Three Rivers District Council development and control committe grant permission for Tesco on Happy Man site (From Watford Observer)

Three Rivers District Council development and control committe grant permission for Tesco on Happy Man site

8:26pm Thursday 27th May 2010 in

By Adam Binnie »

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With "a heavy heart”, members of Three Rivers District Council have granted permission for a Tesco store in Mill End, despite overwhelming objection from nearby residents and shop owners.

The company has already had two applications rejected for the store and residential development, close to a parade of shops in Tudor Parade.

Revised plans for the site of the former Happy Man pub, in Berry Lane, were revealed in March and show scaled-down development of four flats instead of eight, and built on two levels rather than three.

Councillor Phil Brading said: “We had a similar development in my ward of Croxley Green, the Tesco convenience store there had the same residents' concerns as this application.

“This has been scaled down and is a much less intrusive development which fits in much better.”

Despite these alterations, residents and shop owners sent 449 letters of objection, including an 800 signature petition, largely due to concerns over lack of parking and the increase in traffic which the store would bring.

Peter Crispin, chairman of Rickmansworth and District Residents' Association, said: “I will be astonished, and very happy, if Tesco actually obey all the restrictions placed upon it. In particular I expect the company to blatantly ignore the restrictions on delivery times.

“Until the government allows local councils to fine companies tens of thousands of pounds, or threaten a store with closure, for ignoring the legal commitments they have agreed to then I expect Tesco to continue to treat local communities with contempt”

Christine Alexandrou, who owns Maria Elena Health and Beauty in Tudor Parade condemned Hertfordshire Highways, who had no objection to the development, accusing them of “trying to shut the door once the horse has bolted”.

She said: “The delivery vehicle cannot enter and exit [by] the same route, but will enter from Field Way then exit through Shepherds Lane, which is too narrow and will pass three schools.

“Go to Ruislip High Street where the Costcutter store has now closed after the opening of Tesco Express last year.

“A whole parade has been wiped out after the opening of Tesco Express in Bently, Essex. Approve this application if you want to see boarded up shops.”

Addressing more than 50 residents who attended the meeting, leader of the council Ann Shaw said: “We are not here to judge an application on a referendum basis.

"Competition with other shops in not a valid ground for refusal.

“If this goes to appeal we wouldn't have a leg to stand on, I've read all the papers longing for a grounds for refusal but I cannot find one.”

Councillor Shaw also thanked the residents for their work in resisting the application on a number of occasions.

Members of the development and control committee suggested they had tried to find a reason to refuse the application, but had not been able to.

Chairman of the committee Geoffrey Dunne said he that permission would be granted “with a heavy heart” at the development and control meeting this evening.

Comments(15)

Roy Storkdill says...
9:14pm Thu 27 May 10

Hurray, at last. No we'll get some decent quality produce, that's in date and not sold from a filthy hole.