Thousands sign petition against new Tesco's

Jul 18 2005

A petition signed by thousands of people protesting against Tesco's plans for a major new store in Birmingham has been handed in to the city's planning department. MP Liam Byrne, who has led opposition to the plans to build on a corner of the Brockhurst Road playing fields in Hodge Hill, was joined by a delegation of residents as he delivered the petition and letters of objection to the Council House. As well as taking up several acres of green field, many families fear the store will take business from small traders at the nearby Fox and Goose shopping area and increase traffic congestion. The Labour MP said his own poll of 2,000 households in the area showed 80 per cent were against the plan. He also slammed the Conservative council administration for agreeing to sell the playing field site to Tesco. Story continues ADVERTISEMENT He said: "I want to send a message to Birmingham City Council that they won't railroad us into this development without a fight." Dave Deeley, aged 64, of Ventnor Avenue, accused the council of selling off the city's sporting heritage. He said: "We are depriving future generations of these playing pitches. Once they are built on you can never get them back." He added that the council should not have to rely on a spin-off payment from Tesco to invest in sport and youth facilities in the area. Business development manager Mohammad Nazir, of Sandhurst Avenue, predicted that smaller shops and supermarkets would be the losers. "We already have Aldi and Somerfield in the neighbourhood so this store is not increasing choice, value or offering anything new," he said. He added that jobs created by Tesco will be offset by the negative impact on the Fox and Goose and other local shopping areas. The planning committee is expected to consider the scheme within the next two months.

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