Retailers rally against Tesco plan

Tesco has again revised its controversial proposals for a 24-hour store on the site of the former gas works at New Park.

Campaigners have long voiced their opposition to a supermarket there.

But fears over safety and traffic problems that could be caused have now prompted the Harrogate Chamber of Trade to announce a formal objection.

Brian Dunsby, the chamber's chief executive, said: "The grass roots opposition to this has taken on a new lease of life.

"The whole of the business community is getting behind it and at a recent meeting over 90 traders were unanimously against these plans.

"Tesco is saying it will put a lot of money into a bus service which is great but it is doing nothing at all about the congestion – in fact this is going to get worse.

"The proposed scheme would result in a queue of about 255 vehicles on the Ripon Road every day, this would bring the town to a deadlock.

"We are not against a Tesco in Harrogate in principle but we cannot accept that the recognised benefits of the store for local residents justifies these unacceptable levels of congestion and intolerable delays."

Mr Dunsby also said that the Chamber has serious safety concerns about a proposed access road across the site that would be used by both customers and delivery vehicles.

He said: "The site has a large number of high pressure gas mains and regulator valves close to the proposed route which would be vulnerable in the event of any vehicles crashing or going off the designated road.

"Any leak of gas resulting from vehicle impact could be extremely dangerous, particularly with a large gas storage tank nearby."

Peter Schofield, owner of Leng's greengrocers on Cold Bath Road, said: "I have noticed the opposition to the supermarket pick up a lot recently – it is definitely going up a gear.

"Harrogate is built on independent traders and there are so many in the town.

"We are going to fight tooth and nail to keep it that way.

"Supermarkets make a phenomenal amount of money at other people's expense and I am very against these plans."

Tesco's latest changes include installing traffic lights between the New Park Roundabout and the Jennyfield Drive lights at the proposed entrance and a two-way access from New Park Roundabout to the site.

But not all residents are against the development. Arecent poll claimed 45 per cent of those living in the town are in favour.

Councillor Matthew Webber, who represents the New Park ward, said: "This part of Harrogate desperately needs a supermarket and a lot of residents I know are supporting it."

The campaign against a Tesco superstore in Harrogate has raged for more than three years, with the plans being met with fierce opposition at all stages.

In 2007, Richie Molloy and Dave Burns formed the "No To Tesco" group to try to halt the scheme. They received dozens of letters of support.

They also set up a website in setting out their concerns and providing other objectors with useful telephone numbers.

Representations must reach the Council by Wednesday next week. After that, the proposals go before the planning committee.

A Tesco spokesperson said: "This is a very popular development and it always has been.

"We are working with the highways authority to ensure that traffic flows smoothly through the site, we don't foresee that as a problem.

"In terms of actual objections and support lodged with the council we have more support."