Our concerns over Bathwick Tesco Express
With reference to your article 'Date for Tesco opening at last' in the Chronicle of November 20, I would like to point out that your last paragraph stating the 'opposition to the Bathwick Store centred on fears that it would drive existing shops out of business' is incorrect.
Yes, there are residents who have concerns about the future of Bathwick Stores which is in direct competition with Tesco. Bathwick Stores provides a friendly and personal service to shoppers – only time will tell if Tesco can offer the same level of service.
However, the residents' association and concerned members of our community have centred their objections on concerns about traffic, parking and pedestrian access.
We will monitor the situation as there is already a problem with traffic, including cyclists speeding over the canal bridge by Tesco where there is limited visibility.
Pedestrians have already been injured and killed crossing the road here, and we feel that traffic-calming measures need to be introduced. The free parking on the road in the area is very limited so the leaflet Tesco has circulated advertising free parking could be considered misleading.
One of our concerns is that number of shoppers who stop to 'pop-in for a few things' will end up double parking or parking dangerously.
Also the constant coming and going will raise the chances of another serious accident there.
SARAH TRIMMER (on behalf of the Bathwick Hill Residents' Association) Bath
2 Comments
by Christine, Bath
Friday, December 05 2008, 9:45AM
“And I should add that I WALKED there - I don't drive, so I wasn't adding to any traffic.”
by Christine, Bath
Thursday, December 04 2008, 6:03PM
“Is there any evidence from the other shops that people double park when they want to 'pop out' for something? I live near the Co-Op on Julian Road and have never seen anyone double park there. Did people double park outside the Bathwick Stores? (a shop far more likely to be popped into given the potential for queues in Tesco Metro). Tell me where in Bath doesn't have problem traffic! It is a city far too small for the amount of cars so I don't follow that this Tesco would cause a traffic problem. This all sounds a little bit pessimistic.
What I would say that might please the fans of Bathwick Stores is that when I visited the Tesco Metro today I was enormously disappointed. I couldn't buy what I went in for and found the layout slightly confusing with no one to ask for help. I also found an exceptionally agressive woman at the check out so I can't see it being much competition to anyone. My local Co-op and indeed my local newsagent is far far bettter. So, if we're going to have a Tesco and all the fuss that goes with it - can we have a good one please?”