Ward Councillors will lead a discussion on the proposed Tesco development of the former Barclays Bank on Clarendon Park Road.
Minutes:
Over 150 residents attended the meeting to discuss interest by the company Tesco in the recently closed Barclay Bank building.
The Chair gave a brief update on the current position. Earlier in the year Tesco had denied any interest in the property which was seen by residents to be an attempt to stop residents from starting a campaign. A weeks prior to the Community Meeting, residents had received a letter from the organisation stating their intent to open a store in the building.
Residents were present at the meeting to discuss ways in which the planned development could be stopped and the following points were raised:
· The change of use from a bank to a shop did not require planning permission, but the installation of signage, a cash machine and refrigeration unit would.
· Tesco at this point were not planning to expand the store. If Tesco wished to expand into the garage area adjacent to the building, a planning application would need to be submitted. Simon Petar (Tesco) had stated he was happy to arrange a meeting with the community.
· The store would have to apply for a licence to sell alcohol.
· There were four licensing objectives to which residents could object against, one of which was ‘the prevention of public nuisance’. The store was planning to close at 11.00pm, and any later than this time, then the residents would have a case.
· There was a Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ) on London Road and Granby Street which had been implemented due to the problem with street drinkers. There was not the same problem with street drinkers in Clarendon Park, and it took approximately a year to implement a CIZ.
· Residents would need to start a grass roots campaign with all the people in Clarendon Park to say they did not want a Tesco, and object at every stage of the development to show strength of the objection.
· The building would be unable to take deliveries from large lorries to the back. Communication from the organisation stated that smaller lorries would be used 2-3 times a day out of hours.
· The organisation would undercut local businesses.
· There would be issues with traffic at the junction, particularly if a cash machine was installed, but this was not a strong planning case for rejection.
· Barclays Bank should be contacted to see if the contracts had already been exchanged, and the Bank should be petitioned.
· A petition should be gathered to show the strength of feeling of the residents in Clarendon Park against the development.
· The Co-Op and smaller businesses in the area would be lost. Was the diversity and small trader aspect not relevant to planning.
· Sainsbury’s should be boycotted to show Tesco that they too would be boycotted, and raise publicity of the campaign.
· Tesco was such a large organisation that Leicester City Council could not afford to take the company on in an appeal.
· Good news stories where Tesco and other organisations should be passed to the campaign organisers.
· Clarendon Park could not be changed to a Conservation Area, which was more about the appearance of an area, rather than the businesses contained within it.
· Students should also be involved in the campaign as a way of integrating students into the community.
· Land Registry documents held by a resident showed the forecourt of the building belonged to Leicester City Council.
· The company had offered incentives to communities when involved in previous disputes, and Tesco should be asked what they could contribute to the Clarendon Park area.
The Chair concluded after a show of hands that 99% of the meeting attendees wanted to become involved in the campaign. He summarised by saying a smaller core group would be set up to organise the campaign, involve the media and set up social media for the campaign. A sheet was circulated at the meeting for details of those people present who wished to become involved in the core group and/or wider campaign. A resident suggested a logo be created to help in the identity of the campaign group.
Further information and progress would be brought to the next Castle Community Meeting.