Every little helps as group takes on Tesco

By June Sampson

22nd March 2006

Tolworth residents turned out in force for a public meeting called by the Kingston Society last week to discuss Tesco's controversial plans for a new superstore on an eight-acre site adjacent to the A3 near Tolworth Tower.

The unanimous view of the meeting held at Tiffin Boys' School's Judge Lecture Theatre was that such a development would be severely detrimental to Tolworth Broadway, where more than 90 small shops form the heart of a thriving community.

Several speakers pointed out that the superstore was not the only controversial feature. Also proposed was the building of 835 residential units, in blocks rising as high as 13 storeys.

The newly-formed Tolworth Residents Against Over Development (TROD) felt critics had a useful weapon in Kingston Council's Unitary Development Plan of 1998, which identified the location as an "opportunity site" for residential development and community facilities, with no mention of retail use.

Tony Leitch, for the Kingston Society, was scornful that Tesco had called their proposed development The Bridge at Tolworth to counter criticism that it would be too detached and damaging to Tolworth Broadway.

Mr Leitch said: "We are asked to believe that a 200 metre open bridge and travelator, crossing at high level over the maelstrom of A3 traffic, will do the trick."

He added that the bridge would pose a danger of suicidal and criminal behaviour.

Graham McNally, Kingston's town centre manager, warned that Tesco had "a powerful machine" for wearing down opposition.

"They know the rules," he said, adding that new powers invested in the Mayor of London had to some extent superseded the provisions of the Unitary Development Plans of the 1990s.

"In opposing Tesco's plans, critics must come together to decide what they will agree to, then fight on planning grounds alone even considering taking paid legal advice to present their case."

Vice president Ken Peay reminded the meeting that the Kingston Society had a good track record of vigilance on the borough's behalf, having played a leading role in blocking an earlier Tesco proposal for a site at Giggs Hill Green, keeping Sainsbury's off the Filter Beds site in Portsmouth Road and in saving Kingston Magistrates Court.

The meeting was supposed to have been addressed by representatives of Tesco and the architectural designers of the proposed development. But they reported that Kingston Council had called for such radical revision of the plans that their presentation would no longer be relevant.

Since this article was written, Tesco have submitted a planning application in September 2006 seeking to build 662 flats.