No to a Tesco Express in Knowle

Lead petitioner : Glenn Vowles

Status: New > Draft > Rejected > Accepted > Collecting signatures > Awaiting submission > Submitted > Pending owner response > Closed > Withdrawn

Status: Closed

Petition

We the undersigned call on councillors to support the existed varied shop and pub provision in Knowle and oppose any proposals to turn The Friendship Pub into a Tesco Express.

Background information

This petition is in addition to and fully supportive of the existing paper petition organised on behalf of shops on Redcatch Rd in Knowle, by Balbir Kaur Birk, opposing the Tesco Express plans. It is already rapidly gaining many signatures.

Tesco should not be allowed to convert The Friendship on Redcatch Rd, Knowle into a Tesco Express. They seem to
have a policy of flooding the market with their outlets.
Councillors should support the existing varied shop and pub provision in Knowle which is already providing good service to the community. Any Tesco Express may well make the position of some existing shops unsustainable.

Tesco's Bristol dominance is growing, skewing the local economy. It is monopolising the
market, which is increasingly bad for competition and thus prices. It is forcing longstanding and loyal local shopkeepers out of business.

We need a balance of types of shops in Knowle. Tesco already has stores nearby and there is also a choice of supermarkets and smaller shops in the area.

Another Tesco outlet seems absurd. Any new store and plans '...to improve the existing car park arrangements on the site to offer 12 customer parking spaces...', is likely to increase local traffic and worsen road safety. The area is already very busy with traffic. The junction of Axbridge Rd and Friendship Rd is narrow. Access and turnaround of large delivery vehicles is unsafe and inappropriate.

Tesco Express propose opening until 11pm! This will accentuate noise and possibly cause disturbance due to congregation and uncontrolled alcohol consumption.

Another issue is what would happen to the area that is currently a pleasant, reasonably large garden with trees and shrubs at the back of the pub. Many people will want to retain a local pub and
garden. If pub retention is not possible or not wanted there must be better uses than yet another Tesco!

Signature Count

98