Tesco still plans to build Stourport store

7:30am Friday 25th January 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By William Tomaney

SUPERMARKET giant Tesco has confirmed it still intends to build a store in Stourport, despite construction work on the building being held back.

When the superstore’s plans were approved by Wyre Forest District Council’s planning committee in 2010, Tesco officials originally said it would be open in 2012. The opening was then delayed until 2013 but building on the 45,000 sq ft site off Severn Road has not yet begun.

That sparked rumours on several social networking sites that the company had given up on Stourport altogether, which Tesco spokesman Jonathan Simpson denied.

He said: “It is still our current intention to build the store in Stourport. We will confirm the timetable for the construction as soon as we are able to.”

Liberal district councillor Fran Oborski, who sits on the planning committee, said Tesco had invested a large amount of money in access roads and a bridge so was still committed to the Stourport site.

It is believed the delay was due to a company-wide policy in response to a retail slowdown and the recession.

Comments(22)

Poppasmurf says...
8:52am Fri 25 Jan 13

If Tesco open in Stourport, then within five years Stourport High Street will look like the Horsefair. But more importantly, Wyre Forest Council will be getting much more money from the business rates from the superstore than it does from all those little shops. And the government can pick up the bill for all the unemployment. It's win-win for the council, only the small businessmen and women will lose - and, of course, the population of Stourport. The council have already spent many thousands on the unnecessary infrastructure and traffic lights that now hold up the traffic. Imagine what it's going to be like when the superstore opens.

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stourport2012 says...
11:16am Fri 25 Jan 13

I am so glad to hear they still plan to go ahead. This will mean that I will stay in the town to do my weekly shop rather than travelling out of town to get it.

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Mr.Fie says...
1:32pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Does this mean we can turn those stupid traffic lights off for a bit then????!! Hardly needed at the minute and the traffic in the afternoon is bad enough

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FlipC - The Mad Ranter says...
3:16pm Fri 25 Jan 13

@Mr.Fie Well I agree the phases need a look at.

However, personally I like *knowing* that I'll be able to get into Mitton Street, via the lights changing, than *hoping* I'll be able to get out due to the constant stream of traffic from Hartlebury combined with the idiots coming to a full stop at the Mitton Street entrance to let the Gilgal traffic blaze through.

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neilhar says...
6:31pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Personally, in complete contrast to my previous comments on this issue, I think the traffic is better with the lights in place. I use the new bridge all of the time and except in rush hour, and not always then now, traffic on worcester road does not queue as much. Because there are now two options. I haven not yet had to sit in a big queue Because of the lights if I am Mitton st. Mildly annoying to have to stop but hey. When I am at the lights on Severn road, I sometimes see the car that was in front of me drive past as I wait. Even if there was a queue on worcester road.

For sure, It'll be very different when the store is open and the houses are built adding at least 4,000 cars per hour they tell us using these lights.

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FlipC - The Mad Ranter says...
6:51pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Not to mention how the poor positioning of the bus stops will block traffic

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jon cooper says...
9:55pm Fri 25 Jan 13

stourport2012 wrote:
I am so glad to hear they still plan to go ahead. This will mean that I will stay in the town to do my weekly shop rather than travelling out of town to get it.
I couldn't agree more :-)

@Poppasmurf: It's the first that i've heard that any local authority paid for the new infrastructure and traffic lights in Mitton Street/Severn Road: I thought all of this came from the pocket of Mr Tesco ?

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Poppasmurf says...
10:06pm Fri 25 Jan 13

jon cooper wrote:
stourport2012 wrote:
I am so glad to hear they still plan to go ahead. This will mean that I will stay in the town to do my weekly shop rather than travelling out of town to get it.
I couldn't agree more :-)

@Poppasmurf: It's the first that i've heard that any local authority paid for the new infrastructure and traffic lights in Mitton Street/Severn Road: I thought all of this came from the pocket of Mr Tesco ?
Just like Mr Tesco proposes spending millions of pounds just so you and stourport2012 can save a pound in petrol money by not having to go to Kidderminster!

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Jane Gordon says...
10:49am Sat 26 Jan 13

it;s inevitable we will have a supermarket in Severn Road but just wish it wasn't Tesco. We've already go enough of them in this area.

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jon cooper says...
7:12pm Tue 29 Jan 13

Poppasmurf says: "Just like Mr Tesco proposes spending millions of pounds just so you and stourport2012 can save a pound in petrol money by not having to go to Kidderminster!"

I can't speak for 'stourport2012', but as far as i'm concerned, then yes; I can't wait to do all my shopping in my own town. The luxury of not having to travel miles out of my way, stuck in endless traffic is mighty appealing. To be able to drive along the Worcester Road, and divert across the 'Bridge on the River Stour', (thank you Mr Tesco), and park for free, and walk into Stourport Town Centre for my usual High Street shop is quite an exciting prospect. However, i'm still a bit cynical of the possible gridlock in Mitton Street/Severn Road.

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John Herbert Smith says...
7:38pm Tue 29 Jan 13

Can we get rid of Tesco and keep the new road please?

It's helped ease the traffic at the roundabout!

Or can we have a Waitrose/M&S Food instead of another Tesco?

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Stephen Brown says...
8:03pm Tue 29 Jan 13

We still do not need yet another supermarket strangling local trade and causing more gridlock.

There are already 2 supermarkets in the town and a mini Tesco and in my view that's more than enough thank you very much.

Supermarkets, and Tesco's is one of the worst, exist to dominate the market and maximise profits, that is their business model. That comes at a wider socio-economic price all done under a clever marketing smokescreen of choice and convenience. Some are worse than others granted, and some do try and appease objectors by having a social aspect.

Having spent time in Europe, our so called 'cheap' supermarkets are still more expensive than local shops abroad and do not offer that much choice - unless your preferred choice is stack 'em high multinational processed sugar salt and fat in attractive unnecessary boxes.

No one is forcing anyone to drive miles out of their way to a supermarket brand of preferance, that is a personal choice. I am perfectly happy to use the shops and supermarkets in Stourport we already have without driving anywhere and pick and mix what I buy and where.

It is just a pity Tesco's ever got planning permission in the first place. Big money and smart lawyers always win out. The rest of us just have to put up with it, and as it is round the corner from me, I am actually dreading the day it opens.............

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stourport2012 says...
8:50pm Tue 29 Jan 13

Agreed jon cooper, i forgot about the free parking that's a bonus.

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Gobby Robby says...
10:08pm Tue 29 Jan 13

I wonder what will happen to Lombard St when Co op & the original Tesco have closed down not to mention the closure of County Buildings? It's a shame people are only interested in their own naked self interest and convenience rather than the wider socio-economic effects of their actions.

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kjb1 says...
8:27am Wed 30 Jan 13

Tesco cheap for fuel i don't think so !!

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FlipC - The Mad Ranter says...
9:44am Wed 30 Jan 13

"and park for free, and walk into Stourport Town Centre for my usual High Street shop" at which point you could return to a parking notice as the car-park is likely to be for Tesco customers only.

Doubling the fun is that for those who know the layout the safest route into town is via Lichfield Street (which I'm sure won't be the route advertised), but from the supermarket itself would require three crossings via lights and along the pavement that hasn't been improved.

Shambles.

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jon cooper says...
4:29pm Wed 30 Jan 13

From the initial planning stages of 'Tesco', the traffic issues, and the probable impact on gridlock in central Stourport was talked about in much detail. I'm still very sceptical of any gridlock; but we have a problem: Tesco IS coming and really it's a little late in the day to air concerns when the development was passed ages ago. But the one positive improvement that 'Good Old Mr Tesco' has done for Mitton Street, and the junction to Lion Hill and Vale Road, is to incorporate responsible pedestrian crossings, that would never have seen the light of day if it was left to WCC. There have been numerous accidents in this vicinity in recent years with pedestrians literally taking life into there own hands trying to cross the road. This very important issue, fingers crossed, has now been erased somewhat.

Most people who have commented on the Tesco development would like to have seen ASDA take over the site, seeing as though they were booted out of Churchfields in Kidderminster. I actually think an ASDA store would have been a pretty good option for the district, and why not in Stourport ?

There is also justified concern about the impact a Tesco, (or any Superstore), might have on the town centre. I seem to recall the same concern being shared when the Co-op and Lidl opened their doors to the public. As far as i'm aware, the addition of these stores made little difference to Stourport Town Centre, and the probable reason why is that the many independent shops that are dotted around the town cater for people in a way that Tesco - or any other larger store for that matter - could ever dream of.

Just as a side issue, (sorry to ramble): I would like to thank 'Gobby Robby' for highlighting the demise of the County Buildings, that has been appallingly left to its own devices with no concern whatsoever directed at the fate of the facilities within it. Tesco is small fry compared to the real issues that face Stourport and its residents currently !

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Gobby Robby says...
6:06pm Wed 30 Jan 13

Co op was taking over from an already existing supermarket and is more or less in the town centre. I don't think you can compare the two.

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jon cooper says...
8:58pm Wed 30 Jan 13

... And the opening of Lidl, has that made a difference ?

Whether folk think the coming of Tesco should be treated with the same contempt as a third anti-christ, should remember one thing: Tesco has done the unheard of thing of actually paying to bring the inner road network that surrounds the Mitton Street/Severn Road site something akin with the needs of the 21st century. Although not perfect, these improvements would never have been made under any local authority - never in a million years. Special mention should go to the new 'Bridge on the River Stour' which at this early stage has proved to be a success.

However, i do often wonder what has happened to the substantial amount of money Mr Tesco paid our local authorities to improve public transport to and from the new Tesco site ... 'Substantial' being the appropriate term !

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Gobby Robby says...
9:27pm Wed 30 Jan 13

Yes, no doubt you will also be praising Mussolini for making the trains run on time ;-)
As regards Co op & Lidl making a difference, well perhaps they have? The town centre has plenty of empty shops.

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jon cooper says...
11:26pm Wed 30 Jan 13

Gob: I honestly don't think you can pin the blame of empty shops on the Co op or Lidl. Do you not think greedy landlords and the massive rise in internet shopping has something to do with the state of our town centres today ? And lets be honest, in these days of austerity on the High Street, how many shops lie empty in Stourport when compared to towns of similar size.

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FlipC - The Mad Ranter says...
10:01am Thu 31 Jan 13

@Jon. Oh please the only reason that work was done was to allow Tesco to claim edge-of-town status and as I've pointed out it's still a farce.

From the Mitton side pedestrians need to scoot across both the Worcester Road and Gilgal exits; walk up the untouched pavement and then cross at these 'wonderful' new lights.

From the town itself pedestrians need to use three sets of lights and still head along the untouched pavement or dodge across the Mitton Street to Lion Hill exit as (despite the original plans) they suddenly realised they couldn't add lights at that point.

In terms of "it's too late now" some of us have been banging on about this since the design stage.

As for gridlock - wait until the Tesco traffic mixes with the yet-to-be-built housing estate and the buses start running along this stretch and stopping directly next to the lights in their allotted spaces just past the parking bays.

Oh and as a bonus has anyone else noticed the complete lack of street lights on this newly road built?

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