Protesters have lost the battle to save The Emperor pub.
Ipswich: Emperor pub WILL become a Tesco
By Paul Geater
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
3:40 PM
The Emperor pub in Norwich Road will become a Tesco Metro.
The borough’s planning and development committee has given approval to a proposal to build an extension to the building which will allow it to be converted into a neighbourhood store.
Members of the committee voted 8-1 to back their officers’ recommendation that there were no justifiable planning grounds to refuse the application.
Tesco does not need planning permission to convert the pub into a shop, the only aspect which needed permission was the extension which the company said was necessary to make the store viable.
There has been a major campaign against Tesco by regulars at the pub, and local councillors Andrew Cann and Carole Jones both spoke against the application.
They were particularly concerned about the traffic to the store – especially delivery lorries – which they feared could cause problems on one of the busiest roads into the town.
Simon Peters from Tesco told the committee that the new store would create about 20 new jobs.
The company was aware of the strength of feeling of local people who were concerned about losing a local pub, but he said that the new store would fulfil a valuable service.
Speaking after the meeting, he said there were still details to be agreed, but the company hoped to start work later this year.
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11 comments
I wonder if the Tesco who will be moving into tthe Emperor site are in any way related to the Tesco who stated last year that they had no plans of doing so (Ipswich Star 5th August). No doubt the 8 councillors who voted in favour of Tesco will distance themselves from the fallout once the first boarded up shops appear on Norwich Road.
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Northerner
Thursday, March 7, 2013
The demise of the pub was nothing to do with the manager but the multi-million pound corporation which owns the premises. They sold the lease to Tesco and now UK's biggest retailer is going up against the Co-Op just yards away. plus a few indie retailers.
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Steve Blake
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Twenty ten hour a week jobs, with all the unsociable hours under the sun, and lone working, will hardly set the unemployment figures alight!
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ElaineD17
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
The people who are protesting would spend more in Tesco than they ever would if it was a pub !
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the opinion man
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Our council care not a jot for its citizens, as long as tesco pays business rates to make sure their high salaries and. Gold plated pensions are protected, job done.
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this is what we pay tax for
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Its all about supply and demand. If you wanted a pub so badly, then you should of spent your disposable in there. I am sure any 'boycott' of this store will last as long and locals want a pint of milk or a loaf of bread
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fuztownsend
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
A Tesco Metro? Surely some mistake. A Tesco Metro is the size of Kesgrave Tesco's. It would never fit! Do you mean a Tesco Express? Should never have been given permission. Traffic issues alone gave the committee grounds. They are just too chicken to go against the officers...
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IpswichSpy
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
@Norton: the reason we "need" a new Tesco here is because Tesco's plan is to destroy Co-Ops and small local shops so they can get as near to a monopoly as possible.
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beerlover
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Typical Tesco. "About 20 jobs". The one thing about Tesco is there is no "about". They will know exactly. The truth will be in the teens at best. But "20" sounds more.
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John Alborough
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Do feel sad for the old pub but in all honesty it has been dying a slow death for a long time and really needed a good manager to bring it back to where it was a year ago. But cannot understand why we need a Tesco's on Norwich Road when we have 2 Local Co-ops and 2 Local shops in walking distance.
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Norton
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Do feel sad for the old pub but in all honesty it has been dying a slow death for a long time and really needed a good manager to bring it back to where it was a year ago. But cannot understand why we need a Tesco's on Norwich Road when we have 2 Local Co-ops and 2 Local shops in walking distance.
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Norton
Wednesday, March 6, 2013