Opponents face defeat in Croxley Tesco row (From Watford Observer)
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Opponents face defeat in Croxley Tesco row
10:00am Saturday 14th February 2009 in
Residents and traders opposed to the building of a Tesco store in Croxley Green look likely to lose a two-year planning battle next week.
The supermarket giant first applied in December 2006 to build an Express store and eight flats on the site of a former car showroom in Watford Road.
Now in its fourth incarnation the application will finally be decided by Three Rivers District Council’s Development Control Committee on Thursday night.
The 12 member panel, which has previously refused the scheme, has now been advised by council officers to approve a scaled-down store and seven flats.
On the previous two occasions it was due before the panel (and recommended for refusal) the application was withdrawn at the eleventh hour.
The recommendation comes in spite of a hard fought campaign by the Croxley Green Residents’ Association (CGRA).
Its members compiled a 1,477 signature petition and even produced an independent traffic survey highlighting the “negative” impact of the scheme on the already congested Watford Road.
The group also claim the proposed development would force independent rivals out of business.
A council report released this week, however, gave short shrift to the association’s views and findings and recommended approval.
The panel is not obliged to follow the advice of the report and could still choose to dismiss it for a second time.
CGRA chairman Barry Grant is encouraging as many residents as possible to make their feelings known at the meeting, which starts at 7.30pm at the council’s Rickmansworth HQ.
Will you be at the meeting? Do you support or oppose the plans. Let us know by commenting below.
Comments(23)
Flyonthewall
says...
12:20pm Sat 14 Feb 09
clico
says...
12:25pm Sat 14 Feb 09
Why suddenly are councillors recommending a scalled down application, maybe the back-hander has increased.
If Tesco's are allowed to build, I just hope everyone who has opposed the application, boycotts the store and continues to shop at our very friendly small businesses in the village.
KEEP CROXLEY FREE OF TESCO! PLEASSSSSE!
clico
says...
12:41pm Sat 14 Feb 09
Flyonthewall wrote:Typical comment from somebody living in Watford. We are not whinging minority, but people who care about our village and want to keep it a village and want to keep our local loyal businesses in business. I'm glad your tesco in Whippendell road is clean looks nice and produce looks nice, but how long will that last. What's the traffic like now round where you live or do you not live near the Tesco? Last time I was in Tesco watford, there was a sqirrel running around the store. Time before the guy serving on the raw meet counter with his bloody apron, came over to serve me on the cooked chicken counter...very hygenic eh? Things may look good to the customer because they want to sell the products, but what actually happens in the background. emmm???
According to Three Rivers 2001 census the population of Croxley green was just over 12,000. The petition against Tesco has 1477 names on it, clearly those against are in the MINORITY so the planning should go ahead. Those opposing are clearly the whinging minority who can show their feelings by boycotting Tesco when it opens.... but we all know they'll use it just like everyone else. The Tesco in Whippendell Road is a good example of the benefits bought to the area. It's bright, it's clean, the produce looks nice is reasonably priced and in date, not much of which can be said for the other shops along there.
Our local shops have been serving our community for a very long time and long may it continue for them.
KEEP CROXLEY FREE FROM TESCO!!!
shavedhead23
says...
1:32pm Sat 14 Feb 09
The point is use your pension, enjoy the rest of your lives and whats left of it, let us shop, spend money and do what we want, the other 11,000 of us!
Flyonthewall
says...
6:40pm Sat 14 Feb 09
ralphinator
says...
10:31am Sun 15 Feb 09
Flyonthewall wrote:What a pleasant individual you sound.
It's a pity that people didn't fight harder to keep croxley green a village 100 years ago if they had croxley green would consist of just the green and New Road. Then Clico and the other wind bags wouldn't have anywhere to live. By the way I grew up in Croxley Green, went to school at Malvern Way, Little green and then Durrants, I belonged to the 2nd Croxley Scout group and can remember the Boys Brigade marching once a month on a Sunday. I remember Old Mad Albert living in a caravan on Croxley moor and real shops in New Road. My memories of Croxley Green go back over half a century thats when ordinary people lived there not jumped up windbags who think they're all country gents because theres a bit of grass out side their door and a 4x4 outside.
I notice you're also backing the appalling treatment of the Ricky farmer by Balfour Beatty and chums.
Bet it's all a bit different when it's closer to home
Andrew1963
says...
11:04am Sun 15 Feb 09
Flyonthewall
says...
11:09am Sun 15 Feb 09
OOPS! Looks like they're in Bovingdon as well.
I never said I backed Balfour Beatty if you read my entry again, if Ricky farmer really has a letter why doesn't he let the paper see it and print it, that in it's self would make things very hard for Balfour Beatty, or can't you see that?
Interesting that clito hasn't responded, possibly busy cleaning his green wellies.
clico
says...
3:59pm Sun 15 Feb 09
What possibly gives you reason to think I am an old person, drawing a pension???
I wonder why people in Watford sound so bitter about people living in Croxley, I just cant understand it.
Wait for the reply, how long will it be!!! and who from!!!
Flyonthewall
says...
4:21pm Sun 15 Feb 09
Fly in the ointment
says...
4:46pm Sun 15 Feb 09
There you go, banging on about keeping 'Croxley free of Tesco'.
I therefore assume that you reside in that rat run bit between Watford and Rickmansworth.
Yet you post as clico,'Rickmansworth
' on this site.
Could this be for reasons of aspirations of a better life profile,delusions of grandeur or simply post-code snobbery?
Remember, mush,The 'WD' bit in the 'Ricky' postcode stands for Watford...always has...always will.
Tudor247
says...
6:50pm Sun 15 Feb 09
Chunkey
says...
8:55pm Sun 15 Feb 09
Paradise Watford
says...
8:43am Mon 16 Feb 09
Its normal to have a 'not in my backyard/fear of change reaction to this but you'll get over it. Anyway Tesco own the world and can do whatever they want!
madforcroxley
says...
9:03am Mon 16 Feb 09
Chunkey wrote:The butchers in Baldwins Lane sell the best sausages around for miles - they are famous! Tesco's couldn't beat them if they tried. You say you had to pay over the top prices in the Spar - Do you realise that Tesco Metro stores do not price the same as the supermakets ie. watford, ricky. They are 'local' prices. Generally they undercut the little local shops until they go out of business then once the competition goes the prices will go up - this has happened in a village where a friend of mine lives. Watch and see!
A few weeks ago I went into the butchers shop at the bottom of Baldwins lane. I asked for some sausages and was told "sorry, I haven't made any today". Had to go into Spar shop and pay well over the top for some and was then asked to sign petition against Tesco. None of these things would have happened if Tesco was in Croxley !!!
My main concern is the traffic on the main road, I use the zebra crossing there regularly with my children and it is dangerous enough. With more traffic at that juncion it will get even worse. I am completely opposed to this tesco for many varied reasons I really don't see there is a need for one. There are just so many shops around croxley. I just hope the 12 member panel take into account the CGRA comments and don't just make their decision based on what the council officers tell them.
This is my first post on here and I am very disappointed to read so many comments from people which are completely irrelevant, they have no valid point to make and are very personal with it seems, a grudge against people who live in Croxley.
If you don't have anything worthwhile to say, don't bother replying to my comment as I certainly won't reply to yours and go and use your time more wisely and worthwhile. Bitterness is a disease.
Paradise Watford
says...
10:41am Mon 16 Feb 09
To pull you up on one of your points, I've used a few tesco extras - often ones with no other local shops around - and I don't find them any more expensive than a 'normal' tesco's. Not saying that the one you know about isn't more expensive, prices do change from location to location (as they do in the big superstores mind you) but that hasn't been my own experience.
Its all well and good wanting to protect your environment but part of life is progress, I mean Croxley is vastly different now to what it was 100 years ago and getting a tesco extra is just part of that evolution. And like I said in a previous post, to all those protesting you will see that the store - if it happens - will be very popular
Chris40
says...
11:21am Mon 16 Feb 09
Phoenix Keeper
says...
11:23am Mon 16 Feb 09
I am sure Spar would have something to say about Tesco taking over their shop!!
Chris40
says...
12:39pm Mon 16 Feb 09
Phoenix Keeper wrote:Do Spar own the free hold? That's got to be worth a few quid if Tesco were interested.
Tesco Extra prices tend to be a few more pence higher than a bigger Tesco store. Also the Extra stores do not tend to run the promotions you would find in a larger store. I am sure Spar would have something to say about Tesco taking over their shop!!
WFCinexile
says...
12:58pm Mon 16 Feb 09
Phoenix Keeper wrote:Extra stores are the large ones, Express and Metro are the smaller ones.
Tesco Extra prices tend to be a few more pence higher than a bigger Tesco store. Also the Extra stores do not tend to run the promotions you would find in a larger store. I am sure Spar would have something to say about Tesco taking over their shop!!
A small store in that area may actually boost local businesses as well as create local jobs. It would be interesting to see if the same people were anti M&S if they were thinking of opening a similar store on that site?
Paradise Watford
says...
1:46pm Mon 16 Feb 09
Rob Ridley
says...
4:01pm Mon 16 Feb 09
Paradise Watford
says...
8:54am Tue 17 Feb 09
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