Local community opposes Tesco superstore...

From the site of the Environmental Law Foundation:

With the help of the Environmental Law Foundation (ELF), residents of Yiewsley in Hillingdon are opposing the construction of a new Tesco superstore.
Two earlier planning applications for sites in the area were unsuccessful, but Tesco has come back for a second round, appealing the original decisions.
Through ELF’s Advice and Referral Service, the Yiewsley Residents’ Association have received legal advice and help on how best to use the planning system to voice their concerns.
The group hopes to defeat Tesco’s appeal on the grounds that the new store would increase traffic congestion and generate air pollution and noise pollution.

There are already significant concerns about local air quality: Yiewsley was previously designated an ‘Air Quality Management Area’.Tesco put in planning applications to Hillingdon Borough Council for two separate sites back in August 2006. Both were unsuccessful and Tesco sought to appeal. David Whiting, Chief Executive of ELF, commented: ‘A developer can use the current planning laws to its advantage because it has the resources to make multiple applications and appeals.’Members of the Yiewsley Residents’ Association took to the streets to prove Tesco’s figures wrong. By counting cars, locals showed that the traffic flow rate was 400 times the figure provided by Tesco. Tesco was forced to withdraw the first appeal and the decision on the second appeal will be handed down on 19th March.

Gay Brown, Secretary of the Yiewsley Residents’ Association believes that the group has a 50-50 chance of overturning Tesco’s appeal, despite praise from the Inspector on the quality of their presentation at the hearing. Ms Brown commented: ‘It’s time that the local authorities took back control of what is built where, instead of allowing greedy developers to wipe out one community after another’.

Full article from ELF