Tesco urged to be reasonable

Alex Gore • Published 15 Jan 2012 08:00 3 Comments

TESCO has been urged to be "reasonable" when it comes to delivery times at its soon-to-open 13th Reading store.

Reading Borough Council's planning committee approved retrospective plans for delivery ramps on the site - a former pub in Tilehurst Road - but said they must only be used during the previously agreed trading hours of 7am-11pm.

Council planning boss, David Breeze, warned the committee the condition could easily be overturned if Tesco appealed because the company does not need permission either to use the former Westside pub as a supermarket or to use the car park for deliveries.

But deputy council leader, Tony Page, who stressed many neighbours actually welcomed the "disappearance" of the pub, said: "I don't think it is unreasonable. If Tesco want to appeal this, then let's be a test case."

Katesgrove councillor, Warren Swaine, who confessed to being a Westside regular, added: "It is perfectly reasonable. While the pub was opening and closing, the residents had an end point to any disruption. We are asking for a reasonable thing and we hope they [Tesco] will do the reasonable thing themselves."

The approval also included a less contentious condition that the ramps, which are in the process of being built, are covered in "low noise surfacing". They will also be surrounded by a three metre high wooden fence.

The committee, which met on Wednesday, also gave retrospective permission for a 24-hour ATM cash machine, two 1.7m (5½ ft) signs at the entrance and exit of the car park, and three signs on the Tilehurst Road side of the building, ranging from 0.5m-1.4m (19ins-5ft) in height.

Earlier this month, The Chronicle, reported on the outrage among neighbouring businesses and residents to Tesco's plans, including JR Newsagents, which collected more than 400 signatures on a protest petition.

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This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 12 Jan 12

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  BarbaraC
  Unregistered User
  Jan 15, 14:36
  Report comment

  Great to see some new jobs being created for the area!
  
  Recommend?   Yes 28     No 8

• 

  Weird Science
  Unregistered User
  Jan 15, 15:28
  Report comment

  Could we also ask the same delivery times to apply for other businesses in the area? Such as JR Newsagents...
  
  Recommend?   Yes 25     No 4

• 

  TescoMonkey
  Unregistered User
  Jan 19, 17:52
  Report comment

  At least these deliveries will be off the main road. Also as someone who works for Tesco express I can say that as its an express sites its deliveries are always during opening hours. Tesco are too tight to pay for anyone to be onsite after these hours!!
  
  Recommend?   Yes 14     No 0

• 

  ******
  Jan 22, 16:21
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