CEN article: More than 4,000 say no to new Tesco
MORE than 4,000 people have signed up to stop Tesco opening a new supermarket in Cambridge.
A 4,136-signature petition was formally handed to Cambridge City Council on Friday.
The No Mill Road Tesco campaign has gained momentum in recent weeks thanks to public meetings, street busking events and a growing online presence, including a protest website and Facebook group.
Several hundred objections have also been sent to the council’s planning team, which extended a deadline for comments following the postal strike.
The furore surrounds three planning applications submitted by Tesco to convert the former Wilco building in Mill Road into a store.
The latest email, sent on Friday evening from the group, said: “Our campaign has received support from the MP, David Howarth, and the leader of the council, Ian Nimmo-Smith. We are delighted to have cross-party support and hope the combination of political support and, most importantly, the enormous strength of public feeling will persuade Tesco they are not wanted on Mill Road.
“We have also formally submitted our objections to Tesco’s planning applications. We made 11 separate planning objections to the proposed extension, all based on solid planning grounds.”
A public meeting takes place tonight at the Baptist Church, Mill Road from 6.30-8pm where campaigners will present updates.
In a News poll earlier this month 1,400 people answered the question: “Do you think opening a new Tesco on Mill Road is a good idea?” with 74 per cent saying no.
Cambridge City Council’s deadline for comments has now passed.
The council is expected to make a decision by mid-November.
