Back our Felpham store or you'll pay - Tesco tells planners

The major retailer informed Arun District Council if planning permission was refused for its proposed 383sq m convenience outlet it would appeal to the Planning Inspectorate to overturn the decision and would also seek an award for costs.

This would be likely to cost the council well over 10,000 of

residents' money.

Arun's development control committee members, who approved the scheme, condemned what it said was bullying by Tesco.

"I think it is absolutely vile and abhorrent because I don't like threats. These comments have really annoyed me," Mark Butler said.

"We have to represent our electors and do our best for them and their views across the board.

I shall stop shopping in Tesco. Hello, Sainsbury's."

Andrew Evans supported him and said: "I am not happy with the threat from Tesco. I have shopped at Tesco but possibly my shopping habits will change."

Council planning officer Keith Wheway had read out Tesco's comments in a recent letter sent to the council.

"I don't know how much an appeal would cost," he said. "But, if a QC was involved on both sides, you are talking well into five figures each.

"If the council were to get costs awarded against us, we would have to pay for Tesco's QC and consultants as well as our own. They will not be cheap."

But Tesco's behaviour was defended by Nikolas Antoniou, Arun's head of development control. He said he viewed the letter merely as setting out the company's next step rather than a threat to land the council with a big bill.

"Perhaps they felt it necessary to let us know their intention, which in a way is helpful. At least we know where we stand, though we might not like it," he added.

Councillors approved the proposals by nine votes to four, with two abstentions, in spite of many objections to the scheme.

The Tesco Express convenience shop will be built on the site of

the Richmond Hyundai car showroom at the junction of the A259 Felpham Way and Middleton Road.

Its location at the busy traffic site led to three highways reports being prepared to study how the customers' vehicles and delivery vehicles would affect the nearby road network.

The approval is subject to 16 conditions. One of these states deliveries to the store will be banned between 4pm and 9am. Tesco will also pay for measures to control parking in surrounding residential roads if that is necessary within three years of the store being opened.

'I'm ready to take them on'- local trader

Summerley Post Office and convenience store owner Stuart Blunden has vowed to take on Tesco. Mr Blunden is one of the closest independent retailers to the new Tesco Express on Felpham Way.

He said he had spent 10,000 on new refrigeration equipment and switched wholesaler to make his business more attractive to shoppers.

"Turnover has doubled in the just under three years I have been at the store," he said. "But it's a tough business. Tesco's arrival will completely change the retail scene in Felpham. People don't realise the depth of impact it will have. It will affect all the shops."

But he added customers would find Tesco Express prices less competitive than in the main stores. He vowed to still be in business in Summerley Lane three years after Tesco opened.

But he warned his customers had to continue to support him.

"It may not be as a post office and convenience store. We will convert it into a day care nursery if that's no longer viable," he said.

Parishes voice strong opposition to new store

Strong arguments against Tesco opening came from Felpham and Middleton

councillors.

Colin Mansfied, of Middleton Parish Council, said: "The parish council is 100 per cent against this application for the following reasons: serious road traffic accidents involving schoolchildren, several local shops will close and on-street parking will result in much congestion on the A259.

"It is clear the store will attract traffic and be the means for the loss of one or two stores in Middleton and Felpham."

Felpham Parish Council's Graham Matthews said: "Anyone who uses this junction, as I do, will observe queues exceeding 11 vehicles on all three approaches from 7am-9am and again from 3.30pm-6.30pm during weekdays and, in particular, during term times.

"The restrictions on delivery times are not adhered to at other Tesco Express stores," he alleged.

Barbara Oakley, a district councillor for Middleton, outlined results of personal surveys which showed the volume of traffic in the area and how shoppers use their cars.

She saw 331 out of 1,287 vehicles at the A259/Middleton Road junction turn towards Middleton in just over an hour on the afternoon of July 13.

A survey outside the One Stop shop in Elmer Road on July 14 evening showed 483 vehicles passed and 81 people went to the store, of whom 62 were in cars.

But Tesco planning agent John Vale said: "We have spent considerable time and expense in achieving a highways solution acceptable to all parties. We believe this has been achieved.

"Councillors should consider the significant weight of evidence in support of the application and the consequences of refusal."

Arun also received objections from the Middleton-on-Sea Association and in 89 individual letters. There were ten letters of support.

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