Tesco store on Hanham Kleeneze site gets go ahead

A TESCO store will be built on a derelict patch of land in Hanham, despite a long-fought campaign by residents to stop it.

Plans for the single storey supermarket on the former Kleeneze site behind the High Street were given the go-ahead by South Gloucestershire Council’s development control committee.

A previous scheme for a bigger store had been thrown out by councillors in December 2009 after an outcry by residents.

The new plans included a smaller store which was closer to High Street and allowed a firm to remain on site, as well as making provision for two new industrial units.

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One of the reasons the last scheme was turned down was because the site is zoned for industrial use.

Campaigners, who had fought a Tesco store in the town for around ten years, are worried about the impact the new supermarket will have on local traders, as well as the effect on traffic in surrounding streets.

Many believed the traffic report carried out by Tesco was ‘out of date’, as the number of cars on the A4174 has increased with the enlargement of the Asda store in Longwell Green as well as other developments nearby.

Parking at the site is also an issue that concerns residents, as in the plans there is limited parking available for staff at the site.

The number of delivery lorries in roads which are used by children to walk to school during term time was another concern, as well as the effect on residents in Ansteys Road, which is to provide an access to the new store.

Margaret Berry, whose husband Patrick campaigned against the previous Tesco scheme and died earlier this year, told the Post: “It is devastating that the store has been given the go-ahead.

“We fought for ten years to try to stop it, but in our heart of hearts we knew it would eventually happen because Tesco just seems to be able to do what it likes.

“It was a foregone conclusion so we weren’t surprised when the councillors agreed it.

“We honestly feel like the extra traffic this store will bring to Hanham will be unbearable.

“At weekends the High Street is already choc-a-bloc with cars going to the nearby retail park - another supermarket will make things far worse.

“There were some conditions put on the store being allowed permission, but nothing that will really make any difference to us, it’s very disappointing.”

Conditions put upon the granting of planning permission for the store included a contribution of £165,000 towards upgrading the pedestrian link from the new store to the High Street, a contribution of £40,000 towards upgrading the bus stops on Memorial Road and various road safety measures.

A spokeswoman for Tesco said a council-commissioned study showed there was strong evidence Hanham needed a new supermarket to cater for a weekly shop, as well as create an anchor for the High Street.

She said the store would provide 160 new jobs and provide a free two-hour car park shoppers could park in whether using Tesco or not.

The supermarket is now waiting for the official decision notice from the council before building work can commence, which could take a few months.