Campaigners slam Tesco for appealing against planning refusal
RESIDENTS have slammed a supermarket giant for appealing against refusal of planning permission for a new store in a Sheffield suburb.
Tesco wants to build a small supermarket at the derelict former Hollies petrol station site, on Springvale Road, Crookesmoor.
The site lies next to the junction between Springvale Road, Upperthorpe, Commonside and Howard Road, also busy with children walking to and from Westways Primary School, on nearby Mona Avenue.
Tesco - which has a large superstore just a mile down the hill on Infirmary Road - has twice been refused planning permission by Sheffield Council.
Concerns have been raised about extra traffic that would be created by the store and a lack of safe parking spaces in the area.
Now residents are battling the company for a third time - and are urging members of the public to send in objections urgently before tomorrow's deadline.
The Planning Inspectorate has given until tomorrow for public comments in writing or by email.
Jane Vandervlies, aged 41, of Upperthorpe, who crosses the junction when walking her two children to Westways School, is among the protesters.
She said: "Tesco is carrying on with this application - it may be that it wishes to grind us down and hope that residents give up opposing the development.
"But I would urge people do not give in and that we keep on fighting. When the traffic survey was carried out, the situation was bad, but it has worsened.
"There are more parked cars, displaced because of the permit scheme introduced near the university and hospitals.
"And there is also more traffic from people coming and going from the new Rajput restaurant and takeaway, on Commonside, which is very successful."
Mrs Vandervlies, who works as a primary school teacher in Mexborough, said Springvale Road has so many parked cars, it is difficult for traffic to pass and she has seen near-misses between cars and pedestrians at the junction.
"Tesco is putting profit before the safety of ordinary people."
Former Westways governor Sam Charlesworth, 44, who lives in Walkley, added: "This is a development at a site where it's obvious there are going to be major traffic implications with a lot of children using the junction. It's a dangerous spot and we don't need this development."
Sheffield Council refused Tesco permission due to road and pedestrian safety concerns, lack of parking and unacceptable noise for neighbouring homes.
The Planning Inspectorate is to hold a public inquiry into Tesco's appeal, at a date to be fixed.
All public comments about the application - 09/00745/FUL - must be received by tomorrow.
Email teamp7@pins.gsi.gov.uk or write to The Planning Inspectorate, Room 3/18a, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6PN.
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