Iain writes to Mayor of London in objection to Tesco in Highams Park
Boris Johnson October 2009
Mayor of London
Greater London Authority
City Hall
The Queen's Walk
More London
London SE1 2AA
I am writing to inform you that a proposal to build a Tesco development in HighamsPark, in my constituency was approved in the Waltham Forest Council Planning Committee on 13th October 2009. This proposal has previously been rejected a number of times but was carried last Tuesday by a single vote.
I strongly oppose this development and always have done. I believe that it will bring more air pollution, unnecessary congestion and upheaval to the community. I have made my opposition clear, on behalf of my constituents and local residents to this development to Tesco.
I held a Public Meeting in November 2008 where all those who attended were unanimous in their opposition to this development. A further Public Meeting was held on 2nd September 2009 with the same outcome and we now know that 159 submissions were made to the Council in opposition to the Tesco development whereas only 8 were made in favour.
Their objections are not about resistance to change, or to commerce, they are from a desire to see the shopping area of HighamsPark revitalised not destroyed. Those who disingenuously say that Tesco’s store would bring more trade to the community know that will never happen. Large store developments suck people away from such centres, after all why would anyone who has travelled to the store leave the precincts of the store to buy something provided at lower cost in the store? There are already two small local supermarkets which compliment the shopping area, providing goods not on sale elsewhere.
This is also a very poor location for a large Tesco store, which will draw a large number of cars into the area from well beyond the immediate vicinity. The store will be thirty yards from a busy level crossing which is congested already. There are also a number of small roads where it is impossible for two cars abreast to pass each other and a number of buses are routed through the area. There are also three schools very close by, including a special needs school for the visually impaired which, given the increased traffic flows is bound to raise genuine concerns about safety.
Furthermore, Tesco’s decision to uproot 23 trees and a mulberry tree that is over 100 years old also demonstrates a casual disregard for the environment.
It isn’t as if there is a need from the wider community for such a development as there are already three superstores within seven minutes drive and one large supermarket five minutes away. This application is all about Tesco’s determination to maintain market share. Think of the increased car journeys churning out extra CO2, just to please Tesco’s. I do not think that this community should be wrecked on the alter of such commercial avarice.
I know that some of the councillors, (not, it has to be pointed out from the area), have been tempted by the offer of extra housing, however I think that it would be wrong to let that drive this decision. The need for extra housing should be decoupled from the Tesco’s decision otherwise it simply means that powerful companies can just buy the political process to suit their own ends. It is that sort of activity which has so cheapened British politics over the last few years, aren’t we meant to represent the interests of the small against the over mighty?
I would therefore urge you to veto this proposal.
The Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP