Residents fear supermarket in Little Lever
Wednesday 16th February 2011
ANGRY residents have voiced their concerns about the possibility of a large supermarket being built in Little Lever.
More than 50 people attended a public meeting on Wednesday held amid rumours of a major developer planning to build on the former Pennine Pets site, in Lever Street.
Bolton Council has not received a planning application for the land, but residents believe there is a “strong possibility” of a supermarket being built there and leased to a firm such as Tesco.
Areas of concern included the impact a supermarket would have on businesses in Little Lever, increased amounts of traffic and falling house prices.
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Residents prepare to fight any plans for a supermarket
Friday 18th February 2011
ANGRY residents in Little Lever have told developers: “We don’t want a supermarket here.”
More than 50 people attended a public meeting on Wednesday held amid rumours of a major developer planning to build on the former Pennine Pets site in Lever Street.
Bolton Council has not received a planning application for the land, but residents believe there is a “strong possibility” that a supermarket could be built there.
Areas of concern included the impact a supermarket would have on Little Lever businesses, increased traffic and falling house prices.
Meeting organsier and resident Kristy Atkinson said: “Aggressive pricing by supermarkets has ruined the character of town centres all over the UK.
“Closure of local shops will be a reality if this goes ahead.
People are worried we will end up with rows of boarded-up shops.
”I am quite passionate about where I live. My fear is Little Lever will lose its personal feel should this development go ahead.”
Resident Sheila Booth said: “There are a lot of pensioners in Little Lever and most don’t have cars. The village shopping centre is a lifeline to us. This is a village, not a town. A big supermarket has no place here.”
People living in Ainsworth Road have been sent letters from an agent offering to buy their house. It is thought they could be demolished to make way for a supermarket. Sheila Robinson, whose son, Neil, lives in Ainsworth Road, said: “I have watched my son spend a lot of money on his house. This concerns me greatly. There are people who will lose not just a house, but a home.”
The meeting, at Hardy Hall, heard that planning permission was granted in 2007 for Wainhomes to build 88 homes on the site. But it lapsed last year and Wainhomes has submitted an application to extend the permission.
A Wainhomes spokesman told the meeting: “After we got planning permission, the market became depressed and we had to negotiate the price of the land. Unfortunately, the owner has been offered a lot more money by another developer and has turned to them.”
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End of the village centre
Tuesday 24th May 2011
It seems the Prime Minister has called in Mary “Queen of Shops” to rescue ailing town centres.
I have written to her to suggest that she starts with Little Lever.
Further to this, I have suggested that she gets a move on in view of the imminent planning application to build an “edge of centre”, 24-hour superstore on the old Pennine Pets site — bang in the middle of a residential area.
There is little doubt that this project, apart from creating traffic chaos and loss of amenity to residents, would, if permitted, see off the several already struggling independent convenience retailers and complete the dereliction of the village centre. The area is more than well served with existing supermarkets within a 15- minute journey, let alone the newly-opened ones and the one under construction in Farnworth.
Its only purpose can be the undermining of its main competitor for its own benefit.
Once the application is submitted, a heavy burden will be on the shoulders of members of the planning committee. I suggest they should get a coach up and spend a couple of hours in the village centre and picture what the end result would be.
No amount of very attractive Section 106 money could compensate for ripping the heart out of a community.
Paul Richardson Ripon Close Little Lever
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‘Village supermarket’ planned by Tesco
Tuesday 31st May 2011
Tesco wants to open a new store in Bolton, the supermarket giant has announced.
Bosses plan to open a “village supermarket” on the former Pennine Pets Factory site, off Lever Street in Little Lever. Before work starts to renovate the derelict site, Tesco will consult with the local community.
Matthew Magee, Tesco corporate affairs manager, said: “A new store would offer our customers more choice in a modern and pleasant shopping environment whilst regenerating a derelict site. Over the next few months we will be talking to local residents, businesses and community groups.
“We want to make sure our investment benefits all of Little Lever, bringing more shopping choice and new jobs at this time of economic uncertainty.”
Tesco says it is in advanced discussions with developer Ladson Group to regenerate the site.
If successful, it will create around 100 jobs, on top of the 49 staff already employed at the existing Tesco Metro in Market Street, who are all guaranteed jobs.
And Tesco chiefs have moved to calm the community’s fears by insisting the new store would be small and in keeping with the character of the village.
Local resident Paul Johnson, aged 65, of Coleridge Avenue, said: “It’s probably a good site for them to be building on, although any development of that size is going to generate opposition.
“Creating 100 jobs is really good, but it all seems a long way off so we will have to see what happens.
“Tesco have got to stick to their word and talk to local people about what they want to do.”
But Samantha Jenkins, aged 35, who lives in Countess Lane, said: “It wouldn’t be good for the area as a whole because a lot of businesses round there would lose trade.
“Tesco aren’t daft. They wouldn’t open a new store if it wasn’t going to be used, so I think people will like the convenience of having it on their doorsteps.”
And Mike Howarth, of R and J Howarth’s Jewellers in Market Street, said: “If Tesco erect a superstore in Little Lever, it will kill the village shops.
“I will do everything in my power to stop this development. They say they will create jobs. What about the jobs it will lose from other businesses?”
When rumours that Tesco was planning to build a new store in Little Lever first emerged in February, around 50 people attended a public meeting opposing the idea, saying it would damage other businesses and increase traffic.
Former ward councilllor Sean Hornby, who chaired the meeting, said: “Whilst welcoming Tesco’s wish to build a store in Little Lever, we should not be fooled by it or the spin which Tesco will put on how it will benefit the people. Little Lever’s roads are stretched to the limits already.”
Mr Hornby plans another public meeting to discuss the announcement. He added: “This application could have many benefits for Little Lever. However, done wrong it could be the nail in its coffin.”
The proposed store will incorporate sustainable features, such as a timber frame, rainwater harvesting and wind catchers.
Consultation will begin in the summer before a planning application is submitted. Tesco say the store will be primarily a food shop.
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Tesco application could be final straw
Thursday 2nd June 2011
IS the Tesco application good or bad for Little Lever?
The application by Tesco to submit a planning application for Little Lever has to be the worst kept secret ever.
Whilst welcoming Tesco’s submission and wish to build a new store in Little Lever, we should not be fooled by it or the spin which this multi million pound group will put on how it will benefit the people of Little Lever.
Tesco are only building a store on the site in Little Lever because it knows it can make a lot of money from this site and it will be hoping to attract custom from Asda at Burnden Park and Asda Radcliffe, along with custom from the Breightmet and Darcy Lever areas as well.
Little Lever’s roads are stretched to the limits already and were never designed for today’s traffic, let alone the possibility of a store with 190 car parking spaces.
In peak times, according to the last traffic survey, two cars pass through the junction every three seconds.
At a recent public meeting, which I chaired, one or two said the application would never come to light, how wrong they were.
I did say at the last packed public meeting that I would call a public meeting for residents to discuss this application as soon as more information was available.
Now that I have spoken with the planning consultants that Tesco are using, I intend to do so independently of any further consultation which Tesco will be doing as part of the planning process.
This application, done right, could have many benefits for Little Lever. However, done wrong it could be the nail in the coffin.
I care passionately about Little Lever and its village centre, which goes back over 150 years. I would like to think in some way this is preserved and improved not destroyed by an outside company.
I am sure discussion about this application will be quite heated over the coming months, but I look forward to the challenge ahead.
Sean Hornby Chairman of Little Lever Action Group
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Tesco: ‘Is this your final answer?’
Wednesday 8th June 2011
AT last the cynical manipulation of the planning system by the likes of Tesco has been laid bare for all to see.
Their “Oh, did I forget to mention the petrol station?” application for the Longcauseway development has made a mockery of the deliberations of the planning committee and the ability of the public to decide whether or not to object. Too late — came the cry!
This is on top of extending the permitted delivery hours after planning consent was given.
On July 7 and 8, Tesco will attempt to soft soap the people of Little Lever with a presentation of a watered down proposal for a “Village Supermarket” on the Pennine Pets site that is only intended for the residents of Little Lever and that will close at 11pm.
All the time they will be hiding their real aspirations, which are for a 24-hour superstore with a petrol station.
The game is obvious. Get planning consent for the least objectionable scheme and subsequently put in working amendments to opening hours, etc.
The planning committee members must be ruthless in exposing Tesco’s real intentions by asking — ‘Is this it?’ ‘The final version?’ ‘Do you want to phone a friend?’ Without this, our elected representatives on this committee will be seen as gullible idiots with rubber stamps in their hands.
The residents of Little Lever, in deciding whether they are for or against the development, need to be confident that Tesco is not going to pull the Longcauseway trick on them.
Paul Richardson Ripon Close Little Lever
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Can we afford to turn down Tesco’s bid?
Monday 13th June 2011
Paul Richardson has obviously seen through the powerful and manipulative planning practices of Tesco in his letter “Tesco: Is this your final answer?”
Tesco is very good at attaching incentives to planning applications. During the present economic climate these incentives are difficult to turn down for local councils due to the cuts imposed on them by the banking sector via the IMF and this coalition Government.
We only have to look at recent protests and objections involving Tesco and local communities to see the state of play that’s going down.
Tesco won a planning appeal in Salford, after more than 8,000 people objected to the building of the new store, yet despite this, the store still went ahead. Similarly, in the Stokes Croft area of Bristol, thousands of people objected to the development of a Tesco store there, and once again the wishes of the local community and businesses were completely disregarded which resulted in several nights of rioting and further ongoing protests.
There are currently about 40 separate protests going on around the UK to prevent Tesco setting up in their respective areas, and one by one each of these protests is crushed by the economic power and influence that Tesco holds.
Tesco and others are rushing to set up stores all over the UK, ahead of new legislation that could halt the relentless building of these Supermarkets.
Anyone who believes that Tesco brings economic prosperity to the area are sadly deluded, all that they bring is low paid, low grade employment, the closure of longestablished local businesses and noise and traffic.
There is only one to defeat these predatory businesses and that is to take your business elsewhere.
Successive Governments have taken community power away in terms of having a voice, but they can’t tell you where to spend your money, so hit them where it hurts and shop elsewhere!
Steve Jones Morris Green
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Store giants hold exhibition for residents
Thursday 16th June 2011
Residents concerned about a Tesco development in Little Lever will be able voice their worries directly to the supermarket giant.
Representatives from Tesco will unveil their plans for the new store next month at an exhibition and will be on hand to discuss concerns.
As reported in The Bolton News, Tesco wants to open a supermarket on the former Pennine Pets Factory site, off Lever Street, to replace its Metro Store in Market Street.
A two-day exhibition will be held at St Matthew’s Church House, in Market Street, on July 7 and 8.
Matthew Magee, Tesco corporate affairs manager, said: “This is an exciting development for Little Lever and we are looking forward to talking to residents, businesses and community groups about our plans.
“Our proposal is for a replacement store, which will provide Little Lever with a wider range of products, and help residents to cut down on trips out to stores outside of town.”
The proposed supermarket would be twice the size of the Metro store. It would not be open 24 hours and the company said it would not be looking to purchase any further properties around the site. Bosses say they are working with Bolton Council’s highways department “to ensure the scheme does not significantly impact on the local road network”.
The store would employ 150 people, including guaranteed roles for staff working at the Metro store, and incorporate sustainable features such as a timber frame and wind catchers.
In February about 50 people attended a public meeting to oppose the proposed store, saying it would damage other businesses and increase traffic.
Representatives from Tesco will be on hand to discuss the plans on Thursday, July 7, 2pm to 8pm and Friday, July 8, 2pm to 7pm.
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Tesco to hold us to ransom
Wednesday 6th July 2011
Sean Hornby, in his letter last month, is wrong to say that the Tesco application “done right could have many benefits for Little Lever”.
Tesco, like other supermarkets, will simply hold the Labour council to ransom with promises of road improvements, etc, to get their way.
The council will fall for that ploy, as they have done with all other applications all over the town.
This is why Bolton now has at least 19 supermarkets and the figure does not include all the small Co-op stores, Tesco Metro and Express and Sainsbury’s Local stores.
I doubt whether any other town in the country has so many.
The proposed Tesco supermarket will do nothing to enhance Little Lever, but will simply destroy the other local businesses as all the supermarkets have done in other areas.
R Swindells Bolton
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The Plan revealed on 7th July
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Underwhelmed by Tesco store plan
Wednesday 13th July 2011
So, finally, the details of the proposed Tesco development at Bradley Mill have been revealed to the villagers of Little Lever.
Having attended the presentation, I must say I was underwhelmed — in fact I was mystified. I felt sorry for the chaps tasked with flogging the idea to the public. It was pretty clear that they hadn’t got their ducks in a row.
The proposal is just for a bigger food store — no clothes, electrical or other goods that the village needs. What a trick to miss!
The Tesco representatives were adamant that there would be no petrol station in spite of there being seemingly more car parking spaces than required.
They were less reassuring in ruling out the possibility of 24- hour opening, saying that this was a matter for Bolton Council.
They were confident they could manage to get up to 175 cars, plus pedestrians, cycles and 40ft long HGVs safely in and out of a side street that is no more than 30 feet wide.
They were dismissive of concerns about the traffic impact on the already congested junction, even though they have yet to do a traffic survey to find out the figures.
They didn’t seem to think their proposal for traffic lights and pedestrian controlled crossings at the junction would increase traffic backlogs and suggested that speed humps down the resulting rat runs would solve the problem.
They were not concerned that the store, being surrounded by houses, would be all but invisible, saying that the shop was only for local people.
They stated that although the new jobs created would be sourced through the Jobcentre Partnership, there was no guarantee that they would go to the local unemployed.
I went to this presentation hoping that they could convince me it would make sense for Little Lever. I came away thinking that it didn’t even make sense for Tesco.
Paul Richardson Ripon Close Little Lever
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People ‘support’ new Tesco plans
Sunday 17th July 2011
Residents in Little Lever have shown their support for plans to replace the town’s Tesco store, the retail giant says.
About 300 people attended a two-day exhibition where the proposals were presented to the public for the first time.
The development, which would create 100 new jobs, would see Tesco built on the derelict Pennine Pets factory site off Lever Street, with the new supermarket replacing the current Tesco Metro store in Market Street.
Residents could leave comments on the plans at the exhibition, of which 70 per cent said they were in favour of a new store, 16 per cent were against, and 14 per cent had not made up their minds, Tesco said.
Stuart Mooney, who runs the Hair Lounge in Lever Street, said: “It’s going to keep more people shopping in Little Lever, which will be good for my business.
“The village is really struggling at the moment and needs an injection of life. All I hear from my clients is they are very supportive of the development.”
But other residents and businesses are concerned that other traders will lose out, and that the scheme will cause traffic problems.
Former councillor Sean Hornby said: “The main concerns are the highway issues and access into the site and what it will do to the village centre, it will kill it. Some people are a bit deflated because it is not what they expected. It is not going to sell clothes and electricals, just food.
“I plan to hold another public meeting about it in the next couple of weeks.”
Matt Magee, corporate affairs manager for Tesco, said: “We had some great feedback from residents who were excited about a new store that would create new jobs and regenerate the Pennine Pets site.
“We spoke to a large number of people who told us they had to get in their car and travel outside of town to do their weekly shop.
“We are going to continue to hold discussions with residents and community groups while we finalise our plans.”
Tesco plans to submit a planning application later in the summer.
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And finally:- My response to the above article which has yet to appear.
Dear Sir,
I was pleased to note that Tesco has stated that of the 300 attendees at their presentation in Little Lever, 70% were in favour of the proposal. I would have been astounded if they had announced that 70% were against.
An equally unscientific and unrepresentative poll on the Little Lever Info website informed us that people preferred Asda over Tesco by a factor of three.
Leaving this aside, Mr Davidson (he who talks to Tesco Executives) in the same issue tells us of Tesco’s expansion into 24/7 local mini-supermarkets. Information I have been given which originated from within Tesco says that their aspiration for this site is indeed for 24 hour opening with a petrol station. This would start to make commercial sense but it isn’t what the attendees were asked to comment on.
There’s many a slip twixt cup and lip and my suspicion remains that the final application plus subsequent amendments would be far different from what we were shown last week.
The required traffic survey took place last Thursday, unfortunately when 20% of the High School pupils were already on holiday. This survey was counting the traffic up and down Ainsworth Rd but when I asked the guy if he was going to survey the traffic through the junction he said –‘No – we haven’t been asked to’. Not very representative then!
In my view the access through Crossley St is unworkable and the only sensible thing to do would be to bring it straight into the junction. This would also open up the visibility of the store. Unfortunately this would involve the demolition of Mr Mooney’s shop. If this were the case, he would probably less enthusiastic about the idea.
Paul Richardson
Ripon Close
Little Lever
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