An artist's impression of the new Tesco superstore at Walton Green - villagers in Trimley St Mary are worried about the traffic the development will generate.

Felixstowe: Walton Green Tesco superstore proposal rejected

BY RICHARD CORNWELL, Felixstowe editor Friday, March 1, 2013
2:39 PM

JOBS will be lost and businesses close down if Tesco is allowed to open a new superstore at Felixstowe, claims the town’s mayor.

Town councillors recommended refusal for the project and cited ten key reasons why the 30,000sq ft supermarket at Walton Green should not be built.

These included the impact on the town centre and Walton High Street, being against national and local policy, concerns that it would cause traffic congestion, use grade one farmland, and disturb residents with noise and light pollution.

The decision comes just weeks after the council rejected a project for a similar-sized store alongside Felixstowe railway station.

Both applications will be decided by Suffolk Coastal council, though not for some months yet.

Mayor Mike Deacon said a 30,000sq ft store would take millions of pounds spent at existing business in the town centre and Walton High Street – “revenue siphoned off into the coffers of Tesco”.

Government reports and the Mary Portas report had highlighted the impact of superstores on town centres and Suffolk Coastal’s new policy was to regenerate town centres and protect them from out of town shopping.

Mr Deacon said: “I believe there will be job losses and business failures among our existing independent retailers and supermarkets and this would not be beneficial to the economy or the character of our town.

“I was told by a Tesco representative that after visiting Tesco’s supermarket people will pop into the town centre or Walton High Street. Why would they? Dream on.”

Councillor Mike Stokell said it was the “sneakiest application” he had come across and believed it would have “a devastating impact on our town centre, far, far greater than we assume”.

Deputy mayor Jan Garfield said: “I think Tesco are living in cloud cuckoo land if they think people will walk to their store and walk back to the High Street again to a bit more shopping.

“People who use superstores don’t walk, they take cars, shop, have a coffee and drive home. They certain won’t touch shops in Walton High Street or drive into town.”

Only councillor Andy Smith was for the development, believing it would not destroy the town centre and would help break the habit of people shopping out of town.

■ Roy Gray, of the Walton Felixstowe Community First action group, said: “We are delighted that the right decision was made by the town council and that councillors had listened to their constituents. We know there is a way to go yet in the fight but this is a step in the right direction.”

■ Simon Petar, Tesco regional corporate affairs manager, said: “Our proposed development will bring much-needed jobs and added choice for residents and the community.

“It will bring enormous benefits to the town and support for our scheme is growing all the time.”

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26 comments

‘The Main Man’ its not clear from your comments if you support Tesco or not LOL. I don’t necessary agree with his comments but I do agree that customers will vote with their feet. We have Co-op and Morrisons who, in my opinion, are more expensive then Tesco BUT people shop there as that is what we have locally at the moment. Co-op have numberous outlets in Felixstowe and no-one complains about that. Let the mighty Tesco come to our town, spend their money, offer us jobs and then we will see if people shop there, if they continue to shop at their usual store or drive out of town for shopping or if they just continue with online shopping. I get the point about people not wanting it in ‘their back garden’ with noiselight pollution, but they should just say that and not use other reasons to justify their NIMBY opinion – we’d all listen more if they were just honest about it and it would probably carry a lot more weight. I would like the new store build but im not sure how I’d feel if it was in my back yard, other than it would be far to walk!!!

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Homeofstowe

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
The start of this artical makes me laugh about the loss of jobs and businesses closing down...Tesco would create more jobs than could ever be lost by the closure of small stores and also unless Tesco become a 'charity shop' I don't see what the issue is, as that seems to be all that the town has to offer. Felixstowe is living in the 60's and needs to catch up with the future.

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chasingdreams

Saturday, March 2, 2013
Despite some of the nonsense written by some Tesco supporters here, this was a sensible, common sense planning decision for a change. The Tescopoly across Britain is overpowering & they are already in Felixstowe, with huge alternative stores within a few minutes' drive, in Martlesham & Ipswich, for the complainers. Felixstowe has plenty of free parking at both alternative supermarkets, Morrisons (out of the town centre) & the Co-op (in the town centre) plus Lidl too. They are all competitive on price with Tesco, which is why they are all successful, as shoppers are not stupid, they vote with their feet. And of course, the Co-op shares its profits with its customers & its local communities - I'm sure Tesco will follow suit soon...LOL! Tough luck Tesco, you'll need to take all those non-existent, so-called 'new' jobs to the next council daft enough to fall for your biased, profit-oriented propaganda.

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The Main Man

Saturday, March 2, 2013
Surely killing of development and expansion will create more job losses than anything else? I had absolutely no idea Felixstowe was a thriving, developing and expanding town with full employment? Oh, it isn't.....so lets kill of any hope of letting it become one. I hardly ever shop in Felixstowe now because it doesn't provide what I want and the whole experience has become more and more messy, especially if I'm in the car. If Tesco's comes to Walton that will be my exception so at least I'll help create the extra jobs and support the local economy. How terribly selfish....

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Weary Traveller

Saturday, March 2, 2013
The majority of the WFCF and councillors are of the older generation, therefore have grown up kids, no mortgage and a chunky pension. They probably have 2 holidays a year and therefore can afford to shop at the co-op and the other town centre shops. The result was inevitable...

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Dave Martin

Saturday, March 2, 2013
According to my calculations 12 of the submissions on this topic are in favour of Tesco and 5 are not in favour. That's called democracy, folks, Felixstowe Town Council style.

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cwayconslt

Saturday, March 2, 2013
I believe we live in a democracy, yet the detractors want to restrict the opportunities and freedoms available to others. I read below things like "it will take away beautiful countryside" and then "light pollution will affect neighbouring housing". Eh? This is just a ploughed field with ramshackle stables surrounded by main roads and beyond them existing housing. I have never shopped in Walton High Street and less and less in Hamilton Road, as they either offer me nothing I want or parking has become laughable. Why shouldn't I go somewhere with good easy free parking and a wide range of competitive goods. I don't like Morrisons or Co-op so go to Tesco Martlesham. If Walton is build I shall probably switch to that, thereby being less pollutive and supporting something that will bring jobs and money to the area. Yes C Smith, the 70's were less frantic and manic but that was 40 years ago. Life moves on, habits change, trends change. There are millions more cars in society now, people work shifts, they travel longer for work, more people in a household work when they can and everyone wants things to be quick easy and user-friendly. Why shouldn't Tesco try and develop it? If they didn't others eventually will. Be sure in time it will be built on. Or is that the real reason for the nimbys, it's Tesco?? Many objectors I expect are shareholders and I bet even more do their main shop outside Felixstowe already. I sense double standards proliferating here!

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Disbeliever

Saturday, March 2, 2013
2nzy I am not doing any of the things you say as I actually have no say in the councils decision I am just saying what I think . You on the other hand are obviously speaking for others as you had to go on line to do this message. To be frank there are not many people nowadays that don't have one or the other (carcomputer) and if they don't then surely small local shops are even more important to them for their service and also for actual interaction with others and sometimes just a chat with someone who has the time. Felixstowe and Walton need to do something about making the area more attractive for tourism as that is where local jobs could come from not part time low paid cashiershelf stacking jobs, they both have something which many desire and that is being near the seaside, a bit of investment in the facilities and a good clean up would bring money and prosperity to a place that should have a captive audience. Tesco does not attract people to the town the sea does that as thats were people love to be and walk, holiday, lunch, drink and play. It already looks much better now the elf and safety signs have been lessened which is a good start, a few smaller good shops would really make a difference (like Wells next the Sea, Southwold etc) but if Tesco come that will never happen. And I tell you what it was a much more frugal life in the 70's BUT life was more enjoyable, shops were local and progress isn't always better no matter how you try to dress it up.

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C Smith

Friday, March 1, 2013
jacqueline,c smith and waltonerought to pull their heads out of the sand.its not the 70s,felixstowe already missed the 90s,your selfishness and blindness is harming those who dont have the ability to go online or get to supermarkets which are out of town and out of reach.this is a disgusting situation.also,get over yourselves,forget villages this is the biggest dock in europe providing for everyone worldwide and nationally apart from its own residents.people with stupidity like this are hell bent on destroying this area.yea carry on,refuse shops,homes,food,dock expansion,knock down the spa,protest against the pier development.etc.how much shopping do these people actually do here,they obviously drink way too much coffee,buy too many cards etc.do they realise walton isnt goin to be affected because walton doesnt actually sell much?! I despair with these people,no wonder the place is a joke to people out the area

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2nzy

Friday, March 1, 2013
I don't do my food shopping in the town centre, I use Morrisons or go to the out of town stores outside of Ipswich, mainly for ease of parking and choice. We barely go into the town centre now, too much hassle with parking (I have reduced mobility but do not have a blue badge), so whereas we used to pop in to do small bits and pieces after I picked the children up after school and as a consequence, go to other shops in the town as we could park on the high street, we now either do those things online or wait until we are going somewhere easier to park. I did have to go to the town this afternoon to pay in a cheque....I really wish I hadn't. The roadworks have taken away a lot of the free parking that was available (bank corner etc) meaning we had to park in the car park behind M&S (the others are too far for me to manage to walk from) but by the time I had walked through the shop to the high street, I was completely beggered...I could go no further. So no extra popping into shops as we would have done in the past, that was beyond me, nope I rested, went to the bank, rested again and then struggled back to the car. We desperately need something in our area of town (Trimley), there are no supermarkets or cheap food places within walking distance, so for us, we may as well drive to one of the out of town Ipswich stores or Felixstowe Morrisons with easy parking than mess about trying to do things in Felixstowe town centre. I'm not bothered if it is Tesco or another supermarket chain (to be honest, I am no lover of Tesco), we just need something here.

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Sue cuthbert

Friday, March 1, 2013
It's great to see most of our local town councillors recommending refusal of this Tesco planning application i just hope the Suffolk coastal council back them. It is time Tesco's where stood up to. They will say anything to get there way and the rubbish they seem to come out is unbelievable i mean whos going to shop there then pop in town and Walton high street no -one. Walton high street has a nice range of shops and many would be affected badly by a new supermarket. Having it will take business away from the shops we already have a would mean job loses and empty shops. We need instead of thinking of building on the outskirts investing in town to encourage a great range of shops . Walton high street already at peek time struggles with traffic and building a new giant store will add to that all the time . And i don't want to lose beautiful countryside and it wildlife for a new store we don't need. And it would be to close to people houses causing them great noise and light pollution effecting their lives . if you look at the two giant stores they already have in Ipswich and Martlesham they aren't that close to any homes . Tescos don't care about our town and villages or the shops we have already all they care about is making as much money as possible for themselves .

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Jacqueline Norlem

Friday, March 1, 2013
Now that shopping online is more accessible to most, the high street is suffering anyway. Look at the trends... major retailers shutting up shop in town centres because they cannot compete with online sales. The only shops that are flourishing are the £1 shops because it is still cheaper to shop than buying online. If the council had any sense they would realise that the high street is soon going to be a thing of the past. Everything you could once do in town is being done online. The Tesco development might take some trade away from the town centre, but It would be interesting to see how many people from Felixstowe actually shop at Martlesham, Warren Heath or Copdock anyway? Would this development not keep those shoppers from driving out of town to do the weekly shop and provide more jobs for local people, allowing more leisure time for those people that would usually spend all of Saturday morning out of town doing a shop? In reality the high street is going to be a thing of the past. Even Tesco stores will probably be replaced with on-line shopping deliveries eventually. Those people that still go into town to do banking, visit the post office, get a haircut and visit charity shops will still continue to do this and probably stop for a coffee along the way. Time to move on and with the times Felixstowe.

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Ashley Barrett

Friday, March 1, 2013
The council of this town maybe standing up to tesco,s but they have ruined this town by pedestrinising it and putting in free parking in the silliest of places in and around town that is why people are sick and tired of the town centre. it is now a nightmare to drive around the town. nothing flows cars parked everywhere. i really hope this tesco,s gets the go ahead like it deserves. we are no different to any other town centre also which like earlier comment the town centres will be a thing of the past.

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joe bloggs

Friday, March 1, 2013
Why didn't the recent spout of Convenience Corner shops (which are springing up all over town) get refused ? They are cheaper for confectionary and alcohol than the Co-op stores, surely these are also taking business away from the town centre. Obviously a big-enough 'Brown Envelope' didn't arrive in the right peoples pockets :D

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Dave Martin

Friday, March 1, 2013
The stupid comments by people stating that if the might of Tesco arrives in Walton then the town will be saved??? why will it. Small shops WILL close, any jobs gained with be no doubt minimun wage part time jobs, jobs elsewhere will be lost. You can shop reasonably locally, you can get your shopping via the internet so you don't have to fall out of your door straight into a Tesco. If they do get their way with all the stores they want the Farmers will be squeezed as they will have no choice but to sell to the big supermarkets, when they get squeezed like the dairy farmers they will go out of business and we will have to import our food, the bigger picture is not always the right answer, and as for bringing people into the town I am sorry but when I go out for the day I go to Felixstowe to be by the sea for some fresh(er) air I don't think oh yes I will go to Morrisons Co-op ridiculous senario. I used to love shopping at Tesco, I was proud that they were a thriving British company but they have no ethics (research Tesco in China) they have sold me (within the law) food labelled in such a way that I thought I was buying British when in fact it was EU battery farmed pork, when they tried to justify this instead of being straight it was the last straw for me, they lost my £6k a year and many others feel the same. Perhaps people like this shouldn't live in small towns then try to change what they have before realising how precious what they had was.

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C Smith

Friday, March 1, 2013
Now that shopping online is more accessible to most, the high street is suffering anyway. Look at the trends... major retailers shutting up shop in town centres because they cannot compete with online sales. The only shops that are flourishing are the £1 shops because it is still cheaper to shop than buying online. If the council had any sense they would realise that the high street is soon going to be a thing of the past. Everything you could once do in town is being done online. The Tesco development might take some trade away from the town centre, but It would be interesting to see how many people from Felixstowe actually shop at Martlesham, Warren Heath or Copdock anyway? Would this development not keep those shoppers from driving out of town to do the weekly shop and provide more jobs for local people, allowing more leisure time for those people that would usually spend all of Saturday morning out of town doing a shop? In reality the high street is going to be a thing of the past. Even Tesco stores will probably be replaced with on-line shopping deliveries eventually. Those people that still go into town to do banking, visit the post office, get a haircut and visit charity shops will still continue to do this and probably stop for a coffee along the way. Time to move on and with the times Felixstowe.

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Ashley Barrett

Friday, March 1, 2013
At last a council brave enough to stand up to Tesco. Anyone naive enough to think this would benefit the area clearly have never been to towns or villages which have effectively closed down after Tesco rocked up undercut local business only to drive up cost once they had all disappeared. Let's not give up this fight - this is only the start

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Waltoner

Friday, March 1, 2013
Town councillors refuse this what a complete joke they are the town center would of never suffered all there is cafes and charity shops and more pharmacy's that's needed for this town. there will be even more people shop away from felixstowe now and will shop on the internet. why dont any one ever listen to the public in what they really want. just mean's now felixstowe will die even more now and felixstowe port will end up expanding on to farm land

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Antony Perkins

Friday, March 1, 2013
Sounds like they will shut down Solar next as it must be stopping a lot of people shopping in the Town. Felixstowe has always been a town run by small shop keepers, for small shop keepers. Time stands still.

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amsterdam81

Friday, March 1, 2013
That's fine I'll just carry on shopping at Tesco in Martlesham then!!

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Maggie May

Friday, March 1, 2013
What a stupid,ignorant,selfish decision.why do we have people making these decisions who are only intent on destroying the area.btw,this project isn't in felixstowe,it directly benefits the residents of Walton and trimley.if felixstowe residents decide to use it which they will because it's nearer than Ipswich then that's a bonus.let's get things straight,this will create jobs and not harm felixstowe showcase of charity,coffee and card shops,also in Walton it is hardly likely to affect the take aways,eb carpets,bloomfields,tattooing,hairdressers,funeral services,etc.the co-ops will still be local convenience,so stop sabotaging the future of this area!

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2nzy

Friday, March 1, 2013
What a stupid,ignorant,selfish decision.why do we have people making these decisions who are only intent on destroying the area.btw,this project isn't in felixstowe,it directly benefits the residents of Walton and trimley.if felixstowe residents decide to use it which they will because it's nearer than Ipswich then that's a bonus.let's get things straight,this will create jobs and not harm felixstowe showcase of charity,coffee and card shops,also in Walton it is hardly likely to affect the take aways,eb carpets,bloomfields,tattooing,hairdressers,funeral services,etc.the co-ops will still be local convenience,so stop sabotaging the future of this area!

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2nzy

Friday, March 1, 2013
Self-inflicted death by cuts. Yet again the Council totally ignores the real world and presides over the constant and accelerating dermise of what was a wonderful town. Seafront increasingly derelict, town centre shambolic and curse any attempts to re-generate. Its becoming a laughing stock.

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Disbeliever

Friday, March 1, 2013
Yet again having a go at "TESCO" a succesful BRITISH company ! No wonder we're struggling if those that make decisions fail to see the benefit . It will employ more people than lose jobs . People do not go into town centres to do their food shopping unless they are living very close by . The Traditional high street is no more , those trading from there need to get into the 21st Century and change their business quick . If not in 5 years the internet will have taken over a vast majority of their market and they will be no more , diversify to survive .

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Poppys Dad

Friday, March 1, 2013
The town is all ready dieing, most people drive out of town for the BIG food shop any way so this not being built will mean those people will still drive out of town! Welcome to the death of felixstowe!!

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MARTYN GREGORY

Friday, March 1, 2013
Good. It's about time councils started standing up to Tesco and refusing planning permission to Tesco. It isn't neccessary for Felixstowe to have another supermarket in such a small town where the only competition is Morrisons and the Co-op. This reminds of Sheringham a few years ago, when Tesco wanted to move in there. They were refused planning permission there because it was feared that it would take away trade from the rest of their town centre. Well, that's why Tesco got refused permission to build a store at Walton Green; It will just take trade away from Felixstowe town centre.

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Andrew Berry

Friday, March 1, 2013

Felixstowe: Walton Green Tesco superstore proposal rejected

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