Tuesday 6 July 2010

Are Tesco and Freshwater proposing a hotel and seafront shops?

I'm confused. Perhaps someone can help me. The article in last Friday's Gazette 'Arlington Residents Say No to Tesco' by Richard Spillett stated that the proposal included a hotel and creation of shop spaces on the seafront side. I thought that we are still awaiting a planning application in July and that at the meeting it was confirmed there is no longer a hotel or seafront shops on the cards. Instead, they are proposing to errect 'attractive' hoardings. Nice.

And how about an environmental impact assessment? TDC's Doug Brown stated it's not needed as there have been assurances from Tesco. Is this right?

6 comments:

  1. when the council approve the plans (which they will regardless of the costs to the people and businesses in the area), maybe Tesco will pay for extra beach cleaning machines as thats where all the rubbish from the store via day trippers is going to end up.

    Environmental impact! well there you go, its not necessary for Tesco to worry about such things because TDC will clean up and tax payers will pay for it.

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  2. Freshwater have said they will only apply for "outline" planning
    permission for the seafront hotel etc. and this means they can wait
    for years if necessary to actually build that part of the site. In the
    meantime they will erect a "2-3meter high length of hoarding" to cover
    the blank spot on the seafront. Perhaps they will paint it a slightly
    more attractive colour that the existing violent blue perhaps not.
    Truth is that NO ONE knows what Freshwater are going to apply for,
    except perhaps the TDC planning officers, and so WE ALL HAVE TO WAIT
    for the planning applications including outline permission to be
    actually lodged with TDC. Then the secrets will be out!
    Yes, the seafront of Margate will be almost certainly be dominated by
    a TESCO STORE. It will certainly give the Turner a run for it's money
    in the architecural stakes.Freshwater have said they will only apply
    for "outline" planning permission for the seafront hotel etc. and this
    means they can wait for years if necessary to actually build that part
    of the site. In the meantime they will erect a "2-3meter high length
    of hoarding/fencing " to cover the blank spot on the seafront. Perhaps
    they will paint it a slightly more attractive colour that the existing
    violent blue perhaps not. Truth is that NO ONE knows what Freshwater
    are going to apply for, except perhaps the TDC planning officers, and
    so WE ALL HAVE TO WAIT for the planning applications including outline
    permission to be actually lodged with TDC. Then the secrets will be
    out! Yes, the seafront of Margate will be dominated by a TESCO STORE.
    It will certainly give the Turner a run for it's money in the
    architecural stakes. "LOOK AT ME, I'M A PLATE GLASS FRONTED
    SUPERSTORE..with over 350 parking spaces; what's that over there? Oh
    yes, that's some picture place with no parking, - never mind that LOOK
    AT ME - I'm a SUPERSTORE MARVEL!".

    A Bemused Resident

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  3. From an old sea dog:

    Thanet District Council has assured us that an environment impact
    statement and analysis of the traffic patterns and volume is NOT
    NECESSARY. Why not? Because Tesco has estimated the environmental
    impact for them and will tell the truth about the amount of extra
    traffic their superstore will provide.
    The phrase, "fox guarding the chicken coop" springs to mind!" But
    being an old sea dog, I cannot be expected to know about traffic. I
    just know what my eyes are telling me.

    Has anyone else stood on the seafront like me, in the past two days
    and watched and wondered, "where will the extra daily parade of 300
    cars and the 80+ lorries go" when the Tesco opens?"
    Not to worry, it will be wonderful for pedestrians, because the
    traffic will be moving at a snail's pace, if at all, and crossing the
    road might be even easier, no need to use the pedestrian crossings!"
    Of course, that's if the cars and lorries even make it to the
    seafront, because it's going to be a long
    wait to get out of All Saints Avenue onto the station roundabout.
    Think of all the fumes from those lorries and cars patiently waiting
    at the All Saints junction? Silly me, not to worry, the sea breezes
    will blow the fumes southerly!"

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  4. Sea Dog, 300 cars a day is the capacity of the car park at any time. the traffic per day will be in the thousands.

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  5. For years I've been hearing complaints that not enough people shop in Margate, & now it looks like there's actually going to be something to bring them back there's people complaining about that! You can't have it both ways ladies & gentlemen, & why assume that so much traffic will go along Margate seafront? Surely deliveries are far more likely to come from the Westbrook / Westgate direction, as will many of the customers - people who mostly currently travel to Westwood Cross, so therefore easing congestion there!

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  6. if tesco gets there way no other shop will be left open in Margate,so who is going to gain the most MARGATE or TESCO

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