the No Mill Road Tesco Campaign

Decision day is fast approaching for the proposal to open a Tesco store on Mill Road. An overwhelming majority [1] of Mill Road residents and shoppers are opposed to the proposal, which threatens the many independent and local shops that give Mill Road its unique cosmopolitan character.

On Thursday 17^th January, Cambridge City Council’s East Area Committee will meet at 7.15 for a 7.30 start at St Philips Church, 185 Mill Road, to decide on Tesco’s applications for the former Wilco site. These include a new shop-front in Tesco’s ubiquitous livery, 15-metre illuminated signs, and a large extension to the back of the building, with noisy refrigeration and air conditioning units to be installed close to homes on Sedgwick Street.

Tesco has also told the council that they will be asking for the removal of 18 car parking spaces, including four spaces on Sedgwick Street, so that they can reverse their lorries onto the site several times a day.

The No Mill Road Tesco campaign [2], which has collected more than 5,200 signatures from residents opposed to the Tesco store, is urging as many people as possible to attend, so that councillors are in no doubt about the strength of public feeling.

“In its Local Plan, the Council committed itself to preventing any developments that would harm the vitality and viability of local centres, like Mill Road, ” said Sonia Cooter, coordinator of the NoMillRoadTesco campaign. “Yet case after case across the country shows that where a Tesco Express opens, other shops, especially small, independent shops, go out of business. These are the shops that Mill Road is known and loved for.

“If they want to meet their commitments to safeguard the future of this area as a place to work and live and shop, they will reject these applications. Last year, Barnet Council successfully rejected a similar application on exactly these grounds; we hope that our councillors value our community enough to do the same.”

She added there are many other substantial grounds upon which the applications could and should be rejected, including the increase in congestion which the continual arrival of just-in-time deliveries will cause. “The increase in traffic would also put pedestrians and cyclists, including children travelling to Coleridge and St Philips schools, at risk, and would add to delays for motorists who depend on Mill Road. Residents of Sedgwick Street and other streets around Mill Road would be particularly hard-hit by the loss of parking spaces, which are already desperately short in the area.”

Anyone who submitted a written objection during the consultation period is entitled to speak against the proposals during the meeting, provided they have notified the Area Committee Manager, Mr John Blunt, by 12 noon on Wednesday 16^th January. Mr Blunt can be contacted on 01223 457012 or via e-mail, john.blunt@cambridge.gov.uk, or by writing c/o Room 11, The Guildhall, Cambridge CB2 3QJ.

Notes for Editors

[1] Over 1200 written objections to the Tesco proposals were received during the consultation period. Council officers have privately commented that a normal response to a planning application of this kind would be 10 to 12 written objections.

[2] www.nomillroadtesco.org