable and I am in total shock."

James H

big drew

I'm sorry for all who fought against the Tesco Proposals, but let's be honest. the role of the City Council when dealing with 'big guns' like Tesco has always been deplorable.
Suffice to say with recent examples of how Tesco continually circumvent the Planning and Building processes, begins to prove that the Council are 'in bed' with agencies like Tesco, and for the sake of making a 'quick buck', go out of their way to accomodate plans.
Consider also that we, as Council tax payers, are actually paying the wages of these officials who continually 'sell us out', so with Tesco, they simply drive-through the regulations, with full knowledge that they are dealing with 'clowns and amateurs', and can run amok with plans.
Don't be surprised to find out that Tesco had already bought large parcels of land around the site, so that even if they were refused planning, they would still be able to manipulate what future plans 'anyone' comes up with....

james73

Fury over Tesco Town green light (Evening Times)

ANGRY campaigners today criticised the shock decision to give the go-ahead
to the controversial Tesco Town development for Glasgow's West End.

The reporter who chaired the public inquiry was condemned for his
"inexplicable" decision, which could pave the way for a giant supermarket
and almost 900 flats.

Britain's biggest supermarket chain had lodged an appeal after council chiefs
in Glasgow had failed to decide whether to allow the scheme in the Beith
Street area of Partick to go ahead.

The appeal led to the Scottish Government appointing Michael Culshaw to
head a public inquiry.

The Evening Times revealed last week that he has since ruled that the so-
called Tesco Town scheme could go ahead - despite objections from more
than 2400 protesters.

The decision has stunned campaigners with STOP - Stop Tesco Owning
Partick - who are amazed that a second planning application for a
supermarket-only scheme was turned down. Tesco had originally lodged
the supermarket-only plan in case the other scheme was thrown out by
councillors.

In a statement, the campaign group said: "STOP finds it inexplicable that
this larger scheme, the one that STOP has shown at the inquiry does the
most damage, was approved, and the more benign scheme was dismissed."

Protesters fear the go-ahead will badly hit the area's existing independent
retailers, even though there remain serious doubts over whether Tesco
will proceed with plans to build 650 student flats and 220 private
apartments.

James H

james73

Tesco Town site ‘could hold remains of Partick Castle’ (Eveing Times)

The site of the proposed Tesco superstore in Partick could have archaeological
treasures buried under it, says a local historian.

Robert Mellish wants any development to be delayed until the ground has
been explored. The dad-of-two said the site, near the mouth of the River
Kelvin, once housed Partick Castle.

The castle was the country home of George Hutcheson, co-founder of
Hutchesons' Grammar School and the city's old Hutchesons' Hospital.

It is also believed that, before 1600, a building known as the Bishop's
Palace - thought to have been a country residence for the Bishops of
Glasgow - stood on the proposed Tesco site..

Mr Mellish, a marketing manager and community councillor from
Jordanhill, has written to Partick councillor Aileen Colleran asking that an
archaeological assessment of the site is carried out before any
development is permitted.

He said: "There is a very high chance there are archaeological remains
beneath the ground.

"Certainly, the council should check this place out before allowing it to be
built on.

"The archbishops of Glasgow did have a residence in Partick and that site
has an odds-on chance of being it."

Councillor Colleran said she "appreciated the concerns" raised by Mr
Mellish.

She added: "I will ask for a briefing from council officers about the
investigations that should be made before any development takes place."

A controversial planning application by Tesco for a superstore, housing
development and car park was given the go-ahead this summer for the
land between Beith Street and the River Kelvin after a public inquiry.

But in June an adjacent piece of land seen as essential to Tesco for
access to the site was bought by Glasgow Harbour for £4.1million.

It is still not clear how ownership of the vital piece of land will affect the
development

James H