the No Mill Road Tesco Campaign

CAMPAIGNERS against plans for a Tesco store in Cambridge’s Mill Road have been given a last-minute stay of execution.

Planning chiefs at Cambridge City Council have taken the scheme off the table for Thursday night’s east area committee after deciding the report did not go into the issues in enough detail.

The decision has only just been made - taking campaigners and the supermarket giant by surprise.

Tesco has applied for permission to extend the former Wilco building in Mill Road and install new signs and a cash machine to create an Express store.

Planning officers had recommended the plans for approval despite a massive public backlash against the idea.

More than 5,000 people have signed a petition against the plans, and more than 1,100 have written letters of objection.

Campaigners were expected to turn out in force to protest at Thursday’s council meeting which had been booked into a larger venue - St Philip’s Church in Mill Road - to make room for the large numbers of people expected.

But now the council has decided the planning reports were “not comprehensive” enough and said the applications will be debated another day.

The No Mill Road Tesco campaign submitted a complaint to the council saying the report was “flawed” .

A spokesman for the campaign said: “We are glad that the council have taken our concerns seriously with regard to the incomplete planners’ report.”

Cambridge Evening News, 16th January 2008, 5pm

CAMPAIGNERS fighting plans for a Tesco store want residents to make their feelings clear to councillors.

Members of the No Mill Road Tesco campaign say most of the public back their bid to stop the supermarket giant opening an Express store on a street known for its independent shops.

On Saturday, campaigners walked from Cambridge’s Guildhall to the proposed site of the store, the former Wilco building on Mill Road, encouraging people to attend the crucial council meeting where the final decision on Tesco’s plans will be made.

Cambridge City Council planning officers have recommended to the east area planning committee that it approve the scheme when it meets at St Philip’s Church on Mill Road on Thursday at 7.30pm.

Sonia Cooter, co-ordinator of No Mill Road Tesco, acknowledged that some residents do want the store but believes that view is misguided.

She said: “People think this will be like the Tesco on Newmarket Road, but it will be a Tesco Express.

“The shopping basket comparison on our website is completely genuine. It shows that independent stores on Mill Road are cheaper.”

Ms Cooter believes a Tesco Express would end the Mill Road shopping experience known to generations of Cambridge residents.

She said: “The special character of Mill Road is all based around small, independent shops.

“If people want to have their say, they should contact their councillor and they should come to the planning committee meeting.”

Cambridge Evening News, 14th January 2008

[This article mentions that some objections came from abroad; however, it fails to make clear that the vast majority of the enormous number of applications came from local residents. The Tesco spokesperson also fails to address the fact that there were no supporting letters submitted whatsoever.]

By Raymond Brown

Protestors against the new Tesco store.

CAMPAIGNERS against a Tesco store have been dealt a cruel blow.

Continue reading ‘Blow for Tesco Mill Road campaigners’ »

CAMPAIGNERS are making a last-minute bid to sway councillors who will decide whether controversial proposals for a Tesco store in Mill Road, Cambridge, should go ahead.

The No Mill Road Tesco committee has sent a heartfelt open letter to members of Cambridge City Council’s East Area Committee asking them to reject the proposals and “protect the vitality and viability of Mill Road”.

Tesco has applied for permission to extend the former Wilco building in Mill Road and install new signs and a cash machine to create an Express store.

More than 5,000 people have signed a petition against the plans, and more than 1,100 have written letters of objection.

But planning officers at Cambridge City Council have recommended the plans for approval.

Campaigners are not giving up hope.

The letter reads: “While you consider the planning officers’ reports and our detailed response to them, which we have sent to you, please also think about the following things:

“Tesco want to drive 10m lorries and other delivery vehicles the wrong way down a one-way street at least 30 times per week until 11 o’clock at night. Their ‘just in time’ policy means it is likely to be much more than that.

“The side streets of Romsey are already extremely congested and hazardous for pedestrians and cyclists.

“Tesco want to remove 18 car parking spaces from an area of Cambridge with huge existing parking problems, even though the store and its cash point would generate much more demand for parking spaces in the area.

“The Local Plan requires you to protect the vitality and viability of Mill Road. All the evidence shows that a Tesco Express would force small, independent businesses to close. In the words of one local trader: ‘I fear Tesco’s biggest impact will be on the independent spirit of Mill Road. We won’t be able to compete financially.’” They claim Cambridge is England’s ninth most Tescodominated town and ask: “Do we really want to help Cambridge move up that particular league table?”

The East Area Committee meets at St Philip’s Church, 185 Mill Road, tomorrow (Thursday, 17 January) at 7.30pm.

Cambridge Evening News, 11th January 2008

By Laura Jean Morris

Cambridge Crier, 14th December 2007

TESCO has been left red-faced this week after claiming it knew nothing of a 5,000-signature petition against its plans to open a Mill Road store.

A letter from the supermarket giant sent to a campaigner fighting plans for the controversial Tesco Express outlet, also said it would be opening its doors on January 25.

The letter was sent by a customer services executive on behalf of Tesco’s chief executive, Sir Terry Leahy.

However, no official opening date for the store, on the former Wilco site, has been set. Tesco has permission to revamp the existing site but is still in the process of applying for planning permission to extend it. It also wants to put up new signage and install a cash machine.

Sonia Cooter, from the campaign group No To Mill Road Tesco, said: “I was absolutely gobsmacked when I read the letter.

“At best it is incompetence and at worst arrogance and a total disregard to planning policy.”

The campaigners have been fighting against the branch opening, organising the 5,000-strong petition which was presented to Cambridge City Council, as well as a march in November which attracted more than 600 people.

A decision regarding the store’s extension is set to be made by the council in the new year.

The letter, sent in response to a complaint by one of the campaigners to Sir Terry Leahy, said “We will be opening a Tesco Express store in Mill Road, Cambridge on 25th January, 2008.

“We have no knowledge, as yet, of a petition having been made, nor of so many objections having been lodged, as planning permission has already been granted for this store.

“In addition, if people have taken the trouble to march in protest against such a small Tesco store opening, then clearly they feel very strongly about this issue, and this is something that we need to look into.”

A spokesman for Tesco, working on the local development of the store, conceded the letter was sent in error.

The spokesman said: “Unfortunately, the people who deal with this project on a day-to-day basis were not contacted.

“Some of the information that was included in this response from our customer service department is incorrect.

“As a company we receive a vast amount of correspondence and on occasion some letters do not get passed to the relevant person. We apologise that this response was sent out and would like to take this opportunity clarify some of the inaccurate information.

“We do not have an opening date for the store as the application has not yet gone to committee.

“We are aware there are elements of local opposition and we have met with their representatives. As a company we are always committed to meeting with the public.”

Ms Cooter said: “I am obviously pleased that Tesco has clarified the situation as regards the incorrect information in the letter.

“However, our fight does not end here. We do not want this store.”

The Cambridge Evening News has today revealed that Mill Road is at number three in the rankings of 195 accident blackspots in Cambridgeshire. Sixty per cent of the accidents involved cyclists.

There have been 86 injury accidents on either side of the bridge in the last three years.

Continue reading ‘CEN article: Mill Road at number three in the rankings of 195 accident blackspots in Cambridgeshire’ »

TESCO’S announced this week that a controversial new store would be opening in Cambridge’s Mill Road next month but the city council has yet to approve or reject the scheme.

A letter sent from the retail giant to a campaigner also claimed it was unaware of a 5,000-signature petition against the store.

The letter was sent by a customer services executive on behalf of Tesco’s chief executive, Sir Terry Leahy.

No opening date for the store has been set. The firm has permission to revamp the former Wilco site but is still applying for permission to extend it.

Sonia Cooter, of campaign group No To Mill Road Tesco, said: I was gobsmacked when I read the letter. At best it is incompetence and at worst arrogance, and a total disregard to local planning policy.

A Tesco spokesman said the letter was sent in error, adding: Unfortunately, the people who deal with this project on a day-to-day basis were not contacted.

Many residents say the arrival of a Tesco shop will damage the character of Mill Road and hit existing traders.

Cambridge Evening News, 14th December 2007

Year 6 pupils at St Philip’s School with their protest letters

PRIMARY schoolchildren have joined the fight against a planned new Tesco in Mill Road.

Youngsters from nearby St Philip’s Primary School have bombarded the Newswith letters criticising plans by the supermarket giant to open an Express store at the former Wilco site.

The flurry of letters follows a school project on the issue, which saw Year 6 pupils take to the streets to interview 234 people on Mill Road, with 70 per cent saying ‘no’ to Tesco.

It follows a demonstration by 600 residents against the plans on Saturday, while a 4,136-name petition has also been submitted to Cambridge City Council opposing the proposals.

The results of the pupils’ poll are yet another blow to the proposals, which campaigners fear will kill off many of the Mill Road’s small shops and ruin the road’s vibrant community spirit.

Nine-year-old Chloe Beddall was passionately against the plans, saying:

“I would absolutely hate it if all the little businesses were forced to shut down.

All these important shops will never be used again if Tesco moves in.”

And 10-year-old Archie Proctors added: “What about the traffic?

“How can we fit big lorries down the already-full street? I would hate to bike down an even more dangerous road when I was almost knocked off today (Thursday, 29 November).”

Max Nentwich, 10, said his investigation had confirmed his feelings about the Tesco plans.

He said: “I am absolutely appalled at Tesco moving in on Mill Road. Are we expected to watch as the street’s diversity falls into ruin.

“I am proud of the local shops as you get to know the shopkeepers.”

However, some pupils were not swayed by the results of their investigation.

Joshua Watson, 10, said: “What about the elderly? Would they want to walk all the way to Sainsbury to get the food they want? Ignore all who say no to Tesco.”

A Tesco spokesman said: “This will be a small convenience store that will serve many people in the local area.

“It will be half the size of the existing Coop on Mill Road, and we have received many letters of support for it.”

Meanwhile, the issue has continued to split opinion across Cambridge and beyond.

Cambridge Evening News, 30/11/2007

CAMPAIGNERS opposed to Tesco’s plans to open a store in a unique Cambridge road have organised a protest march.

Tesco wants to open a convenience store in Mill Road, but it has met fierce opposition from residents who fear it would ruin the character of the street, dominated by independent businesses and local traders.

The No Mill Road Tesco campaigners will march from the Parker’s Piece end of the street to the former Wilco site, which Tesco wants for a new store.

The march takes place on Saturday, November 24, at noon.

A spokesman said: “We hope everyone comes along and joins us in showing how much we want to save Mill Road.”

A meeting to discuss preparations takes place at Mill Road Baptist Church tomorrow at 7pm. If you would like to help email info _at_ nomillroadtesco.org

Cambridge Evening News, 19th November 2007

A large number of letters from members of the public have appeared in the Cambridge Evening News in support of our Campaign:

• Excellent shops (17th November 2007)
• It’s market forces (1st November 2007)
• Great butcher (1st November 2007)
• Loss leaders (29th October 2007)
• Just one Mill Road (27th October 2007)
• It is democracy (27th October 2007)
• Better placed (27th October 2007)
• But it’s not fair (27th October 2007)
• They shop and go (27th October 2007)
• We must act (18th October 2007)
• Appalling idea (11th October 2007)
• Fears justified (11th October 2007)
• Fight the giant (11th October 2007)
• Keep Tesco out (11th October 2007)
• Monopoly grows (11th October 2007)
• Protect this gem (4th October 2007)
• Keep character (4th October 2007)
• Protect Mill Road (3rd October 2007)
• Keep Tesco out (3rd October 2007)
• Danger of Tesco’s sweeping the board (27th September 2007)

(More links will be added as articles are published and as time permits.)