The Mega Tesco - It's Just Not Cricket

The list below raises some of the concerns we have with the development proposals for Old Trafford Cricket Ground.

1. Tesco already have permission for a store on the Chester Road site (adjacent to the Stretford Leisure Centre) for a 48,000 square feet store. This is bigger than the new Sainsbury’s store in Urmston Town Centre and this can go ahead irrespective of the current proposal
2. Tesco have already failed in a bid an extension to the Chester Road store which would have increased its size to nearly 90,000 square feet. This was refused by the Council and an appeal by Tesco against this refusal was dismissed by a government inspector only a couple of years ago – chiefly because of concern over its effects on nearby shopping centres.
3. The current proposal would result in a store of 140,000 square feet. This proposal goes against policies designed to protect existing shopping centres in the Council’s Development Plan and against proposed policies relating to town centres in the Council’s emerging Core Strategy document which will eventually supersede the existing Unitary Development Plan. It also goes against national planning policy guidance, which aims to protect and strengthen existing centres.
4. The proposal, because of its scale and because it would sell non-food as well as food items, would undoubtedly have a seriously harmful effect on local shops in Gorse Hill, Old Trafford, and Firswood, as well as the shopping centres in Stretford, Urmston and Chorlton (and possibly even Sale). The planning inspector at the recent appeal did not accept Tesco’s claims that it would have no harmful effect on existing shops and shopping centres, and common sense would back his views up.
5. A shop of this size would have significant implications for traffic along Chester Road and surrounding roads, as well as the probability of large lorries loading and unloading at all times of day and night.
6. There is a proposal by the government to introduce new guidelines relating to assessing the need for and implications of large new out-of-town shopping facilities. If Tesco can get their proposal dealt with before this is formally introduced, it would undoubtedly assist them in avoiding a full assessment of how their store would impact on the area.
7. The argument for the Tesco store is that, without finance from Tesco the proposed development of Lancashire County Cricket Ground could not go ahead. In effect the planning arguments against the proposal could be “outweighed” by the desirability of improving the Old Trafford Cricket Ground. This is effectively “buying” a planning permission for a massive development which in every other respect could be disastrous for the local community.
8. Remember, there is already a permission for a very large Tesco store - a Tesco store WILL be developed on Chester Road. The question is – do we want a store 3 x the size (one of the biggest in the country), with the disruption it will cause to local shops and local communities.
9. Tesco make great play of the number of jobs they will create in the new store. They do not make mention of the jobs lost when existing shops close down.
10. Even if it is felt that it would be good for Trafford to have a test match standard cricket ground again, how do we know that this is only possible through the financial support of Tesco? Why does the store have to be so big? What other forms of financing have been investigated? Note that other Cricket Grounds have achieved the standards necessary for international status without selling their soul to Tesco.:
    • Headingly, Leeds has funded improvements through money from the Regional Development Agency and through partnership with Leeds Metropoitan University that will result in direct benefits to the local community
    • Sophia Gardens, Cardiff has funded improvements through Council loans (which presumably it will pay back)
    • The Rosebowl, Southampton was funded partly by the Lottery fund. It went through traumas during the development, but it is completed and has hosted international test-match cricket.
    • Bristol Cricket Ground hosts one-day internationals with no significant improvements required.
11. So, even if Old Trafford achieves international test-match status again, there is competition and no guarantee that test matches will be held every year - whilst limited-over one-day internationals can be held here anyway. So does the possibility of 5 days of international cricket once every now and again warrant sacrificing the local shops and facilities in Stretford, Gorse Hill, Old Trafford, Urmston, Chorlton and Sale to the steamroller of Tesco?
12. The application for the proposed Tesco mega-store has not yet been submitted. It is expected this month. Once submitted, it will be advertised in a local paper and by a site notice outside the site. There will then be 21 days in which to submit comments or objections tot eh Council. It is important that everyone who is concerned about the possible impact of the proposal writes in to the Council. Individual letters are better than petitions. Sample letters can be provided. Public meetings will be arranged to allow for information to be passed on and discussions held.