Green light for Walney Tesco Express
Last updated at 15:43, Wednesday, 09 May 2012
PLANS for a Tesco convenience store on Walney have been given the green light.
The application to open a Tesco Express in the former Ocean Road Stores premises was voted through unanimously by Barrow Borough Council’s planning committee yesterday.
Around 20 jobs will be created and there will be eight parking spaces associated with the development.
Some councillors voiced concerns over parking and the report for the meeting included an objection from the governors of the nearby South Walney Junior School, who claimed an increase in traffic would pose safety problems.
Councillor Jack Richardson, leader of the Conservative group on the council, told the meeting in Barrow Town Hall: “It’s a facility that’s desperately needed on Walney and I support it. It’s less than 4,500 sqft – probably the size of two normal size, small shops. If you go to the Co-op on Oxford Street (Barrow), it’s about the same size.
“Deliveries are hopefully going to be restricted to between 9am and noon, which is outside school time and, with the scale of the development, the delivery vehicles will not be there for very long.”
Labour Councillor Allison Johnston voted in favour, but had some concerns.
She said: “People are lazy and that part of Ocean Road is quite a big area to get out of your car and walk to the store.
“Walney desperately needs this kind of facility.
“But my concern is parking, with having two schools (South Walney Infant and Nursery School, and South Walney Junior School) there, people going to the shop, traffic coming on a major bus route and Ocean Road being a major road.”
The governors of South Walney Junior School said in the report: “The increase in traffic on Amphitrite Street, already a narrow bus route, will put pupils at greater risk when crossing the road to school, which is completely unacceptable.”
Planning officer Jason Hipkiss recommended approval and told the meeting: “There is not a lot to it that is particularly contentious.
“The scheme has been modified so Cumbria Highways is now satisfied with it.
“A traffic order will limit the time that deliveries can be made to the shop, ie when the school run is not happening.”
First published at 13:15, Wednesday, 09 May 2012
Published by http://www.walneylocal.co.uk
Labour Councillor Allison Johnston voted in favour, but had some concerns.
She said: âPeople are lazy and that part of Ocean Road is quite a big area to get out of your car and walk to the store.Big area?? I guess she means the 10-20 yards it would take to get from Ocean Road to the store??Still, there shouldn't be any more traffic in Ocean Road or the surrounding streets than there is at school times because most parents are too lazy to walk their children to school too!View all 6 comments on this article
Have your say
Tesoo is taking over the whole county expensive and not the best
Posted by . on 10 May 2012 at 15:42