Partick community lock horns with corporate giant TESCO

Uproar about Tesco’s Development Plans in Partick
There’s a rammy going on in Partick and the sons and daughters of the rent strikers are up in arms in protest about the proposed Tesco store and other development plans in Beith Street.

STOP, the organisation formed by residents to campaign against the Tesco applications are supported by Architecture and Design Scotland and Historic Scotland.

Fuel was added to the fire when the old Partick Station Ticket Office was suddently demolished in January, 2007. The removal of this local and historic landmark provoked an uproar and harnessed further support for the campaigners.

Samer Bagaeen outlines the issues in his article on the dispute:

Uproar against Tesco’s proposal for a ‘Tesco Town’ in Glasgow’s West End

This proposal by Tesco involves a Tesco 24-hour superstore, student accommodation, student union, leisure centre and underground parking on land on Beith Street in Glasgow’s West End. All details relating to this on-going dispute can be found on the website of the residents group formed to campaign against this application – STOP (Stop Tesco Owning Partick. Supporting documents from Architecture and Design Scotland, Historic Scotland, and extensive media coverage including the BBC television and BBC Radio Scotland can be accessed via this site.

STOP is arguing that this proposed scheme by Tesco (http://www.stoptesco.info/tescoplans.htm) does not comply with Glasgow City Council’s own policies on retail developments, quality and design, greenspace or landscape and several Scottish Executive policy notes including those on transport, retail and town centre development. [They further allege that] The proposed density on site is totally inappropriate given that the density of the proposed student accommodation, located on top of the 24-hour store, is excessive in both height and footprint.

STOP argue that the traffic flow impacts of this scheme will be overwhelming. [And allege that] Tesco’s own traffic impact assessment is flawed. [They further believe that] The traffic impact of the development will be substantial and the mitigation suggested will not adequately address this increase in congestion and traffic levels, and makes no assessment of the likely impact of the development to the problems of on street parking already existing in the surrounding area.

Early in March 2007, the group’s chairman has set up an e-petition on the Scottish Parliament’s website calling for the Scottish Parliament to consider and debate the traffic, environmental and sustainability impact on existing communities in designated town centres of large 24-hour supermarket developments. This can be accessed