East Lothian Courier | News | Superstore size 'horrendous'

Thursday, 20th November, 2008

Published: Thursday, 10th July, 2008 10:10

Superstore size 'horrendous'

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A LARGE number of objections are expected to be received by East Lothian Council in response to the lodging of detailed plans this week by Tesco for its proposed superstore and petrol filling station at Gateside East, close to the A1.

The joint planning application by Tesco Stores Ltd and Santon Group Ltd features a 50,000 sq ft superstore with a mezzanine floor containing staff facilities and toilets.

The size of the proposed superstore has been described as “horrendous” by the leader of the town centre’s traders’ group.

A 24-hour filling station with four fuel pumps, a kiosk and forecourt canopy, separate car wash and jet wash facilities are also proposed.

Tesco have so far refused to reveal the proposed opening hours for the supermarket, which would boast 29 checkouts. Ancilliary buildings would include a large sprinkler tank, pump house, generator, transformer and sub station.

Outline plans were unveiled at a public exhibition earlier this year, with Tesco simultaneously announcing its intension to replace its existing Calders Lawn supermarket with a mixed housing/retail development named Courtyards Haddington. Plans for that development, in partnership with Taylor Wimpey, have already been lodged with the council.

Competing against Tesco for a new store on the outskirts of town is Sainsbury’s, which has lodged plans for a 35,000 sq ft superstore at nearby Gateside West.

The latest strategic move in the ongoing ‘store wars’ is expected to see Miller Developments lodge its own plans for a large retail park at Harperdean.

Haddington Business Association (HBA), which is mounting a campaign to keep Tesco in the centre of Haddington as the supermarket draws shoppers in to the heart of the town to all tarders’ benefit, has warned that a third of local businesses could go bust if the company’s plans were approved.

HBA chairman, John Main, said: “I have still to take a close look at these plans, but the scale of what Tesco appears to be proposing is horrendous.

“Apart from anything else, you have to ask whether this size of supermarket is really needed in Haddington? Even if Tesco was to open the supermarket until 10pm it would have an impact on the quality of life of nearby residents.We will continue to press to keep Tesco in the town centre.”

Hazel Thomson, spokeswoman for Gateside and Knowesley Park Residents’ Group, said: “The company has yet to say whether the proposed supermarket will be a 24-hour operation. What these plans do is confirm that petrol will be available 24 hours and that alone is a major concern.

“Nothing has changed as far as we are concerned. We are totally opposed to this project.”

Planning legislation has compelled Tesco to notify 23 non-domestic neighours and 44 domestic neighbours of its plans. The deadline for receipt of objections is July 27.

A forthcoming council review of local retail opportunities will have a major bearing on which, if any, of the rival developments gets the go-ahead.

Tesco says its proposals for Haddington will help the town to continue to thrive, and that it is committed to working with planners and the local community to ensure its plans respond to the town’s retail needs and meet the high standards that the town deserves.

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