However, I'm trying to work out how much of their trade would be from pedestrians passing as opposed to motorists and if the traffic stopping there would be any worse than Barber Rd. People are unlikely to drive out of their way to a Tesco Express when there is a full size store not that far (but down a huge hill so not really one you want to walk to with shopping) so most of the cars would likely be local people stopping on the way to/from work.
So where will they park, or will they just abandon their cars in the vicinity whilst they shop?
The junction is already complicated as it is.
At least with the petrol station, the very design made it so that the customers' cars weren't in the way of other traffic, and could turn around quickly due to the inherit turning circle provided by the driving through the forecourt.
Traffic for the Tescos customers will be a lot of people trying to do 3 point turns in the middle of Springvale road, and trying to do u-turns in the big junction.
I'm certainly no fan of tesco, but I'd object no matter what company tried to open a supermarket on that junction - I can see it causing a lot of disruption for local residents (and for less-local residents who have to drive through that junction on a regular basis).
The argument that this shop would be used by local people who would walk there instead of taking the car doesn't make much sense to me - most people are too lazy to walk any great distance to the supermarket (especially since its on the side of a steep hill - who wants to walk up a hill with bags of shopping), and I think most of their custom would be people stopping off when passing in their cars.
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Well I wouldn't expect a LibDem councillor to say anything else!
Presumably you and your colleagues will be as happy to support the local businesses of Walkley by taking account of the views of your electorate?
Further to the above, having finally got chance to check out the planning application - this has been refused twice and this is Tesco attempt number 3 (Ref: 09/00745/FUL) - and I have to say that I take back my last post regarding the manifesto pledges of the LibDems.
If you look under the associated documents of the planning application there are two registered objections to the scheme - one my John Hesketh and a further by a certain Mr Scriven. This is in addition to THIRTY FOUR regsitered objections by 'Neighbours'.
Can't really say any fairer than that! So I fully acknowledge that the LibDems are sticking to their election pledges! Off to go and get some Humble Pie me thinks.......
Speaking to some of the local shopkeepers last summer it seemed that the same people who jumped at the chance to object to Tesco were just as happy to abandon the local shops when it suited them.
So by all means send in your objections (I’ve not yet decided what I’ll do this time) but don’t then jump in the car and buy your veg in another supermarket, keep the local trade up, and don't just rely of the students to keep them running.
Speaking to some of the local shopkeepers last summer it seemed that the same people who jumped at the chance to object to Tesco were just as happy to abandon the local shops when it suited them.
So by all means send in your objections (I’ve not yet decided what I’ll do this time) but don’t then jump in the car and buy your veg in another supermarket, keep the local trade up, and don't just rely of the students to keep them running.
Speaking to some of the local shopkeepers last summer it seemed that the same people who jumped at the chance to object to Tesco were just as happy to abandon the local shops when it suited them.
The majority of the populous in the area are students, the so any trader in the area should have planned for the summer exodus, easter and Christmas, it happens every year. This is the only area I have ever worked where food sales go down in Christmas week.
Walkley as whole probably has, but the area of Walkley in question appears to have a large student contingent, looking at the amount of people walking down Crookesmoor Road between around 11am and back up betwen 3 and 6pm.
It is likely that the demogaphics of this area will change drastically over the next few years, mainly due to the amount of new rental accomodation being built in other areas, such as Bramall Lane, St Phillips Road (where Tesco have an Express store and a large supermarket), West Bar (another Tesco express and soon a massive Tesco extra) and the City Centre, all specifically aimed at students. Eventually the area may be returned to families. Crookes has already seen the effects of this with a reduction in the student population.
Walkley as whole probably has, but the area of Walkley in question appears to have a large student contingent, looking at the amount of people walking down Crookesmoor Road between around 11am and back up betwen 3 and 6pm.
It is likely that the demogaphics of this area will change drastically over the next few years, mainly due to the amount of new rental accomodation being built in other areas, such as Bramall Lane, St Phillips Road (where Tesco have an Express store and a large supermarket), West Bar (another Tesco express and soon a massive Tesco extra) and the City Centre, all specifically aimed at students. Eventually the area may be returned to families. Crookes has already seen the effects of this with a reduction in the student population.
But there is still about 50% of the population that are students.This makes the property more valuable as landlords still want these houses. The villages havent been as popular as everyone thought they would be.
After all some students like the feel of living in a family area. It gets them used to being in the real world!
I recently moved from Barber Road area, and can't understand why no-one seemed to object to the new Nisa which opened opposite the Co-op when everyone seems so up in arms about a Tesco?
I recently moved from Barber Road area, and can't understand why no-one seemed to object to the new Nisa which opened opposite the Co-op when everyone seems so up in arms about a Tesco?
I've been looking for the planning application for the NISA and I can't find it on the council website. Would they have had to submit a planning application to change from a plumbing shop to a convenience store?
That tactic only works in marginal wards. This site is at the boundary of Broomhill (46.7% LD), Crookes (52.9% LD) and Walkley (49.6% LD).
So I guess that living in Broomhill there is little point in speaking to the councillors about this as they've got reasonable majorities so they don't need to listen to the pesky voters.
It would be nice if Councillors actually thought about whether something would benefit or harm their area rather than making some crude calculation about how many votes are in it and whether they need those votes.
It would be nice if Councillors actually thought about whether something would benefit or harm their area rather than making some crude calculation about how many votes are in it and whether they need those votes.
I generally do ignore votes when considering how to respond to planning applications. There have been several attempts to convert shops to houses on South Road where I have written to object but colleagues have been more of the opinion "if we help them get this passed, they'll be grateful to us and possibly vote for us". When the application to put a buddha statue on the buddhist centre came in a colleague had to stop me going into the planning meeting and ranting at my own electorate about their intolerance. "You can't tell them they're bigots, they won't vote for you!"
Quote:
Originally Posted by espadrille
But there is still about 50% of the population that are students.
I've just run my casework program and 7.6% of the population of Walkley Ward are students. If you just include the Howard Road and South Road districts - the "core" of Walkley, 5.1% of the population are students.
The greatest proportion in Walkley Ward is Netherthorpe with 34% students.
Last edited by jgharston; 06-04-2009 at 22:11.
Reason: Student population
There have been several attempts to convert shops to houses on South Road where I have written to object but colleagues have been more of the opinion "if we help them get this passed, they'll be grateful to us and possibly vote for us".
So Lib Dem councillors help developers get planning permission in return for votes? That is illegal Cllr!
Planning applications should have nothing to do with politics or voting.
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The first great step to knowledge is to admit you are ignorant
When the application to put a buddha statue on the buddhist centre came in a colleague had to stop me going into the planning meeting and ranting at my own electorate about their intolerance. "You can't tell them they're bigots, they won't vote for you!"
You're a principled bunch aren't you.
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The first great step to knowledge is to admit you are ignorant
Tesco aside, the bottom of springvale road should have double yellows for a small distance. Having people parked there is incredibly dangerous, especially for drivers not used to the area. The whole street is a bit of a hazard in fact, reminds me of that thread about terraced roads becoming one way.
So Lib Dem councillors help developers get planning permission in return for votes? That is illegal Cllr!
Planning applications should have nothing to do with politics or voting.
So, it's illegal for a local cllr to write to Planning and say I think Mrs Smiths application should be passed?
Is it more or less illegal than a certain cllr of negotiable allegiance not telling his planning colleges who make the decision that he's submitted a planning application for his own cafe and recommending it be passed?
I generally do ignore votes when considering how to respond to planning applications. There have been several attempts to convert shops to houses on South Road where I have written to object but colleagues have been more of the opinion "if we help them get this passed, they'll be grateful to us and possibly vote for us".
So did you (or other councillors) in the end vote for or against these previous developments? Also, doesn't that rather contradict your previous statement that councillors in the area don't feel under pressure to do things that the local electorate demand.
