£50million Tesco plans stalling (From Southend Standard)
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£50million Southend Tesco plans stalling
9:00am Sunday 11th November 2012 in Echo News
How the new store would look
DOUBTS are growing over whether a new £50million Tesco in Southend - and the 450 jobs it is due to create - will ever become a reality.
A year after the supermarket giant’s proposals for the former B&Q car park, in Short Street, were supposedly given the green light, no efforts have been made to start building work.
Moreover, the Echo can reveal Tesco has not signed a legal agreement which is needed to rubber-stamp the development, meaning the store technically still does not have planning permission.
With the company’s chiefs announcing they are now focusing on internet sales earlier this year, including a decision to mothball all new plans for superstores, fears are growing the Southend store may have fallen victim to the chain’s change of heart.
Jackie Wilmott, 46, who lives in nearby Maldon Road, said: “I think everyone just wants to know what’s happening.
“It was a big thing when Tesco announced it and 450 jobs is a lot for a town like this.
“But we need to know what’s going on, one way or another.”
Nicola Hudson, 43, of the same road, added: “It’s definitely a concern.
“It was a big investment for Southend, but you’ve got to think that it might not happen now.”
Comments(29)
Nebs
says...
10:28am Sun 11 Nov 12
reptile
says...
10:46am Sun 11 Nov 12
Saxonpride
says...
12:33pm Sun 11 Nov 12
mark-986
says...
12:40pm Sun 11 Nov 12
Max Impact
says...
1:17pm Sun 11 Nov 12
1. The old B&Q car park is currently a paid for car park, why not open the building as an indoor car park, rig CCTV, have an attendant on duty, all cars and driver are logged when they go in so only drivers are permitted to enter when collecting cars.
2. Use the building as in indoor market.
3. Demolish the building and use the whole site as a car park.
4. SBC CPO the site and do No3
Sadly people will moan about No4 as they always do when the council spend money!
Nebs
says...
1:32pm Sun 11 Nov 12
Max Impact wrote:5. Charge all businesses full business rates after a building has been unused or demolished for 3 years, based on what they paid when it was in use.
A few thoughts for use until tesco start work:
1. The old B&Q car park is currently a paid for car park, why not open the building as an indoor car park, rig CCTV, have an attendant on duty, all cars and driver are logged when they go in so only drivers are permitted to enter when collecting cars.
2. Use the building as in indoor market.
3. Demolish the building and use the whole site as a car park.
4. SBC CPO the site and do No3
Sadly people will moan about No4 as they always do when the council spend money!
ShrimperSS0
says...
3:24pm Sun 11 Nov 12
ShrimperSS0
says...
3:26pm Sun 11 Nov 12
Saxonpride
says...
4:05pm Sun 11 Nov 12
jolllyboy
says...
4:37pm Sun 11 Nov 12
firedog
says...
5:51pm Sun 11 Nov 12
Max Impact
says...
6:29pm Sun 11 Nov 12
Saxonpride wrote:get a great big blender and place a big bottle of cider in it, as soon as any weight is put on the blades WHIZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Can we all at least agree that they need to do something to stop drunks and vagrants hanging out around the old B&Q? They're causing a persistent nuisance.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Zz
echoforum
says...
6:50pm Sun 11 Nov 12
Clearly just like the mess on the esplanade ,the rich and powerful determine the quality of our lives.
If nothing has been signed (surprised at that) then start offering it else where.
Having said that it's a god -awful place to have a massive supermarket.
Just how are 1000's of extra cars supposed to access this site,you can't access it from the Queensway(london -bound) and the southend bound carriage is a nightmare as it stands.
emcee
says...
8:33pm Sun 11 Nov 12
If I was in charge I would now start charging whomever owns the land high enough taxes to force them into selling the land or to do something with it.
As someone has already suggested, it is the perfect site for a large (read PROPER) market.
Nebs
says...
10:55pm Sun 11 Nov 12
ShrimperSS0 wrote:How much would it cost to buy the land and build an ice rink?
or maybe 6. Bulldoze the old B and Q and turn the whole site into one big leisure complex including an ice rink. Build over the current car park creates more space while retaining parking spaces. Could've had an indoor market in what was Woolies/ TJ's until a THIRD H and M opened in the centre of town (if my eyes did not play tricks on me on a recent visit thru the centre of town, though maybe now JJB are on longer with us that could do for now) I for one will not be sad to see them go there as there are already countless stores in and around the borough, including a large piece of retail space within a couple of miles of the proposed new store. As for Focus Theatre, perhaps a temp new home downstairs at the old new empire and connexions can also be found a temp new home closeby while work is ongoing. Result is new facilities for locals and visitors to enjoy (retaining parking plus with decent public transport links) that could end up paying for itself. Of course maybe that was all too simple a thought process for the powers that be to come up with'
marshman
says...
11:02pm Sun 11 Nov 12
notinwestcliffanymore
says...
7:17am Mon 12 Nov 12
Nebs
says...
10:53am Mon 12 Nov 12
marshman wrote:The sequencing of the lights, when you are heading west along Queensway between Chichester Rd and Victoria Ave, seems wrong too. The first set of lights for the pedestrians to cross seems to go red at the same time as the lights 100 yards further up, where you can turn into Victoria Ave, go green. So fewer cars can get through the green light as they are all backed up at the previous set of red lights looking ahead at an empty road and a green light.
If it's not going ahead can they please sort out the Chichester Road - Queensway junction. It's surely one of the poorest road lay outs in the country and forces drivers to make a 3/4 mile diversion just to turn into Short Street. Whoever came up with that idea deserves a rocket up the ar*e.
smiffy1980
says...
12:29pm Mon 12 Nov 12
Easy access for clubbers and a taxi rank/train station right next door. All the ingredients for a new nightclub spot.
People will moan about this, but if you were looking for a site to put a new club, could you name somewhere better logistically ? .
Eric Whim
says...
1:19pm Mon 12 Nov 12
smiffy1980 wrote:bung it down the end of pier, next to the entrance to the new airport.....
Oceana nightclub will be in the site which was formally B&Q
Easy access for clubbers and a taxi rank/train station right next door. All the ingredients for a new nightclub spot.
People will moan about this, but if you were looking for a site to put a new club, could you name somewhere better logistically ? .
Olivia2847
says...
5:46pm Mon 12 Nov 12
marshman wrote:Exactly - or - apply for village green status - make it an affordable green space and the law than cannot touch it - some vague ancient legislation I notice being used elsewhere ...
If it's not going ahead can they please sort out the Chichester Road - Queensway junction. It's surely one of the poorest road lay outs in the country and forces drivers to make a 3/4 mile diversion just to turn into Short Street. Whoever came up with that idea deserves a rocket up the ar*e.
Max Impact
says...
7:02pm Mon 12 Nov 12
Olivia2847 wrote:Don't think it can be done on privatly owned land, own land held by a council, also it is a brownfield site.
marshman wrote:Exactly - or - apply for village green status - make it an affordable green space and the law than cannot touch it - some vague ancient legislation I notice being used elsewhere ...
If it's not going ahead can they please sort out the Chichester Road - Queensway junction. It's surely one of the poorest road lay outs in the country and forces drivers to make a 3/4 mile diversion just to turn into Short Street. Whoever came up with that idea deserves a rocket up the ar*e.
Olivia2847
says...
7:43pm Mon 12 Nov 12
Max Impact wrote:Thank you ....
Olivia2847 wrote:Don't think it can be done on privatly owned land, own land held by a council, also it is a brownfield site.
marshman wrote:Exactly - or - apply for village green status - make it an affordable green space and the law than cannot touch it - some vague ancient legislation I notice being used elsewhere ...
If it's not going ahead can they please sort out the Chichester Road - Queensway junction. It's surely one of the poorest road lay outs in the country and forces drivers to make a 3/4 mile diversion just to turn into Short Street. Whoever came up with that idea deserves a rocket up the ar*e.
Discouraged
says...
8:43pm Mon 12 Nov 12
HK9597
says...
7:32am Tue 13 Nov 12
Nebs wrote:I wrote to the highways agency about this and they denied there is a problem. Came up with some rubbish excuse as to why the pedestrian lights go red at the same time as the lights at Vic avenue go green. Plus a lot of drivers seem to realise there are 2 lanes turning right into Vic avenue.
marshman wrote:The sequencing of the lights, when you are heading west along Queensway between Chichester Rd and Victoria Ave, seems wrong too. The first set of lights for the pedestrians to cross seems to go red at the same time as the lights 100 yards further up, where you can turn into Victoria Ave, go green. So fewer cars can get through the green light as they are all backed up at the previous set of red lights looking ahead at an empty road and a green light.
If it's not going ahead can they please sort out the Chichester Road - Queensway junction. It's surely one of the poorest road lay outs in the country and forces drivers to make a 3/4 mile diversion just to turn into Short Street. Whoever came up with that idea deserves a rocket up the ar*e.
Every time I do this journey, there are long queues going westbound, and very little coming from any of the other directions.
Write to the echo to see if they will run a story. Maybe that will push them to take some action. I already have.
On a plus point, the lights at the Earls Hall roundabout seem to have worked.
HK9597
says...
7:36am Tue 13 Nov 12
Nebs wrote:Go one further.
Max Impact wrote:5. Charge all businesses full business rates after a building has been unused or demolished for 3 years, based on what they paid when it was in use.
A few thoughts for use until tesco start work:
1. The old B&Q car park is currently a paid for car park, why not open the building as an indoor car park, rig CCTV, have an attendant on duty, all cars and driver are logged when they go in so only drivers are permitted to enter when collecting cars.
2. Use the building as in indoor market.
3. Demolish the building and use the whole site as a car park.
4. SBC CPO the site and do No3
Sadly people will moan about No4 as they always do when the council spend money!
After 3 years from granting planning permission, they have to pay full business rates x 3.
After 4 years x 4
And so on....
perini
says...
11:13am Tue 13 Nov 12
echoforum
says...
11:18am Thu 15 Nov 12
I genuinely dread it ,the comments made are spot on .
To get to sainsburys you face 3 sets of lights,a long queue for the London Rd a long queue for Victoria and the mystery empty middle lane which is abused by frustrated drivers who take this lane for the London Rd,which is of course is dangerous.
To claim that there is no issue with this junction is clearly an error on behalf of our council.
Any build on the B&Q site would probably grid lock an already broken junction
Eric Whim says...
10:00am Sun 11 Nov 12
Seems to be the way they operate in Basildon and Pitsea and they always get away with it.