Sorry to have been so feeble. I am feeling better now.
24 September 2010
Feeling better
21 September 2010
Tesco Planning decision
Well, the infill application 10/1177/MFUL was approved, after a very poor quality discussion. Neither the officers nor the committee members seemed to understand the issues, or be very interested in them.
18 September 2010
The Tesco heap of dirt
I had an email from an anonymous reader of this blog questioning the relevance of my earlier posts on the Tesco Ziggurat. After all, he/she said, it is just a heap of dirt !
In the meantime, let us see what has happened to the heap. Look at the following pictures:
You will notice a big change, from the usual shape on the 14th to the seriously flattened shape on the 17th. So what happened between the two dates ?
I don't know for sure, but on the 16th September the site was due to have a visit from the Environment Agency. Either Tesco made the changes, or they did.
17 September 2010
The Crucial Meeting
Oyez ! Oyez ! Oyez !
The Tesco Infill project is being discussed at the meeting of the East Devon Planning Committee at the Council Chamber, the Knowle, Sidmouth on Tuesday 21st September 2010 from 2 p.m., and public participation is invited.
In fact, come earlier at 1 p.m. and talk to the Panorama camera team who are doing a programme on supermarkets. They are not being allowed to film inside the Council Chamber, so will need to meet people outside.
This is your chance to tell the world how Seaton is being treated.
9 September 2010
Rain damage continues
After my last post (below) about erosion of the test ziggurat, we had a lot more rain. Exeter airport was flooded, and it rained quite hard in Seaton also.
Today I had a look at the ziggurat, and it showed even more erosion, as shown below.
I wrote again to the Environment Agency, and this time, also to East Devon District Council, pointing out the serious implications of the situation. I will report back when I get a reply.
Today I had a look at the ziggurat, and it showed even more erosion, as shown below.
I wrote again to the Environment Agency, and this time, also to East Devon District Council, pointing out the serious implications of the situation. I will report back when I get a reply.
7 September 2010
Washing away the infill
Seatonians who can see the site will have noticed a neat, pyramid-shaped heap of rubble (a ziggurat ?) on the Tesco site. Here is what it looks like.
This is how Tesco is going to build up the land. They will pile up a lot of gravel, slope the sides (as shown here) and then grow grass over it.
Those of us who have kept an eye on this ziggurat have noticed that the left hand side (behind the two TV aerials) seems to have been washed away to some extent - perhaps by the heavy rain we had recently.
If this is what has happened, it is not a good sign. The whole development will have sides like this, and one side will be acting as a drain to carry flood water away from Harbour Road. If this is what a couple of heavy rain storms can do, imagine the erosion of a fast stream of flood water.
I have written to the Environment Agency officer who is supervising this site, but he is away at the moment. I will let you know what he says.
This is how Tesco is going to build up the land. They will pile up a lot of gravel, slope the sides (as shown here) and then grow grass over it.
Those of us who have kept an eye on this ziggurat have noticed that the left hand side (behind the two TV aerials) seems to have been washed away to some extent - perhaps by the heavy rain we had recently.
If this is what has happened, it is not a good sign. The whole development will have sides like this, and one side will be acting as a drain to carry flood water away from Harbour Road. If this is what a couple of heavy rain storms can do, imagine the erosion of a fast stream of flood water.
I have written to the Environment Agency officer who is supervising this site, but he is away at the moment. I will let you know what he says.
6 September 2010
Tesco in the Daily Mail
It seems to be "Tear into Tesco Time" in various organs of the press. After the Scottish item (see below) the Mail has weighed in with a wide-ranging critical summary.
Take a look at the on-line version by clicking HERE
Take a look at the on-line version by clicking HERE
1 September 2010
Tesco in the Times
In the past, Tescowatch has been criticised as being mindlessly opposed to Tesco - usually on the grounds of elitism and contempt for the concerns of people on a restricted budget.
There is no truth in this accusation; but it is true that we do not trust Tesco to act in the best interests of the community. Further evidence for this mistrust is given in the Times newspaper of Tuesday 31st August in an article entitled "Tesco's secret shop front" on page 31. The Times operates behind a paywall, so you would have to pay to read this article online. However, the same story was covered in The Herald, which does not operate a paywall, so you can read it by clicking here.
The town of Linwood in Scotland has a town centre composed of retail and community facilities. In 2001 this centre was bought by Balmore Properties, but fell into decline over sucessive years. Retailers were evicted, shops not relet and requests for lease extensions refused. Balmore refused to discuss the derelict shops with local groups and the centre became a magnet for antisocial behaviour.
Then Tesco bought the centre and promised a multi-million-pound superstore, new retail premises, new health centre and a library – all paid for by themselves.
Naturally, the residents were delighted . . . but they were less delighted when they found out that Balmore had been a front company acting on behalf of Tesco; and so Tesco had been responsible for running down the centre for years before deciding to develop it.
Now, what can we infer from this ? Clearly, that Tesco will act ruthlessly to maximise profit without consideration for the community in which it is embedded. But what about the Seaton context ?
Linwood has a population of about 9,000 and will receive :
* A new community library
* A new community centre to replace the Tweedie Hall
* Potential relocation and upgrading of Linwood Health Centre
* New retail units for businesses currently operating in the centre, designed in a modern shopping mall format
* Design features to minimise the risk of crime in the local area.
Seaton has a population of 7,500 - rising to 12,500 if we include the surrounding villages making up the market town area. What do we get ?
* Loss of the Holiday Village, providing 140 full-time jobs and 400 tourist beds with 80% occupancy bringing over £9 million into the area every year.
* Loss of the Youth Club, with £80,000 cash (about 10% of the cost) to replace it -
* A contribution of £1.75 million towards a new Visitors Centre, which will be half the size specified in the original consultants' report
* £45,000 towards the salary of Town Manager
* Continuous traffic congestion - not only during construction, but also afterwards.
* Increased flood risk for the Harbour Road area.
Some people may point to houses and other buildings to be built on the site; but remember that Tesco are not going to build these: they will be selling the land on to someone else who may build them, or may build something else.
Linwood people have had their mouths stopped with Tesco gold - and who shall blame them for swallowing it. But, there is precious little gold for Seatonians, so we might as well spit it straight back into the Tesco corporate face.
There is no truth in this accusation; but it is true that we do not trust Tesco to act in the best interests of the community. Further evidence for this mistrust is given in the Times newspaper of Tuesday 31st August in an article entitled "Tesco's secret shop front" on page 31. The Times operates behind a paywall, so you would have to pay to read this article online. However, the same story was covered in The Herald, which does not operate a paywall, so you can read it by clicking here.
The town of Linwood in Scotland has a town centre composed of retail and community facilities. In 2001 this centre was bought by Balmore Properties, but fell into decline over sucessive years. Retailers were evicted, shops not relet and requests for lease extensions refused. Balmore refused to discuss the derelict shops with local groups and the centre became a magnet for antisocial behaviour.
Then Tesco bought the centre and promised a multi-million-pound superstore, new retail premises, new health centre and a library – all paid for by themselves.
Naturally, the residents were delighted . . . but they were less delighted when they found out that Balmore had been a front company acting on behalf of Tesco; and so Tesco had been responsible for running down the centre for years before deciding to develop it.
Now, what can we infer from this ? Clearly, that Tesco will act ruthlessly to maximise profit without consideration for the community in which it is embedded. But what about the Seaton context ?
Linwood has a population of about 9,000 and will receive :
* A new community library
* A new community centre to replace the Tweedie Hall
* Potential relocation and upgrading of Linwood Health Centre
* New retail units for businesses currently operating in the centre, designed in a modern shopping mall format
* Design features to minimise the risk of crime in the local area.
Seaton has a population of 7,500 - rising to 12,500 if we include the surrounding villages making up the market town area. What do we get ?
* Loss of the Holiday Village, providing 140 full-time jobs and 400 tourist beds with 80% occupancy bringing over £9 million into the area every year.
* Loss of the Youth Club, with £80,000 cash (about 10% of the cost) to replace it -
* A contribution of £1.75 million towards a new Visitors Centre, which will be half the size specified in the original consultants' report
* £45,000 towards the salary of Town Manager
* Continuous traffic congestion - not only during construction, but also afterwards.
* Increased flood risk for the Harbour Road area.
Some people may point to houses and other buildings to be built on the site; but remember that Tesco are not going to build these: they will be selling the land on to someone else who may build them, or may build something else.
Linwood people have had their mouths stopped with Tesco gold - and who shall blame them for swallowing it. But, there is precious little gold for Seatonians, so we might as well spit it straight back into the Tesco corporate face.
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