Victory against Tesco in Meads

4.15.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 17th Jul 2008

Residents in Meads have won a victory against a planning application Tescos in Meads Street.

At last Tuesday's planning meeting, Tesco, who are proposing to build a new store in Meads Street, were delivered a body blow by the Planning Committee. The original proposal was passed in April 2006 under the previous administration. However, on Tuesday the Borough Council planning committee heard two modification applications, which were expected to be passed as a formality. The first one was to do with the shop frontage and the second was the siting of air-conditioner units on the top of the building.

Stephen Lloyd, Lib Dem campaigner, said: "We won a partial victory with the first application. The committee accepted what I had to say that the proposed change to the frontage would have made a bad job even worse but passed the application with the provision I suggested. However, the really good news is the second application was thrown out, against the planning officers advice. With no air-conditioning units I cannot see how a food retail store can proceed. We'll have to see, naturally, how Tesco respond but last Tuesday a small victory took place for the residents of Meads."

He added: "Three weeks ago when I first heard that Tesco were putting forward the two modification planning applications I seized the opportunity. There was little I could do with the original proposal in 2006 but I knew that if I could galvanise local people in Meads to support my campaign to stop Tesco progressing, we might be in with a chance. The response from residents has been superb. Over 1,000 signatures, emails and letters were sent to my office backing my campaign, which were forwarded to the Planning Department at the council. I am immensely grateful for the response we received from Meads residents. I doubt very much its over but certainly, we won last Tuesday. And one small win may, just may, lead to the big one. Stopping Tesco's opening a store in Meads Street."

"I remember when I opposed the building of a B&Q megastore in the Harbour from the very beginning against powerful opposition, not least at the time from leading Conservatives in the Town, that we could stop B&Q if we really put our minds to it. Likewise when I decided three weeks ago to launch an active campaign in Meads to try and put a spoke in Tesco's wheel using the modification planning application I was told by numerous people that it was a waste of effort. You can never beat a company the size of Tesco's, they said. Well, tell that to the people of Meads. They relished a fight, and they responded magnificently."