Controversial plans for a Tesco in Stourport, which would create 250 jobs, look set to be approved – provided local roads and buses get £673,000 of improvements.
Developers of the project on the former Carpets of Worth site are being asked to sign an agreement to pay for improved transport links around the town.
The food chain will have to contribute towards the improvement of a junction at York Street, High Street , Bridge Street and New Street in the town before the store can be opened.
It is also being asked to pay to upgrade pedestrian and cycle routes around the town.
A travel plan, agreed with Worcestershire County Council’s highways department, has also been called for by Wyre Forest District Council.
The district council’s planning and development control committee last night agreed delegated authority for officers to approve the application subject to it being rubber-stamped by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Hilary Benn.
Tesco also needs to agree to various conditions including meeting the costs of improvements to roads and services.
About 100 people packed the Sixth Form Centre of Stourport High School to hear councillors debate the proposals.
2 Comments
Well this is no surprise.
The spineless council and county council bureacrats have caved in to the food giant just like all the other councils around the country.
They will not listen to local concerns about traffic chaos which if I am very much mistaken will probably now be twice as bad because motorists will flock to this supermarket because of a few improvement to some roads. No matter how much they spend Stourport will still be gridlocked, the layout of the roads are inadequat to cope with a store of this size and especially where it’s located. All I can say is “You Wait And See”
Thank heavens for common sense.
I get ever never ending amusement from people in Stourport saying : “The high street will be full of
charity shops, fish and chip shops and tacky gift shops if Tesco comes.”. HAve they seen it recently? It is already - with the bonus boarded up pub at the end.
The investment from Tesco is extremely welcome in my eyes. It will be great to have a world class local
Supermarket.
The roads through Stourport are inadequate, but that is no reason to not get investment from Tesco
and hold it back. Only by encouraging more and better business will the town succeed.
If we really wanted to fix the traffic problems, we would close down the fair - because thats what causes the biggest problems in the Summer. But, ofcoarse, thats not a suggestion, just an observation.
A Big Welcome to Tesco