TESCONBURY - Every little hurts

Useless jobs at Tesco!

2012-02-19T08:49:00.000-08:00

Tesco deny using 'work experience' scheme to hire workers without pay, but admit that only 300 out of 1400 actually got the useless shelf-stacking and other cheap labour jobs!

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/business-news/2012/02/19/tesco-deny-using-work-experience-scheme-to-hire-workers-without-pay-86908-23757342/

Slave-Labour Law

2012-02-18T05:40:00.002-08:00

Just a quick note to you all who are forced into working or risk having your benefits cut.
Under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) which the UK are part of:
The main rights protected by Section 1 ECHR that are incorporated into English law are listed in SCH 1 HRA (Human Rights Act) 1998. They are as follows:
(Number 3 on the list is:) The prohibition of slavery and forced Labour
Remember this and quote this to the Job Centre next time they tell you that you have no choice!!!

The Forced Labour Convention No. 29 (1930) bears particular relevance and defines forced labour as:
a) all work or service;
b) which is not voluntary;
c) and is exacted under the menace of a penalty.

Please circulate widely to stop Tesco, and the private corporations administering the Job Centres and UK plc government, and their criminal activity!

Complaints to Tesco

2012-02-18T03:23:00.002-08:00

For folk who feel strongly about the issues of cheap labour and slavery, this is the man to complain to and/or email to about Tesco's 'newly discovered' slave labour.

Tesco's CEO: philip.clarke@uk.tesco.com

You can also find the main office address online and send written copies to the same man!

Tesco forced to change!

2012-02-17T06:10:00.001-08:00

The revelations about Tesco using slave labour schemes has forced them to adopt a different position! Their policy is 'do whatever we want until we're found out'!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/feb/16/tesco-unpaid-work-experience-scheme?newsfeed=true

Tesco slavery is 'old news'!

2012-02-17T03:16:00.001-08:00

As this article shows, Tesco has been treating its workers and producers like slaves for many years!

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23500368-tesco-slave-labour-row.do

Tesco Slave Labour Conspiracy!

2012-02-17T02:58:00.002-08:00

Support for Tesco is support for slave labour!
http://liberalconspiracy.org/2012/02/16/how-companies-like-tesco-are-paying-workers-virtually-nothing/

It appears that the ConDemAll government is conspiring with Tesco to provide unpaid jobs to force a number of the jobless folk into work. In this case the fact that the work is unpaid means that this is an example of forced labour (slavery)!

A reminder about Slavery:

STATUTE BREACH for Slavery in the UK

Contrary to Ss 2 and 10 of The Slave Trade Act 1824

"...in every such case the person or persons so offending, and their procurers, counsellors, aiders, and abettors, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years."

Shame on Tesco for being involved in this criminal use of public funds, and serious Misuse of Public Office by the corporate owned UK plc government!

Excess packaging?

2012-01-23T12:24:00.000-08:00

Concerned about excess packaging in supermarkets? Tired of having to sort it out and put it in your bin? Would like to let that supermarket know about their excess packaging and sort the problem out?
Here is an excellent solution:
Send all excess packaging back to the supermarkets, using their customer services FREEPOST address with a note enclosed that reads "Thank you, I don't want this. Please cut back on your packaging".
In that way you can be influencing their policies and helping them to be responsible for their waste, and for their failure to use biodegradable packaging despite many ethical companies doing so already!
Please do network the addresses widely, especially to anyone using the specific supermarkets.

Send to the following FREEPOST addresses:

Tesco Customer Services
FREEPOST SCO2298
Dundee
DD1 9NF

Sainsbury’s
FREEPOST ANG20589
PO Box 137
Wymondham
NR9 5BR

Freepost RSJT-XEEL-XBLR
ASDA Contact Centre
Asda House
Great Wilson Street
Leeds
LS11 5AD

The Co-operative Group, Customer Relations,
Freepost MR9473,
Manchester
M4 8BA

W. H. Smith Retail Ltd.
FREEPOST SCE4410
Swindon
Wiltshire
SN3 3XS

Waitrose & John Lewis Partnership
FREEPOST SW1647
Bracknell
RG12 8HX

* The following are not FREEPOST addresses but if you send items without postage paid they have to pay anyway.

Marks and Spencer plc
Returns Department,
48 Hardwick Grange, Woolston,
Warrington,
Cheshire,
WA1 4RF
United Kingdom

Customer Service Department
Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC
Hilmore House
Gain Lane
Bradford
BD3 7DL

Tesco spoof...

2012-01-10T15:41:00.000-08:00

Tesco vs. Denmark - the scary spoof!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfSi0D7KESk&feature=player_embedded

The current Occupation and safety issues

2012-01-01T17:18:00.000-08:00

Avalon Plastics was built in 1969. Its neighbour was the Glastonbury Rugby Club next to Street Road, now the site of B&Q. The retail site was built during the 1980s and '90s with B&Q and Wollens, etc, as a retail 'buffer' between the expanding town and industrial estate. The Avalon Plastics site was therefore the only industrial site amongst the retail sites. When Avalon Plastics closed and the site was sold, Tesco became the potential remaining retail component of the retail area.
If not for the failure to meet with local and national planning policies, by potentially driving retail traffic through an industrial area and along unsuitable roads, and the failure to provide pedestrian and bicycle access from the retail side (and across the existing Ransom Strip along Wirral Park Road), there may already have been a retail store trading on the site.
To develop the site, there must be an extensive decontamination of the buildings and land, something that has yet to be started. Now, with an occupation of the site in progress, the issue of the state of the old building has been raised. Whilst the condition of the site is little different to many other closed industrial sites, it should be noted that before being suitable for human occupation and use, it MUST be decontaminated.

The potentially hazardous materials present on the site, lead to the following considerations:
- Asbestos - various types used in the roofing and manufacturing.
- 40 years of the processing of materials of the plastics industry, including releasing agents, industrial oils and a wide range of plastic materials and fillers.
- The flooring of the main building is unsealed and so will be contaminated with a combination of the above materials.
- The buildings, including the offices, are unfit for human habitation due to types of dust, vapours, and other forms of contamination, from the main building.
- The site is filthy and cannot be cleaned properly due to no electricity or proper cleaning equipment. This means that what cleaning has been done was by brush and/or domestic equipment which are clearly inadequate for the job.

The proposals for a 'community centre' and/or 'gallery' in the buildings, a vegetable and local produce market, and the creation of a pizza oven (for 'donation') before the site is decontaminated have not properly considered the serious risks to health presented by the site, especially to people not taking precautions with safety clothing, dust-masks, etc. Preparing food and drinks for consumption on site is clearly unsafe.

On the leaflets that were handed out on the High Street recently was the question: "How have TESCO managed to get permission to retail food on a site only a stone's throw downwind from Street and Glastonbury's sewage works?", yet food and drink is being provided on the site already!
As the Red Brick Building cafe is fully functional and Bride's Yard Shop has been selling foods for many years, both very close to the sewage works, the issue is not the proximity to the sewage works but the industrial residue which will remain on the site until the existing derelict buildings are demolished and the site is professionally cleared and decontaminated.

Whilst the sentiments of the occupation are mostly admirable, due to the serious hazard to participants and visitors, the Tesconbury focus group cannot recommend the occupation at this time and urge caution to anyone thinking of being on the site. We feel that use of the existing derelict buildings for any kind of food and drink preparation is inappropriate and irresponsible, and should cease immediately.

Comments invited...

Tesco Betrayal!

2011-12-30T18:04:00.000-08:00

Anger rises as Tesco keeps its £140,000!

http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/Anger-rises-Tesco-keeps-pound-140-000/story-13381789-detail/story.html

Tesco don't want to pay for anything! They're so wealthy yet too tight to pay for a proper plan using proper retail access from a proper retail road. They're too mean to pay for the Ransom Strip yet have apparently been led to believe that they would get permission for their rotten plan even though it flouts both Local and National Planning Policies. And now they're withdrawing the 'sweetener' that they promised, which was to 'offset' the likely losses to local retailing in Street and Glastonbury.
Will local councillors and planning committees tolerate this betrayal and still give permission for the Tesco store, even though doing so would be against Planning Policies and therefore a Misuse of Public Office and Public Funds?

Comments invited!

FYI - Occupation

2011-12-14T16:47:00.000-08:00

A copy of the letter given to the Occupy group at the Avalon Plastics building and site.

More attention could be given to the issue of the bad Tesco plan that breaches both Local and National Planning Policies by driving retail traffic through an industrial site and along roads not built for such traffic (Beckery Road and Dyehouse Lane), by not having local pedestrian and bicycle access on the nearest boundary along Wirral park Road, by increasing traffic distance to travel to access the entrance to the site and thereby massively increasing emissions and wear to roads which in turn increases congestion, and by the refusal of Tesco to purchase the Ransom Strip along the front of the potential retail access of Wirral Park Road which has forced the various breaches of the Planning Policies and led to the proposed store having its back to Glastonbury.
The suggested creation of 225 new jobs, by approving the proposed Tesco store, is in stark contradiction to the Tescopoly site statistic which says that on average 276 jobs are lost in each community where a Tesco/other supermarket 'superstore' is built and operating. The jobs created may mostly be part-time and unskilled (generally agreed statistics), signifying a poor gain if any. The suggestion of such an increase in jobs would appear to be sufficiently in doubt, even taking into account a smaller store and less impact than a 'superstore', bringing further question about the only potential benefit for the area.
These issues raise other questions about the planning process that has led to the local planning committee and MDC planning office giving approval to the proposed Tesco supermarket. How can local planners approve a plan that is in breach of policies and has little or no gain, and may be seriously detrimental, for the the town and area? Who really owns the Ransom Strip and is it really so expensive that Tesco can't afford it? Why do the local and area planners not insist on proper retail access via Wirral Park Road in accordance with their own official policies? Is Public Office being 'misused' in any way? Are public funds being spent inappropriately? Who are the local and MDC Councillors who are approving the Tesco plan? Are other persons involved who are not in public office and therefore have no right to administer public funds? To what degree have local businesses and producers been consulted and included in wider opportunities for locals to make informed objection to the very bad plan?
Some folk will be asking such questions and may want to discuss the issues more widely!

The invitation to view the previous posts (going back about 2 years!) is extended to folk wanting more information on wider issues.
Comments invited!

Avalon Plastics building Occupation

2011-12-13T16:01:00.000-08:00

Anyone seeing this may want to attend in the morning...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQwl9AR0BKc&list=UUqXeJe5J89G6r8QnmNNX_gQ&feature=plcp

Tesco 'struggling'?

2011-11-21T03:53:00.000-08:00

Tesco 'struggling' and needing rescue from the likes of Buffet?? That's tough! LOL!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/8903760/Warren-Buffett-buy-Tesco-shares.html

Perhaps they've grown too much and should stop!
Let's all send them that message by objecting to ANY form of Tesco being built in Glastonbury or anywhere else!

Criticism of Tesco

2011-11-16T14:20:00.000-08:00

Wikipedia shows that all is not well in the 'state of Tesco'!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Tesco

Why would anyone in public office, in receipt of public funds, want to misuse that public office and recommend acceptance of a company as well known for corruption and litigation as Tesco?

"Tesco-isation"

2011-11-16T14:16:00.000-08:00

Labour leader concerned about the "...Tesco-isation of Britain's high streets..."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/may/01/ed-miliband-supermarket-policy

The results of using cheap labour...

2011-11-16T14:04:00.000-08:00

...can be detrimental!

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/man-finds-dead-bird-in-store-bought-salad-bag.html

Every little hurts at Tesco!

Tesco cheap labour scheme

2011-09-17T04:33:00.000-07:00

So this is the type of cheap labour jobs that Glastonbury T.C and Mendip D.C want for locals? Is this why G.T.C and M.D.C are flouting both local and national planning laws?

http://www.broadsheet.ie/2011/09/16/tesco-want-shelf-stackers-for-christmas/

35 hours a week for £50 on top of benefits? For a 'internship' learning how to stack shelves? And maybe get a full time job at the end? It's little more than slave labour!

Surely GTC and MDC would be better investing in local jobs with local companies, local business units, companies that treat workers fairly and pay proper wages? But what is proposed instead, is useless cheap labour jobs with a well-known multinational company that on average causes 276 local job losses for every large supermarket it builds (statistic courtesy of Tescopoly) and removes money from local circulation. And the same company is famous for bringing imported foods which replace local producers and local markets!

The only explanation for allowing such an abusive and thieving multinational into local communities around Britain is the level of payoffs that Tesco gives to the local councils.
With £6m given by Tesco to Somerset C.C as an 'incentive' for the new Bridgewater super store, and with S.C.C owned by SouthwestOne Ltd (IBM), it is easy to see who is really profiting from the introduction of Tesco stores into local areas. With the extensive cutbacks in public services being implemented across Somerset, it certainly is NOT the people of Somerset who are being served by such large payoffs!

All comments welcome...

Support locally...

2011-09-15T09:56:00.001-07:00

With the extreme pressure on the British economy as a result of bank bailouts and support for unlawful wars, it really is time to support local production and local independent retailers.

http://www.hisbe.co.uk/independents/

Local resilience means that as much as possible it "Must Be British"!

Postcode saturation

2011-09-04T02:23:00.000-07:00

The only postcode left without a Tesco? Has there been an agenda going on?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-only-postcode-without-a-tesco-ndash-but-for-how-much-longer-2347187.html

Posters

2011-08-31T06:07:00.000-07:00

The more the message gets out the better. When folk see each other taking a stand against corporate theft of local revenue and jobs, and the threats against local producers and markets, then even more will act!

Please feel free to download/save as any of the images/posters from this site, print them and put them in your windows (car, house, shop, etc), and on noticeboards!

Join this blog site as a follower to post responses yourself and give your email address to get notified of new posts.

Questions, questions...

2011-08-27T05:40:00.000-07:00

The questions in some peoples' minds will be as to what has changed so much that Tesco are being allowed to resubmit their truly stupid plan?
Why are Tesco resubmitting a bad plan during a holiday period?
Could it be that the new personnel involved (in GTC and MDC) are going against their own guidelines?
If 'public servants' are going against their own guidelines and therefore against their 'conditions of office' (oaths), can they be held to account for Misuse of Public Office and Misappropriation of Public Funds?
Why are Glastonbury councillors in favour of a corporation taking revenue out of the area and causing job losses in real terms?
With Tesco's record of 'incentives' and large payoffs to local councils, how much have MDC and GTC been offered?
Why is the issue of the Tesco's refusal to pay for the Ransom Strip along Wirral Park Road and retail access via a retail access route, still not being addressed?
What do local councillors know about the Ransom Strip and its conditions, who owns the Ransom Strip, and what are they asking Tesco to pay for crossing it?
How will small roads into an industrial estate cope with a volume of traffic that they were not designed for?
Why will local pedestrians have to walk all the way to the crossing on Street Road and then come back along Beckery New Road in order to get to the site, when the logical entrance to the site is via Wirral Park Road?
Why is Dyehouse Lane even being considered as a viable access route to the proposed Tesco carpark and entrance?
Is the boss of Avalon Plastics still pushing for Tesco plan acceptance because he faces some form of liability should Tesco not be granted permission to build its badly designed store?
Are there other individuals in the town and council with vested interests in the Tesco plan?
Why are local councillors, planning committee and planning officers, being allowed to make a mockery of carefully considered and laid out planning policies at local and national levels?
Why are local councillors, planning committee and planning officers being allowed to ride roughshod over significant local opinion and local business interest, at a time when the economy has been virtually ruined by criminally acting corporations and when the resilience of local economy is vital to protect/enhance?
How many of the more recently elected councillors (Green, independent, LibDem, Labour), who outnumber the Tories on GTC, actually in favour of the proposal? If so who are they?

Other folk may have other questions. Feel free to post them!

Comment: It's the same bad plan!

2011-08-25T03:27:00.000-07:00

Tesco is at it again, now with their new 'sympathetic' Planning Officer!
Whatever the new application, the plan is still against National and Local Planning Policies, directly because it forces retail traffic through an industrial estate and along roads that cannot accommodate two lanes of traffic.
The only reason for any change in Mendip D.C planning is because there are private for profit corporations operating local councils and they have private interest (are receiving substantial 'incentives') for allowing Tesco into communities whether there is any benefit or not. This sad story smacks of corruption at the highest level!
As already presented very clearly, Tesco offers no jobs of any worth, costs local jobs in far greater numbers than the few part time jobs it creates, impacts very negatively on local economies (just look at Shepton Mallet!), buys up land around the country to speculate on the destruction of local communities and retail outlets, and repeatedly attempts to flout planning policies!
The bottom line that all interested folk need to know is that the Tesco plan is NOT lawful. It is against our own local guidelines!
If implemented it WILL impact negatively on the local economy, on traffic and roads, on local resilience and sustainability. The plan is unworkable!
Yet again Tesco is using a bad plan to save paying the cost of the Ransom Strip on Wirral Park Road. It will have its back to Glastonbury with no proper access for local people!
Why anyone is supporting this flouting of planning laws is incredible!

Just posted message

2011-08-25T03:22:00.000-07:00

From Glastonbury Noticeboard:

The application by Tesco to establish a store on the former Avalon Plastics site (near B and Q) is going to be heard by the Planning Board on 31 August (next Wednesday) at 6.30 pm in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Shepton Mallet.

Unfortunately the new Planning Officer at Mendip, Les Kimberley, is approving this application. There is a maximum of three minutes for all opposing to speak against this and Nick Cottle says he will speak, which seems very appropriate as he is on the Council, was formerly Mayor etc. But it would obviously be great if some of those who are opposed could be present either outside - as a protest group - or in the Chamber. Sadly I can't be there but if anyone is interested in organising something please do so!!

Philippa Glasson

Interesting letters...

2011-04-02T03:10:00.000-07:00

The 2 newly posted letters, addressed to Edward Baker at Mendip D.C Planning Dept, and cc. to Canynge Bicknell, Peter Evans Partnership, and Beachcroft LLP, are just 2 of a number of letters of objection to the current Tesco application. These 2 are probably the most interesting and informative.

As viewers of the letters will quickly realise, MDC and its Planning Dept have known since February that there is no question whatsoever that the Tesco application goes against national and local planning policies and therefore, should permission be granted by MDC, the issue will be 'called-in' again by the Secretary of State, directly because it raises "issues of more than local concern".

Some viewers may be asking questions as to why it is that some of Glastonbury's local councillors are still attempting to fool the local population by supporting the Tesco application and pretending that they have any real say in the matter! Surely enough time and money has been wasted on this issue? Why is is that some local politicians are attempting to foist a plan upon Glastonbury that so clearly goes against national and local planning policies? Why are local councillors giving any support to such a plan when it is a cynical attempt to avoid clearly laid out policies designed to protect roads and buildings, secure proper access for local people, and ensure that industrial and retail areas are kept distinct? When Tesco is clearly trying to avoid using Wirral Park Road retail access, and the cost of crossing the 'Ransom Strip' along the front of the site, thereby flouting local planning policies, why do councillors support the application at all?
As is obvious, Tesco altered their plan (making the building a bit smaller) and reapplied because they have the impression that their plan will be accepted by MDC. Some folk may want to ask 'who' gave Tesco that impression and why!

Surely, at a time of pending local elections, local representatives need to be asked such questions, so that we can ensure that any elected official is indeed acting in the local interest?

An even more interesting letter!

2011-04-02T03:07:00.000-07:00

Interesting letter

2011-04-02T03:04:00.000-07:00

Tesco is applying pressure!

2011-03-12T05:43:00.000-08:00

It seems that Tesco will now be embarking on high pressure lobbying of Glastonbury ward councillors and the Mendip Planning Committee to try and force through their development proposals.
What they wish to achieve is actually contrary to planning rules, as they wish to get their proposals waved through on the nod as a modification of their existing plan, when the rules clearly state that they must make a new submission which would be rejected. They must be stopped from doing this.
If they are allowed to get away with it the consequences will be catastrophic for Glastonbury. We will be stuck with an unworkable road system (as clearly explained in previous posts and on GWells), and a Tesco store with subsidiary Tesco outlets all orientated towards Street and away from Glastonbury with all the concomitant negative impacts to Glastonbury town centre that that would engender !
We already know that that site will be developed as a retail outlet and that the development may even be a Tesco; if it is, let's make sure that we can at least retain the ability to determine the level of the impact that such a project will have on us !
We need to make it absolutely clear to our councillors that they will never be returned again if they betray the town and people they represent by selling out to Tesco. The only argument that they had for doing so was that a failure to concede to Tesco would see Butler and Avalon Plastics quit Glastonbury; that is no longer the case as he has already received his £6,750,000 pay off.....a full £2,500,000 more than the original assessment of the site's worth!

So yet again Tesco is revealed as a bunch of cheats who prefer to shirk the planning process and official local and national planning policies, by imposing retail access through an industrial estate and along roads that cannot take retail traffic (Beckery Rd/Beckery New Road and Dyehouse Lane), and all because they are too mean to pay for access via Wirral Park Road and cross the current ransom strip.

Shame on the councillors who support Tesco! They are a disgrace to their oath of office and to their claim to be appointed to administer public funds in any way whatsoever!

Time is now crucial ! The end game will be played out between now and early April. If we make enough effort we can win this!

One last push !

More time to send comments!

2011-01-26T11:49:00.000-08:00

Turns out that there is until the 10th February to send in comments and objections. There was some confusion about the deadline as the result of dates given on the Mendip D.C website.

Please see the previous message for details.

Posted on Glastonbury Noticeboard

2011-01-26T11:46:00.000-08:00

Tesco application - we still have time to object!

I spoke to Ed Baker, the Mendip planning officer yesterday afternoon (Monday). He said the recent (resubmitted) application from Tesco to build its superstore on the site of Avalon Plastics had only technically been received on Thursday January 20th. Once again, there seems to be a lot of confusion about this application (not surprisingly) , but according to him we now have until the 10th February to submit letters opposing the new store (ie three weeks from the submission of the application) .

So... please write to Edward.Baker@mendip.gov.uk or customerservices@mendip.gov.uk quoting ref. 2010/2821 - the planning application no.

There is a sample letter on the Tesconbury blogsite. If you want extra information, the document to look at is on the national Department of Communities website. Their planning document PPS4 sets out new planning guidelines ( a couple of years old) which local councils are supposed to follow.

Would anyone like to help organise a petition? This has been done in other towns facing the same (repeated) challenge.

best

Philippa Glasson

If not letter then by email?

2011-01-17T07:16:00.000-08:00

If you can't send your objection and comments by letter in time today, try emailing them at:

info@mendip.gov.uk

You can send the same letter or adapted to your own points and comments, as soon as is possible, preferably by close of business on the Tuesday 19th (tomorrow!).

Draft letter to Mendip D.C, to be received by 19th Jan.

2011-01-14T16:03:00.000-08:00

Send your letter to M.D.C at the address given on the website (as posted a few days ago).
After all, what was condemned a few months ago cannot rationally be condoned now, however prettied-up it may be. So feel free to add your own comments according to your views.
Please edit the following text as you see fit:-

Your Address
Your Town
Your Postcode

Mendip District Council

Cannards Grave Road

Shepton Mallet

Somerset

BA4 5BT

18^th January 2011

Re: Planning Application 2010/2821

To Whom It May Concern:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I/we wish to register my/our objection to Tesco's planning application for a retail outlet in Glastonbury on the former Avalon Plastics site for the following reasons:-

1. The concerns raised previously with regard to the impact on Glastonbury of access to the proposed Tesco development from Beckery New Road have not been properly addressed and therefore contradict government and local planning requirements for a development of this nature.
The previous government unequivocally told Tesco that if they wished to gain permission to develop the site they had to reduce the building area (which they did), and to address the issue of access. To do this they would need to reconsider the Beckery New Road option and conform to the requirement to make the store access as congestion free, un-polluting, and convenient to Glastonbury locals as possible, and to encourage out of town users to go on to visit Glastonbury town centre and other stores (which they haven't ). The only way this could be effectively achieved is through adopting the Wirral Park Road access.

2. This proposed access would effectively leave the largest retail development in Glastonbury with it's main approach orientating out of town Tesco customers away from Glastonbury town centre and towards that of Street, with obviously detrimental consequences for Glastonbury's other retail traders, cafeterias, public houses and restaurants, (in clear contradiction of the planning requirements for such a development, which could only be permissible if it were to have a positive economic effect on the town in which it were to be situated, and therefore on it's existing local commercial outlets).
Could this curious orientation possibly have anything to do with the fact that Street has a Tesco metro outlet, which will remain open despite the construction of the larger store barely a mile away in Glastonbury. It seems to rather smack of 'what Tesco wins on the roundabout it also wins on the swings', and demonstrates a singularly cavalier attitude towards the townspeople and traders of Glastonbury!

3. Proposed secondary access to the Tesco site via Dye House Lane is irrational and unsustainable in terms of traffic flow. Quite apart from the potential for congestion, there is also the issue of the unnecessary addition to the carbon footprint that such a convoluted route would engender; an argument equally applicable to the proposed primary access route.
Apart from Tesco, nobody benefits from a Beckery New Road access. Why should Tesco, alone amongst the group of retail outlets situated on Wirral Park Road, not be accessible from Wirral Park Road? Is it because access via Beckery New Road allows Tesco to be a 'one stop shop', thus ensuring that customer spend is less likely to be diluted at the neighbouring outlets - let alone Glastonbury's historic town centre?!

4. Local councillors seeking re-election would do well to consider the above. Why should Glastonbury people consider voting for them again if they approve an unwanted development that is both practically difficult to access from Glastonbury and is a detriment to the town's existing commercial heart? It is hard to envisage how the jobs that it is suggested such a development might create would off-set those established sources of employment likely to be lost as a consequence of it's arrival.
Also, Tesco is a multi-national, and therefore both the produce it sells and the profits it makes are of little true benefit to the local community!

5. Finally, the original threat by Avalon Plastics, as Glastonbury's largest employer, to relocate if access via Beckery New Road were not approved is no longer of any relevance. Keith Butler and his colleagues have long since received their multi-million pound pay-off and have been settled in their new factory for some six months and more. Their threats are no longer a part of the equation.

Yours faithfully,...................

Tesco cheats

2011-01-14T02:44:00.000-08:00

As we can see from the dates of the recent Tesco application and period for comments, Tesco has, yet again, cynically used the minimum time allowed and a period where many are otherwise occupied and away (30th December to 19th January), especially with the issue of Glastonbury Library occupying many folks minds. This has essentially meant that for many it will be a last minute opportunity to 'comment'.
Bravo Tesco! We can see what a bunch of schemers and cheats (the UK version of Walmart) you really are!

More will follow shortly...

Planning Application News

2011-01-12T08:14:00.000-08:00

Here is the latest from the Tesco Planning Application:

http://planning.mendip.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/Generic/StdDetails.aspx?PT=Planning+Applications+On-Line&TYPE=PL%2FPlanningPK.xml&PARAM0=393939&XSLT=%2FNorthgate%2FPlanningExplorer%2FSiteFiles%2FSkins%2FMendip%2Fxslt%2FPL%2FPLDetails.xslt&FT=Planning+Application+Details&PUBLIC=Y&XMLSIDE=%2FNorthgate%2FPlanningExplorer%2FSiteFiles%2FSkins%2FMendip%2FMenus%2FPL.xml&DAURI=PLANNING

Comments must be submitted by the 19th January.
As this is not going to committee then comments will be important!
Please send as many as possible and encourage friends and contacts to do the same!

Last Poll results

2011-01-12T08:05:00.000-08:00

Just to clarify about the results of the last poll.
The votes cast are NOT a reflection of support for any Tesco in Glastonbury, but the result of the actions of an irresponsible person who managed to vote 'in favour' 49 times, apparently out of spite.
This person is none other than the 'man' who goes by the name of "David Koresh" with the email address: niceguykoresh@yahoo.co.uk He posts occasionally on GWells Yahoo group.
As this person is anonymous and apparently proud of his games and flippancy, then we can only assume that he is too stupid to understand the consequences of his actions!

Ransom Strips

2010-08-14T17:24:00.000-07:00

There's been a lot of comment going around about the 'ransom strips' that are apparently having a profound affect on the Tesco plan.

These 'ransom strips' are bits of land that are owned by various individuals and companies, which are seemingly blocking Tesco's plans to get proper access to their proposed site.

Some locals have been speculating about who owns the 'ransom strip' that is causing such a problem.

Some others have been speculating about a 'ransom strip' that they claim to be only 3 inches wide! This suggestion is of course absurdly incorrect!

Interestingly, the local-owned 'ransom strips' are essentially irrelevant.

As far as the Wirral Park Road 'ransom strips' are concerned, it is worth noting that almost every property is subject to 'ransom strips' pertaining to a major international PLC.

One question might be as to why local politicians don't seem to know about this major international PLC and which 'ransom strips' it owns?

Or are certain people being deliberately evasive and focusing upon the local-owned 'ransom strips' when they must know that these are irrelevant?

Could such people be attempting to distract away from the actual negotiations around the real issues?

No doubt such questions will be answered soon enough!

Comments welcome!

Tesco Company Report

2010-07-31T04:44:00.000-07:00

Here's that Tesco Company Report again, to make sure that people actually read it!

http://tpuc.org/content/tesco-plc

What you can easily see is that Tesco are happily breaking the law. They are a long term abuser of UK laws which is why so many CCJs have been brought against them and were outstanding last year.

One question is why would any honest politician want to deal with them when they statistically lead to job losses, to local retail and other local business closures, and when Tesco is so obviously dishonest?

Comments are welcome!

Express your opinion to Mendip Planning Office

2010-07-30T04:03:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Paul Manning for posting this information on GWells group.

Tesco's Planning Application is on the Mendip website, and we have
until 16th August to express our opinions.

Comments can be submitted online via the Mendip Council planning website: http://www.mendip.gov.uk/

Choose the 'Do It Online' section from their Homepage and select Planning Application Comments from the list.

You can also send any comments to customerservices@mendip.gov.uk

IMPORTANT: make sure you include the number 2010/1708 in your submission!

Here is the full link to the planning application details:

http://planning.mendip.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/Generic/StdDetails.aspx?PT=Planning%20Applications%20On-Line&TYPE=PL/PlanningPK.xml&PARAM0=392557&XSLT=/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/SiteFiles/Skins/Mendip/xslt/PL/PLDetails.xslt&FT=Planning%20Application%20Details&PUBLIC=Y&XMLSIDE=/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/SiteFiles/Skins/Mendip/Menus/PL.xml&DAURI=PLANNING

Planning Policy Statement 4

2010-07-28T16:40:00.000-07:00

As PPS4 has replaced PPS6, it may be useful for people wanting more information about planning policy and how it pertains to the Tesco submission.

Here are some references revealed in an online search:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/planningpolicystatement4

http://www.dppllp.com/our-knowledge/publications/2010-01-13-pps4.aspx

http://www.publicpropertyuk.com/tag/pps4/

Tesco appeals to Glastonbury locals

2010-07-28T16:23:00.000-07:00

Last week many Glastonbury addresses received information from Tesco about their resubmitted plan. The information had a tear off and return card to voice agreement or concern about the proposal.

Strangely, the resubmitted plan is essentially the same as the old plan, just with a smaller building. The basic design has Tesco with its back to Wirral Park Road, with the carpark on the Morlands side. This means that all access traffic must use the two options of Street Road to Beckery New Road, or Dyehouse Lane to Beckery Road, to get to the site. As many people will know, Dyehouse Lane is too narrow for such regular access, which will mean that far greater pressure will be on the Street Road turning and traffic lights into the Morland Site.

In the last submission this detail was one of the number of important planning issues and one which led to the rejection of the plan by the Mendip Planning Officer and subsequently the Planning Inspectorate. It seems that the use of roads not designed for retail store access will add 750,000 road miles per year to the roads of Glastonbury, with resulting increased emissions, congestion, and costs.

So many will ask why Tesco situated its store this way and ignored advice to have access from Wirral Park Road, which is the most logical way to access the site. Could it be that there were assumptions on the part of Tesco and Avalon Plastics that any such anomalies would be ignored?

There are many practical issues to discuss, not least the fact that Tesco stores always lead to job losses rather than gains, and local high streets are always negatively impacted and in some cases become virtually empty!

Comments are welcome!

Tesco withdrawn?

2010-02-07T16:17:00.000-08:00

Has Tesco withdrawn its application? Is the rumour true?
Anyone got any more about this interesting piece of news?

Results of the Poll

2010-01-02T16:27:00.000-08:00

The results of the Poll which asked whether we need a Tesco superstore in Glastonbury, are now in.
The Poll was voted on by 33 people, with 4 people who answered "Yes" to the question, and 29 people who answered "No".

So there we have it. A clear and resounding 87% of those polled were against the proposal for a new Tesco superstore in the Glastonbury town area!

Had more people bothered to take the time to view this Blog and vote in the Poll then perhaps we would have a result that is even more profound.
I suspect, however, that this result is a fair indication that the majority of the people of Glastonbury do not want a Tesco superstore in the area.
The url. for this Blog has been clearly posted in a number of local forums and also the local gig guide, and invitations to view, join and post/comment have been made. Which means that many hundreds of people have potentially viewed this Blog. This means that of the total number of people who viewed this Blog, only 33 took the time to vote, and of those people only 4 felt strongly enough about the Tesco proposal to actually vote in favour of it.

Anyone is quite free to comment about this, both here and elsewhere...

Possible template submission to the Inquiry

2009-12-17T05:24:00.000-08:00

Please feel free to copy and paste this letter format, and either make some adjustments or send as it is. Remember that you MUST send 3 copies to the Planning Inspectorate. This must be sent First Class postage (possibly recorded delivery) by Saturday a.m, but better if by last post on Friday, in order to arrive on Monday 21st December. Alternatively, someone can deliver to Bristol by hand!

(from: - insert address)

FAO. Gavin Findlay

The Planning Inspectorate

4/03 Kite Wing

Temple Quay House

2 The Square

Temple Quay

BRISTOL BS1 6PN

(date)

RE: Proposed Tesco Development, Glastonbury, Somerset.

Dear Sir, (optional)

The following points should be taken into account when considering the above development:

1) Implications of this development on a Transition Town.

a) By its very nature, a large scale supermarket is not a carbon friendly entity therefore if this development is to go ahead any deliterious effects arising from it can only effectively be mitigated by limiting the size of the development.

b) As a specific point in case the Glastonbury Tesco Development due to it’s eccentric access road policy would generate an additional 700,000 km of road usage and an additional 150 tonnes of CO2 per annum in Glastonbury. Furthermore, the use of the proposed road system would necessitate structural modification to the roads involved, the full cost of which would devolve upon the tax payer. This proposed road usage affords no direct pedestrian or bicycle access to the Tesco site from Glastonbury which is in direct contradiction of Government guidelines; and has been demonstrated, vehicular access is such that journeys from Glastonbury to the store will involve travelling a considerably greater distance than is necessary where a more sympathetic and intelligent use of potential access roads adopted.

2) Retail impact on the existing town centres of Glastonbury and Street would inevitably be negative and significant. It has been suggested that the new Tesco development would provide the area with an additional 230 jobs; however, the impact on existing employment in local retail outlets would be considerable as would the impact on those jobs in support businesses. It is therefore hard to see any real benefit from this development, for anyone other than Tesco and the developers and owners of the site on which it is proposed that the supermarket will be situated.

In conclusion, the applicant has failed to demonstrate a need for a food store of the size proposed, the proposed store would be harmful to the vitality and viability of Glastonbury and Street town centres, the proposal does not promote access to the site by more sustainable modes of travel and unacceptably fosters travel, and the proposal fails to accord with local and national Planning Policies, which means that the plan is unnecessary, unsustainable and unacceptable.

Please therefore reject the proposal.

Yours faithfully,

(your name)

Tesco video

2009-12-05T17:08:00.000-08:00

I received an inquiry about the Tesco films available.

Here is a link to view a very good Channel 4 film about Tesco. You will notice that there are several other films worth viewing on the same page:

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-1381639014893922585#

Check out the Dispatches 1 & 2 Supermarket Secrets. Not just about Tesco, but a great recommendation for shopping locally and for local produce!

Planning Officer's report

2009-12-05T16:20:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Richard Chisnall for posting this link to the Planning Officer's report in Glastonbury Noticeboard Yahoo group:

http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B5vv0ZAYEkFWZWRjMTY0MjgtZDQxZC00NDA1LWI2ZTAtMTQ5M2VmMTI2YTc5&hl=en

As viewers will notice, the main points answer many questions raised in one of the previous posts in this site about whether the Tesco store is needed.

We offer encouragement, to anyone who feels able to submit evidence to the Public Inquiry, to give further support to the Planning Officer and their well-founded objections.

Company report

2009-12-04T04:04:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to the people at TPUC for publishing this full company report of Tesco:

http://tpuc.org/content/tesco-plc

It shows, amongst other things, that Tesco has 48 outstanding CCJs against it!
Funny how the local councils are happy to do business with a company who refuse to abide by CCJs and pay fines!

Other considerations and resources

2009-11-28T10:01:00.000-08:00

"Our market share of UK retailing is 12.5% - that leaves 87.5% to go after"
Terry Leahy, Tesco Chief Executive, quoted in Management Today 1

TESCO - A Corporate Profile (parts 1-4)
http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/?lid=252

20,000 Jobs Created, thousands of livelihoods destroyed
http://archive.corporatewatch.org/news/Tesco_jobs.html

http://www.tescopoly.org/
Tesco now controls over 30% of the grocery market in the UK. In 2009, the supermarket chain announced profits of over £3bn. Growing evidence indicates that Tesco's success is partly based on trading practices that are having serious consequences for suppliers, farmers and workers worldwide, local shops and the environment.
Our demands
The Tescopoly Alliance is calling for:
- A block on any new take-overs by Tesco or other major supermarkets.
- Stronger planning policies to protect local shops and High Streets.
- A legally binding supermarket code of practice to ensure that all farmers, at home and overseas, are treated fairly.
- An independent watchdog with teeth to protect the interests of consumers, farmers and small retailers.
- Rules to protect workers' rights at home and overseas.

http://www.tescopoly.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=413&Itemid=176
"Unbelievable though it may be, Tesco is actually looking to make job cuts on the day it claims to be the consumers' friend. We do not accept these cuts are either necessary or ethical. How can a multi-billion pound outfit attack the pay, terms and conditions of those people it relies on to get its goods to the stores?"
Ron Webb, T&G national secretary for transport
In Chard in March 2006 local GMB activists organised a demonstration outside Tesco when the company pulling a contract from a local employer resulted in 850 job losses in the South West, and 500 in Chard alone.

"Tesco has been among the most active retailers testing RFID technology."
-RFID Journal
http://www.boycotttesco.com/spychips.html

"This website reveals the shocking truth about Tesco's serious and widespread overcharging of its customers by leaving out-of-date prices and offers on display in stores."
http://www.tescoripoff.com/

Town ‘lost £3.5 million trade to Tesco’
http://www.shropshirestar.com/2009/11/27/town-lost-3-5-million-in-trade-to-tesco/

Rivals estimate that Tesco's Slough store has benefited from an extra £200,000 a week of sales while the Co-op store has been closed.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/6631392/Site-sale-ends-Tesco-stratagem.html

Concerned Tesco community (lots of ex-employees)
http://www.verylittlehelps.com/

Cambridge campaign against the 14th Tesco store in the area, which wasted lots of Tesco's money and has prevented them (so far) from having an alcohol license or much custom
http://www.nomillroadtesco.org/

Did you know that Tesco is heavily subsidised? - RealGlobalNews.com - Tesco
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH0OLsPE2PU

Do we need it (whether we want it or not)?

2009-11-28T09:56:00.000-08:00

This is one of the main questions that the Public Inquiry will be asking, whether or not Glastonbury actually 'needs' another supermarket, or even a superstore.
What is very interesting is that many of the issues of this application relate to national planning issues, hence the intervention by the Secretary of State.

Re: The Application by Avalon Plastics
Location: Wirral Park Road, Glastonbury
Proposal: erection of A1 Retail Foodstore

In order to justify the proposal, Mendip's 'Development Control' officer Edward Baker, and his colleagues, must demonstrate that it conforms with the policies and provisions of the draft RSS, the current RSS (RPG10), the Mendip Local Plan and the Somerset & Exmoor NP Joint Structure Plan Review

Planning Policy Statement 6 (PPS6): Planning for Town Centres
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/pps6
Considerations:
- Demonstrate that there is a need, both qualitative and quantitative
- Impact on the existing centres
- Scale as relating to function and role
- Accessible by a choice of transport methods, including impact on overall distance and effect on levels of local traffic and congestion
- Impact on physical regeneration, employment, economic growth and social inclusion

Planning Policy Guidance 13 (PPG13)
http://www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/planning/planningpolicyguidance/planningpolicystatements/planningpolicyguidance/ppg13/
Considerations:
- Need for development which:
- promotes sustainable transport choices
- promotes access to jobs, shopping, leisure facilities & services, by public transport, cycling and pedestrians
- reduces the need for travel, especially by car

Current Regional Planning Guidance (RPG10)
http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/Environment/Planning+policy/Development+Plan/rss.htm
(various downloadable material available)

Mendip District Local Plan & The Somerset and Exmoor National Park Joint Structure Plan
http://www.mendip.gov.uk/CouncilService.asp?id=SX9452-A77F9DE9
Considerations:
- Building in Quality (Section 4) - General development control policies applying to all developments (design, amenity, protection of open spaces, access requirements, landscaping, infrastructure etc) and polices relating to development in specific areas (eg close to sewage works) or to certain forms of development
- Supporting the Mendip Economy (Section 5) - Employment policies, agricultural diversification, agricultural workers dwellings, tourism uses and home working
- Promoting Town Centre Vitality (Section 6) - Retailing and town centre uses
- Environmental Assets (Section 7) - Nature conservation, landscape, green belt, archaeology, water and flooding, agricultural land, conservation areas and listed buildings
- Managing Energy and Resource Demand (Section 8) - energy conservation, renewable energy, water conservation, recycling of building materials
- Meeting the Community' Social Needs (Section 9) - Housing including affordable housing, density, recreational provision, sites for gypsies and other travelling people, Leisure, Community Facilities including village facilities, Transport including car parking requirements, accessibility, protection of transport routes and car parks

http://www.planninghelp.org.uk/planning-system/departure-applications/the-call-in-process
In pursuance of Article 14 of the 1995 Order, the Secretary of State hereby directs the Council not to grant planning permission for any development which is the same kind as that which is the subject of the application referred to above on any land which forms part of, or includes, the site to which the application relates until the Secretary of State has issued her decision on that application.
(so these issues also refer to the new Sainsbury's supermarket plan for Wells)

Comments and corrections are welcome!

Public Inquiry details

2009-11-28T01:17:00.000-08:00

The Public Inquiry is to be held in early 2010, after the Planning Inspectorate has reviewed all submissions.
Submissions to the Inspectorate must be made by 21st December 2009.
These 'Statements of Case' (3 copies) must be sent to the following address:

FAO. Gavin Findlay
The Planning Inspectorate
4/03 Kite Wing
Temple Quay House
2 The Square
Temple Quay
BRISTOL BS1 6PN

As there are only 3 weeks before the submission deadline, folk wishing to submit considerations/evidence to the Inquiry would be prudent to gather their information very soon.
Also, do please let this site know about submissions of evidence.

Considerations:
http://planning-inspectorate.gov.uk/pins/index.htm
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/

MDC site was 'down' before the deadline

2009-11-19T16:47:00.000-08:00

One question that I've had about the planning and objection process was regarding the fact that Mendip District Council's page for submission of objections to the proposal was 'down' for 4 days before the objection deadline. I found this out by telephoning the office during working hours whereupon I found out that in order to submit my objection I had to write it in an email and send it, to a specified email address (not a normal MDC address) before the deadline. I duly did this and received an acknowledgment.
I have subsequently met a number of people who tried to get their objections in before the deadline and were unable to.
If I have met a small number it is probably the case that there are many more objectors who were unable to voice their complaints.
Not only that but there is the issue of why didn't MDC post the fact of the malfunctioning objection page on their site so as to ensure that there was proper 'democracy' in the process? They could so easily have warned folk about the problem and asked for everyone wishing to post objections to do so by email.
But it seems that the deadline was in fact extended. Unfortunately, a number of people didn't realise this so never posted objections.

Mendip Councillors out-voted the Planning Department (who opposed the plan), with one vote against and one abstention (as I recall).
One can't help wondering why the Planning Dept were so opposed to the plan? Was it because of the many problems with the plan and its access provisions? Was the knowledge of potential job-losses, which is according to national statistics and averages rather than the vague claim about 'secured' jobs one of the reasons for objection? Could it be that Planning Officers have seen only too clearly what the consequences of a Tesco super-store has been for Shepton Mallet (where the M.D.C offices are) and its local economy?

There may be folk out there with interesting answers...

Public Inquiry

2009-11-18T16:26:00.000-08:00

Recent news about the Tesco fiasco is that the plan has been 'called in' by the Secretary of State, which means it will go to a Public Inquiry. This will of course give time for the many people who object to the plan to expand the information campaign, to help create a well-informed majority.

Some people may be asking why the plan has been 'called-in'.

It seems that the plan has contravened planning laws by its lack of provision for proper access, including no pedestrian or bicycle access, an access road which adds 0.5 km each way to the journey (calculated as averaging 700,000 kms per year), and the need for the widening of the Street Road (cutting into Wearyall Hill) which must be paid for. All of these aspects go against the aspirations of 'Transition' Somerset and of course are against the general policy of reduction of consumption and emissions, especially of fossil fuels.

More about this issue as it comes in...

Tesco in Glastonbury

2009-11-06T16:50:00.000-08:00

This is a site for discussion about the new Tesco superstore planning application, submitted by Avalon Plastics, to be built on the outskirts of Glastonbury.

What do you know about the company?
What opinion do you have about it?
Did you object to the proposal?
What problems do you foresee about having a new superstore in the area?
Is there anything that can be done about it?

Please join this blog and post your articles and ideas.

And please do download any of the images and print them for displaying in prominent places (like your front window!)