WIRRAL councillors are set to give the go-ahead to plans for a new Tesco in Wallasey Village.
More than 1,000 concerned residents are against proposals for the retail giant to build a store there.
The supermarket chain has applied for permission from Wirral Council to create a Tesco Express at the former Classic Cars site in Wallasey Village.
It is the second time the company has put forward plans to build on the land after initial proposals were rejected by councillors in April on the grounds that would an “alien” feature to the area.
But now following amendments to its scale and design, the borough’s planning committee are expected to approve the move.
However 1,026 people have signed a petition in protest while 19 individual letters of objection have also been sent in to the local authority.
Among the reasons for opposing the development are concerns regarding car parking issues, pollution from vehicles, noisy deliveries and traffic problems.
Local councillor Leah Fraser, who is backing residents’ fight, said: “There is an issue with the highways aspect of the application as there are already car parking problems in the area with a school being just over the road.
“Residents are concerned that wagons delivering goods late at night or early morning could disturb them with the extra noise.
“A lot of people who signed the petition already use the Nisa store which is opposite the site and are adamant that they do not want Tesco in the village. There is a very strong feeling against the plans and just two people have contacted me in favour of it.”
Although residents have objected to the supermarket chain’s arrival, they suggest the land would be more suited to affordable housing and also voiced worries about the proposed store looking out of place compared with other shops.
According to planning documents, which will go before the committee on tonight, The Wallasey Civic Society say they are concerned about crime increasing due to the site being next door to a pub and a possible detriment to neighbouring traders.
Planning consultancy firm SCP Transportation Planning have also aired their views, stating that the design of the scheme is “unacceptable” and that it is not clear how staff and customers with disabilities would access the first floor of the new Tesco.
However five letters of support have also been lodged, which highlight the need for more competitive trade in the area and the prospect of the plans “revitalizing” Wallasey Village.
The planning committee will meet at Wallasey Town Hall on tonight at 6pm.
Have three of these by me, best thing ever to have happened, just like having a late night corner shop on your doorstep and you don't have to drive miles for a pint of milk or a loaf when the kids have finished the last off and not told you ... Tesco also charge the same in these as they do in the big stores, so you don't end up paying over the odds like you do in some of the late shops or the likes of the coop. They can also stay open late on Sunday so you can still shop when the big shops are shut ..... Don't knock it, both of ours are mad busy all the time (does not affect locals as they are designed to shield noise etc and traffic flow is well designed).
Wirral councillors to visit Tesco site before making decision
WIRRAL councillors will visit the site of a controversial new Tesco before making a ruling, it has been decided.
The borough’s planning committee last night voted unanimously to carry out a site visit before deciding whether to give the retail giant the green light to open in Wallasey Village.
If approved, the proposals would see Tesco creating a new store, thought to be a Tesco Express, at the former Classic Cars garage site.
However the application was met with strong opposition as more than 1,000 residents signed a petition to stop the supermarket chain’s arrival while 19 individual letters were sent to Wirral Council.
Among the reasons for fighting the plans were concerns over car parking, increased traffic and noisy deliveries.
And now councillors are expected to visit the site before announcing their decision next month.
Councillor Stuart Kelly, Lib Dem spokesman for the planning committee, said: “I want to have a look at residents’ objections again and look at the issues in detail.
We will be looking at the proximity of the site to the nearby school and how lorries would get in and out. We will also be considering how the increased traffic could affect the area.”
Following a story on our website ahead of the meeting, our readers showed mixed opinions over whether or not the new Tesco would be an asset to Wallasey Village.
One reader wrote: “SAY NO TO TESCO TOWNS! This is close to the store in Bidston.” And another said: “The residents can rest assured that the council will take not a blind bit of notice of the objections, they will allow it and in so doing there now becomes another outlet for the sale of booze.”
However others said the development would bring jobs to the area, with one reader posting on our Facebook page: “I say 'do it'. It will provide the area with a much-needed job.” And another commented that the store would be an improvement on the current derelict state of the site.
If it goes ahead, I feel sorry for the houses just behind it, they have finally got a view out of there windows when the car place went, now they want to plonk a tescos there, am sure they will like that, right outside there front door, and will love the noise from air conditioning units.
What I fail to undersatnd is, who owns the land,in these instances.Have Tesco already bought the land? Is it owned by the Council, therefore indirectly public land, or is the land leased, and from whom? Surely this should come under the FOI, and if leased,it would be very interesting to know who owns most of the land in Wirral.I heard years ago that building companies had a huge stake in ownership of land in this area. Don't know how true it is tho'.
Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect. ~Chief Seattle
Have three of these by me, best thing ever to have happened, just like having a late night corner shop on your doorstep and you don't have to drive miles for a pint of milk or a loaf when the kids have finished the last off and not told you ... Tesco also charge the same in these as they do in the big stores, so you don't end up paying over the odds like you do in some of the late shops or the likes of the coop. They can also stay open late on Sunday so you can still shop when the big shops are shut ..... Don't knock it, both of ours are mad busy all the time (does not affect locals as they are designed to shield noise etc and traffic flow is well designed).
amen to this.
with Nisa over the road, they face some competition with a few products, though Tesco will have a more varied range. and with the only other grocery shops in wallasey village being the overpriced Co-Op and the even more overpriced Costcutter, this is a very good thing to happen to Wallasey Village.
As I understand it Granny, from one who sold land to Tesco, Tesco always purchase the land whenever possible which of course becomes part of their portfolio whether there is a Tesco shop on it or not.
I also feel sure that once Tesco have seen off any opposition they will increase their prices - business isn't it!
Its looking likely that a KwikSave will be moving into the old Blockbusters in Wallasey Village, I was speaking to the blokes in there last week, who are from the kwiksave in Poulton Road.
As I understand it Granny, from one who sold land to Tesco, Tesco always purchase the land whenever possible which of course becomes part of their portfolio whether there is a Tesco shop on it or not.
I also feel sure that once Tesco have seen off any opposition they will increase their prices - business isn't it!
Thanks Moonstar. Yes, agreed, history tends to repeat itself many times over!
Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect. ~Chief Seattle
Tesco generally only buy small plots subject planning the present owner is the owner of village motors cross lane Dave Iles. Tesco have a huge land bank across the uk and until the downturn in the housing market were a major player in house building.
Controversial plans to build a Tesco store in a busy Wirral centre look set to go ahead in the face of an avalanche of opposition from the local community.
A protest petition signed by more than 1,000 people and a series of letters of objection were lodged with Wirral planning authority against Tesco’s bid to construct a store on the site of a former service station.
Objections ranged from alleged noise from deliveries at unsociable hours and increased dangers to children attending a nearby school to increased parking problems and claims that a large shop would be a blot on the landscape.
A handful of people wrote to the planning authority in support of the project. They claimed that the proposal would bring shoppers into Wallasey Village and revitalise the area as well as encouraging other traders.
Wirral planning committee will make a final ruling on the application next Thursday.
But town planners have recommended its approval and insist that the development would not present any significant detriment to the amenities of neighbouring properties or detrimental change to the character of the local area.
The proposal provides 12 parking spaces – only half the number of spaces allowed for the size of store.
Planners pointed out in a report to next week’s meeting that convenience stores of this nature tended to generate a high turnover of parking spaces with shoppers typically remaining in the store for a few minutes.
The development site is close to a large school and residential area.
The applicant will be required to pay for a ‘Puffin’ crossing in the location of an existing pedestrian refuge fronting the site.
I really wish people would welcome the opening of new businesses, especially stable chains opening new locations. Right now people need jobs a lot more than they need matching aesthetics between shops--no matter how quaint it might look. God forbid should the plebeians from Leasowe make the walk up Leasowe Road to get a much needed job serving the high rolling homeowners from Wallasey Village.
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