Anger over plan to turn Bristol pub into Tesco
More than 130 people packed a meeting on Monday night to find out how they can fight plans to turn a Bristol pub into a convenience store.
Tesco is buying the Friendship pub on the junction of Redcatch Road and Axbridge Road in Knowle and plans to turn it into one of its Express stores.
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But residents and traders who turned up at Redcatch Community Centre are concerned about the impact a major supermarket chain would have on smaller shops in the area and the nearby Broadwalk shopping centre.
A planning application for an extra 12 parking spaces on the site is due to be discussed by a council committee on Wednesday.
The meeting was told by Bristol City Council planning officer Julie Seaton the proposal could not be turned down simply because of concerns about the effects on other businesses.
Councillors on the south and east development control committee can only consider the impact of the parking spaces, not the effect the shop would have.
Ms Seaton said Tesco would not need permission to change the pub to a shop, unless it wanted to knock the building down.
People called for the planning committee to visit the site.
Pamela James, 66, of Axbridge Road, said: "When it's busy, you can't cross there as it is.
"If we get more cars along there then no one is ever going to be able to cross that road.
"It will be impossible.
"They need to visit at 5pm and see what it is like then."
Sue Nicholls, of Knowle, said: "There will be 36 car movements into the car park within an hour.
"When you think about 12 parking spaces, if people stop at local stores they will stop, say 20 minutes, and that is generous.
"If there are 12 spaces being used regularly in an hour that's 12 times three with cars turning in and out.
"That is going to have an impact on quality of life."
Peter Reed, who runs the Broadwalk News shop, said: "The car park design is very poor.
"Forgetting Tesco, even for a pub it will cause major problems at that junction.
"The majority of people who go to that shop will park on the road by the junctions and it will cause mayhem."
Jas Birk, 24, who runs Knowle Convenience Store said: "Our shop will be gone if Tesco comes here. I want people to make statements and get their opinions heard."
Janet Waites, 55, of Melbury Road said she was concerned about lorries making deliveries to the site if it became a Tesco store.
Residents said they would submit objections to the plans ahead of the meeting, others said they would attend and some suggested they would protest outside.
Councillor Gary Hopkins (Lib Dem, Knowle), organised the meeting to give people about fighting the planning application and to discuss other issues that had arisen as a result.
Councillors are being recommended to give planning permission for the parking places when they meet at the Council House on Wednesday.
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by Happy Camper, Bristol - BS4
Saturday, February 21 2009, 5:07PM
“I'm not sure the meeting was truly representative of the entire local community - can't see how it could have been if only 130 people were there.
The Friendship is a dump, it needs to be closed down. More fights again last week - not the same as a watching boxing on sky but certainly cheaper...these weekly fights are not simply NOT acceptable in a family community.
If the comments here are correct - that road traffic experts have already been onsite and cleared the plans then it's eventually going to happen - accept it.
What about the Green Party argument ? The beer garden ? The way they carry on anyone would think its a nature reserve - its not - like the rest of the site its a dump.
But to keep the greens happy I propose a number of us locals plant 1 tree in our own garden for each one removed from the beer garden. That should balance things up.
On a separate note why would Glenn Vowles be so concerned surely his local pub is the George? ;-)
But what about the 2 shops across the road ? Get better and offer tesco some competition - they won't stay open for long if no one is spending money in there.
Finally - think about why tesco have chosen this site when they've had opportunities in the past to go elsewhere - for example Broadwalk Shopping Centre.
They aren't stupid - research will have been done and they think there is a market for them on Friendship Road.”
by KC, Knowle
Friday, February 20 2009, 4:46PM
“The friendship is my local pub and I can't wait to see the back of it. I think another Tescos is unneccessary, but I'm sure I'll find it handy. A better solution (although I'm guessing there's no way to undue Tescos now) would be to convert the friendship into a nice modern pub - like the cumberland reinvented itself as the dove and star. That could be an asset to the community, but only if the community didn't continue to let itself down by the behaviour we are used to seeing around this area. The main concern that I have about Tescos is attempting to cross Axbridge/Redcatch Rd, at the top of the hill to get to the bus stop, which is positioned at the brow of the hill. Crossing the road now is a bit hairy at times, and I guess we'll see if the opening of a tescos makes this more dangerous. I would hope that this could be reviewed at a later date. In addition, I would hope that Tescos will be deterred from parking their lorries on the main Axbridge road, as this may cause a obstruction to the view of people turning out of the Redcatch side road. Is Tescos signed and sealed now, or is there any chance of something else being built?”
by Graeme, Knowle
Wednesday, February 18 2009, 7:44AM
“The existing store could adapt to a specialised one - say fresh veg. I know of a village where Tesco built a store close to a butchers - Tesco agreed not to have a fresh meat counter to protect the local trade.
Rather than ranting against something which will go ahead - why not try and work with it.
All the arguements about noise and safety etc can be cancelled out by the noise and safety issues caused by the existing users of the site.
I also didn't go to the meeting - but that would be because I didn't receive any information about it. Maybe Gary H was handing it out to protesters only to continue one-man crusade against anything that makes headlines.”
by Mike, Bristol
Wednesday, February 18 2009, 7:43AM
“Give me Tesco and the great service they provide any day of the week. Pubs, too many of them.”
by Christopher, Clifton
Wednesday, February 18 2009, 12:17AM
“They would soon be moaning if a local tesco was turned in to a pub.
You don't relise how convenient tesco express etc are until you have one.”
by Laura, whitchurch
Tuesday, February 17 2009, 9:06PM
“At least it's not ANOTHER block of flats.
Sorry "luxury apartments."”
by Ben, Clifton
Tuesday, February 17 2009, 7:18PM
“I don't know what's worse... a pub or a store.”
by TC, Knowle, Knowle
Tuesday, February 17 2009, 7:12PM
“Elsie, sorry if you felt offended but "I said may" is always used by people as a cop-out when someone picks them up on what they have said when it is controversial.
I agree keep it friendly, we'll leave the horrible stuff to GH, GV and ACR.
PS - I wouldn't be a bigamist as I would have to have a "Civil Partnership" !! That one made me laugh, lol - oh no, now wait for the PC brigade for me making fun of that...”
by Elsie, Knowle
Tuesday, February 17 2009, 6:36PM
“TC get your facts straight...are you Gary Hopkins in disguise?
I said there MAY be an increase in the number of drink driving incidents. If local people walk then why would there need to be car parking spaces?
Sorry to hear your girlfriends felt intimidated (are you a bigamist by any chance? :) ), they shopuldn't have been. They are entitled to their opinions just like everyone is.
Well managed pubs with the support of local Police can be an asset to the community. I have axactly the same issues with my local, but the landlord is proactive in keeping the disruptive element at bay (probably sends them off to the Friendship)
Kepp this debate friendly please”
by TC, Knowle, Knowle
Tuesday, February 17 2009, 6:08PM
“PS - I couldn't make the meeting but 2 girlfriends did. They felt very uncomfortable expressing an opinion in favour as those who are against were quite vociferous - as is the norm. The people there were not interested and would not have tolerated it - "anyone who says in favour will get some" was heard next to them at least twice.”