Bid to block Tesco Extra in Bridgwater using 'town green' status (From Bridgwater Mercury)

It is worth a try it may work, Sedgemoor's record on green spaces is not good Medical centre on Victoria park, Medical Centre and car park on Eastover Park, Proposed road across St Matthews Field the proposed total rape of the Meads plus the Brewery Field fiasco, No intention of being a green authority I suppose.

Correct me if im wrong but isn't it still going to be a green space in parts, bit of a joke really but its good to see the NIMBYS trying, as I've said before its a lovely green space I walked across there a couple of weeks ago stepped in two flavours of dog sh1te and spotted a needle.

I think it would be more accurate to apply for 'dog toilet' status for this area and start a campaign "Funds For Furry Friend's Faeces".

By being a part of it, you're welcoming the 'brown movement' with open arms.

Won't make any difference, Tesco don't care about green spaces or anything else for that matter, they'll find a way around it.

Just take a trip to Seaton and see what they've done there, a small seaside town is now dominated by an ugly great supermarket!

As for green spaces in Bridgwater has anyone seen the Greenslades advert for 111 acres near Greenway Garage?

Can't wait to see what they build there!

I dont see everyones problem.
At present its a wasteland not adding up to much.
We are never going to get a swimming pool in the town so surely its better to have Tesco make use of the site.
What we forget this is an Extra Tesco the nearest being Yeovil. Its only going to bring people into the town.

Further to this Bridgwater is an expanding town. you may feel "we dont need another supermarket" at present. However by the time Tesco is built. The same people moaning about it will be the same people moaning that they need it.

FACT

The Tesco's in Seaton is huge and blights the town, The towns folk didn't want it but as usual it went ahead anyway, Money talks, Just think about the Business rates that they have to pay to have that eyesore there.
It gives you an indication what the Tesco's will look like when & if they do build it. Whenever me & my wife go to seaton we sometimes go in to Tesco's and we wonder how they can justify building a store that big for such a small town and there is only about eighty people in the store at any one time, I think that there is more staff than customers.
I'm sure that if it gets built it will be the same as Seatons branch, Virtually empty all the time and people wondering why it was built in the first place.

'The inquiry will be overseen by Planning Inspector, Paul Wilmshurst QC, at Bridgwater Pantomime Hall, in Wembdon Road.'
Sounds the perfect location PANTOMIME HALL, there will definitely be lots of over acting and exaggeration!......O
h yes there will!

Would the protesters prefer for everyone, including all of the hundreds of Hinckley Point employees, to shop in Taunton instead?
You only have to remember what the supermarkets were like at Christmas to imagine how our current ones would cope with the influx in trade/potential customers.
Wake up! this is the 21st Century.
Things have moved on from the 1950's which most of the objectors wish the town would return to.

If it is as ‘Bridgwater backwards’ say and no one in the town wants Tesco then give it 6 months or so after opening with no customers walking through the doors then I am sure they will close the store allowing the area to revert back to the dog fouled wasteland which 'BB' seem to hold so dear.
If however, as I am sure it will, Tesco proves to be a popular shopping destination then surely this is a bonus for the town?
It was trying to save the dead and worthless town centre throughout the 80's and 90's which has made Bridgwater the shopping desert it now is so let us embrace new shops, big and small, and make Bridgwater a place worth shopping in just like it was in the 1950’s.
PS. IMO apart from the tram and catching mackerel on the beach Tesco is the best thing in Seaton, and always full of locals and visitors alike!!

Anonymous Me wrote:
Would the protesters prefer for everyone, including all of the hundreds of Hinckley Point employees, to shop in Taunton instead? You only have to remember what the supermarkets were like at Christmas to imagine how our current ones would cope with the influx in trade/potential customers. Wake up! this is the 21st Century. Things have moved on from the 1950's which most of the objectors wish the town would return to.

Couldn't agree more, spot on!

Same type of people who want to see Taunton remain 'a town' and do not want any more expansion according to the comments on a story over on the County Gazette site.

Even if the Brewery field was awarded this status I am sure Tesco would alter their plans so none of the Brewery Fields was built on. They would be well within their rights to kiss good bye to the childrens play area and other improvements, yes improvements etc they are proposing too!

Just exactly who will pay for the costs of this enquiry, not the residents demanding it I am sure, just us lot through our taxes whether we support Tesco's proposal or not!

Oh and the Seaton Tesco, so if no one wanted it I guess its empty and not used?

fegmaniac wrote:
If it is as ‘Bridgwater backwards’ say and no one in the town wants Tesco then give it 6 months or so after opening with no customers walking through the doors then I am sure they will close the store allowing the area to revert back to the dog fouled wasteland which 'BB' seem to hold so dear. If however, as I am sure it will, Tesco proves to be a popular shopping destination then surely this is a bonus for the town? It was trying to save the dead and worthless town centre throughout the 80's and 90's which has made Bridgwater the shopping desert it now is so let us embrace new shops, big and small, and make Bridgwater a place worth shopping in just like it was in the 1950’s. PS. IMO apart from the tram and catching mackerel on the beach Tesco is the best thing in Seaton, and always full of locals and visitors alike!!

Don't forget Rainbows, what a dive!

Tesco should be welcomed to Bridgwater but it should be built closer to all the housing that is being built rather than in the town centre. Aside from the issue of traffic and the blight that will be imposed on those living around it. Bridgwater needs to hold onto its available development land for more appropriate town centre developments. It may take longer to happen but it will happen and is more likely to happen as the population continues to grow.. Using a large Tesco store or any other supermarket as an anchor for the town centre, is only going to alienate any other development from happening in the town centre and pushing that development out to the peripheral where it divert footfall from the centre leaving Bridgy town centre as nothing more than a place full of strip malls.

It is utter madness

My grammar is always appalling!

Touchstone - just what _exactly_ would you consider to be more appropriate for a town centre than a shop?

What the town needs is vision and cohesive, joined-up planning.

People still live here, shop here, have fun here, it's just that most use their car to do these things. Developing the transport strategy for the town should be waaaaay higher on the priority list than a Tesco (or any other) supermarket.

However, Bridgwater, Sedgemoor and Somerset planners are all distracted by flashy lights and dollar signs!

The clever thing to do is accept the Tescash (you can have that one...) and deal with it in the best way possible. Which, looking at the submitted plans, provides a reasonable outcome.

If it weren't for those meddling kids...

touchstone wrote:
Tesco should be welcomed to Bridgwater but it should be built closer to all the housing that is being built rather than in the town centre. Aside from the issue of traffic and the blight that will be imposed on those living around it. Bridgwater needs to hold onto its available development land for more appropriate town centre developments. It may take longer to happen but it will happen and is more likely to happen as the population continues to grow.. Using a large Tesco store or any other supermarket as an anchor for the town centre, is only going to alienate any other development from happening in the town centre and pushing that development out to the peripheral where it divert footfall from the centre leaving Bridgy town centre as nothing more than a place full of strip malls.

It is utter madness

The supermarket and as much retail as possible, should be central, so that it is easily accessible to everyone wherever they live in the outskirts.
Why would anyone want the hassle of travelling from one side of town to the other. Would you want to drive from Bower to the furthest reaches of Taunton Road to do your grocery shopping, that would cause more traffic issues.
If it is such a blight to the people living around it, why do you suggest at the same time that it be put in amongst the more residential areas of the town. Also you say that if Tesco is in the centre it will force other development to the outskirts, which you think is wrong, but you approve of Tesco being there instead. MAKE YOUR MIND UP!

I am split down the middle on this subject but now leaning towards welcoming of Tesco’s.

On one hand I feel that Tesco should be welcomed for the following reasons:

Boost to Jobs in the area and investment.

It will provide free parking so you can walk into the town for a coffee etc.

Convenient for those who live nearby so they can walk to it.

With the massive population increase in Bridgwater due to the houses being built we do need more facilities.


I am against it for the following reasons:

Increase in traffic in an already chaotic jam-packed road network around Bridgwater.

One less green field and play area.

Noise for any local resident near the site.


The argument against Tesco in that it will kill off the town is no longer really that relevant as the high street will not recover even if Tesco’s is not built.

I'm sad to say (from very recent and numerous experiences) that walking up the Bridgwater High Street these days you will find people effing and jeffing at the top of their voices, people spitting everywhere, youngsters standing on the statue eating and throwing the paper on the floor and many eastern Europeans standing around in groups.

I do hope Tesco’s gets the go-ahead, but only if council insists that they pay for road improvements to alleviate extra congestion and traffic chaos that will inevitably happen.

Wellyboy wrote:
I dont see everyones problem.
At present its a wasteland not adding up to much.
We are never going to get a swimming pool in the town so surely its better to have Tesco make use of the site.
What we forget this is an Extra Tesco the nearest being Yeovil. Its only going to bring people into the town.

Further to this Bridgwater is an expanding town. you may feel "we dont need another supermarket" at present. However by the time Tesco is built. The same people moaning about it will be the same people moaning that they need it.

FACT

Wellyboy, Does your Psuedonom, stand for, being a Wellington born, or that ' Compo' had already used that name!, or that you have to wear the as aid foot attire, when using the Brewery Field Site to protect your Shoe's. !!?
You have hit it right on the head, need for more retailers, to provide the Shopping requirements for our Towns future.
You are also correct, in that this area of Town, is in need of regeneration, so a few people are against Tesco's doing just that.
Fact, Tesco's, are willing to invest in this our Town, they and we the Residents will benefit, in better retail offers, we all look for the Best Deal's on what ever product, so you either go on line, or personally shop, our choice!!
If the Planning consent is granted next week @ Planning, I personally will be very happy, whilst I will await those who oppose, the Splash, New Pool opening, will not be able to go and swim, in something they vehemently opposed,in March this year. Those same protesters, had better not close Tesco's Stores Door, to shop, as they really would be Hypocrits.
Tesco' are proposing to build on 11% of the Brewery Field, leaving 89% for enhancement, to the existing open space. Which the residents who live alongside have to constantly put up with abusive, foulmouthed behaviour from those that use the open space @ present, so enhancement would be good for all concerned. Also for those who say, it is our only green space in Town. Well, the last time I checked, Victoria Park is, Cranleigh Grd's is, then there is the Museum/ Library along the river inc Old Taunton Rd. Also The Fairfield, to name but a few.
Weekly boy, you are going to have a lovely new pool very shortly, just down the road @ Chilton St, from Northgate.
Access, by healthy walking, as we are all told, cycling, using public transport, or private cars.....Simples, easy, cannot wait !! C u There in March 2013, oh yes, Next Month......
Brought to you from Forward Acting SDC.......Regards David Preece
Aka Blue- Owl

Tescos alledged mantra is to choke small shops into closure to gain their market share - just read their former bosses views on Desert Island Discs.

Bridgwater Tesco - be careful what you wish for..

Samej1 wrote:
Tescos alledged mantra is to choke small shops into closure to gain their market share - just read their former bosses views on Desert Island Discs.

Bridgwater Tesco - be careful what you wish for..

Which small shops are near by that are under threat?
Iceland are still better value for frozen food, and Tesco are not in the same market to compete with Poundland & 99p Stores. All the town has is betting shops, mobile phone outlets & charity shops, hardly clash with Tesco's core business!

Anonymous Me wrote:

Samej1 wrote:
Tescos alledged mantra is to choke small shops into closure to gain their market share - just read their former bosses views on Desert Island Discs.

Bridgwater Tesco - be careful what you wish for..

Which small shops are near by that are under threat?
Iceland are still better value for frozen food, and Tesco are not in the same market to compete with Poundland & 99p Stores. All the town has is betting shops, mobile phone outlets & charity shops, hardly clash with Tesco's core business!

Tesco will discount locally to compete with Iceland - core business rival so they will plan to take all their market share in town.

Mobile and discount stores will no doubt survive, but local cafes will start to see major competition if (as with most large Tescos) there is an on site cafe, as will sandwich stores/bakeries, greeting card stores, clothing stores, book shops, newsagents and so on...

Samej1 wrote:

Anonymous Me wrote:

Samej1 wrote:
Tescos alledged mantra is to choke small shops into closure to gain their market share - just read their former bosses views on Desert Island Discs.

Bridgwater Tesco - be careful what you wish for..

Which small shops are near by that are under threat?
Iceland are still better value for frozen food, and Tesco are not in the same market to compete with Poundland & 99p Stores. All the town has is betting shops, mobile phone outlets & charity shops, hardly clash with Tesco's core business!

Tesco will discount locally to compete with Iceland - core business rival so they will plan to take all their market share in town.

Mobile and discount stores will no doubt survive, but local cafes will start to see major competition if (as with most large Tescos) there is an on site cafe, as will sandwich stores/bakeries, greeting card stores, clothing stores, book shops, newsagents and so on...

On that point don't forget that Tesco's are also expanding their own coffee shop brand too... Perhaps we will seem one of their shops opening shortly. The brand name is Harris and Hoole. The may be a minority stake holder but 49% is a big minority stake

Anonymous Me wrote:

touchstone wrote:
Tesco should be welcomed to Bridgwater but it should be built closer to all the housing that is being built rather than in the town centre. Aside from the issue of traffic and the blight that will be imposed on those living around it. Bridgwater needs to hold onto its available development land for more appropriate town centre developments. It may take longer to happen but it will happen and is more likely to happen as the population continues to grow.. Using a large Tesco store or any other supermarket as an anchor for the town centre, is only going to alienate any other development from happening in the town centre and pushing that development out to the peripheral where it divert footfall from the centre leaving Bridgy town centre as nothing more than a place full of strip malls.

It is utter madness

The supermarket and as much retail as possible, should be central, so that it is easily accessible to everyone wherever they live in the outskirts.
Why would anyone want the hassle of travelling from one side of town to the other. Would you want to drive from Bower to the furthest reaches of Taunton Road to do your grocery shopping, that would cause more traffic issues.
If it is such a blight to the people living around it, why do you suggest at the same time that it be put in amongst the more residential areas of the town. Also you say that if Tesco is in the centre it will force other development to the outskirts, which you think is wrong, but you approve of Tesco being there instead. MAKE YOUR MIND UP!

I thought I was quite clear but obviously not.
Firstly just because I say that it should be built closer to the residential developments, it doesn’t mean that is should be built in someone’s back yard. I have a friend who lived in a large residential development and it was over a year of visiting them before I realised they were round the corner from Tesco’s. It was hidden out of view with easy access and doing great business, always busy and always with empty shelves being forever restocked.
Secondly any development of the old splash doesn’t have to be a warehouse or a shed providing some holy grail of more retail space and can easily be designed to be far more sympathetic to its surroundings and still provide a much better amenity and provider of employment for the community whatever form it takes. I always have been of the opinion that there is a real lack of Grade A office space that could be used to lure businesses to base themselves in Bridgwater, providing much needed white collar work and within the town centre too. Speculative it would be, but once filled you will have a guaranteed footfall week days which should bring in other developments as there is more guaranteed disposable income to be targeted.
As for travelling through town, well we all have to travel through town at some point to get to where we want to. Bridgwater does sadly not have a ring road round it, though ideally it should have. Personally I have to travel through town everyday not because I want to, but because there really is no alternative for me. Time it wrong and I can add anything up to an hour to my journey, which for a town the size of Bridgwater is absolutely appalling.
As for convenience how is a large shed at the end of someone’s back yard convenient for them?
I have not been resident for long in Bridgwater. It really has so much potential to be something fantastic, and there are a lot of people who I have met who want the town to do so much more. Sadly though it seems to spend its life arguing amongst itself and watching the money go elsewhere, leaving the town with cheap low cost developments with low value jobs that do nothing to enhance the experience of living here. Shame

Well Well Well, at last the majority of Posters are echoing, what I have been posting for months, Thankyou for at last seeing the Fault's in Bridgwater (Backwards ) Forward Forum Group, who are self centred anti Progress campaigning activists, rallied to the Cause, what ever is flavour of the Month that their Labour Councillors who support and lead them from behind, Cllrs Smedley, Cllr Tucker, etc,
Against every and all Proposals that will benefit our Town..........
Whilst, I would prefer to have a Brand New Leisure / Swimming Pool / with Ice Rink and Multicomplex Cinema Retail outlet. The reality, is there is no Organisation, or Company who is able to finance such a fantastic Complex.So in the Real World we have to accept how thing really are.
Tesco's today, on Northgate, great ! Then maybe tomorrow or next year, we can have a new Leisure Complex on the Old Hospital Site, in Eastover, along with regeneration, as this is the only way to finance such things. Unless, the Bosses of EDF, will put their hands in their pockets to fund a Centre, as No By-Pass = £100 Million not spent on Infrastruture, highways.
Therefore, EDF, could fund a Lesuire Complex for the Townsfolk and their Workers. For the next 10 years , all 25000 of them.
One final thought, has anyone seen the eyesore piece of derelict land behind Halfords, now the panels have blown down, any suggestions for this prime piece of Development Land. ??
I believe this is classed as Eastover Ward, what are the Ward Councillors doing about that !!???
Blue-Owl
Regards David L Preece

touchstone wrote:

Anonymous Me wrote:

touchstone wrote:
Tesco should be welcomed to Bridgwater but it should be built closer to all the housing that is being built rather than in the town centre. Aside from the issue of traffic and the blight that will be imposed on those living around it. Bridgwater needs to hold onto its available development land for more appropriate town centre developments. It may take longer to happen but it will happen and is more likely to happen as the population continues to grow.. Using a large Tesco store or any other supermarket as an anchor for the town centre, is only going to alienate any other development from happening in the town centre and pushing that development out to the peripheral where it divert footfall from the centre leaving Bridgy town centre as nothing more than a place full of strip malls.

It is utter madness

The supermarket and as much retail as possible, should be central, so that it is easily accessible to everyone wherever they live in the outskirts.
Why would anyone want the hassle of travelling from one side of town to the other. Would you want to drive from Bower to the furthest reaches of Taunton Road to do your grocery shopping, that would cause more traffic issues.
If it is such a blight to the people living around it, why do you suggest at the same time that it be put in amongst the more residential areas of the town. Also you say that if Tesco is in the centre it will force other development to the outskirts, which you think is wrong, but you approve of Tesco being there instead. MAKE YOUR MIND UP!

I thought I was quite clear but obviously not.
Firstly just because I say that it should be built closer to the residential developments, it doesn’t mean that is should be built in someone’s back yard. I have a friend who lived in a large residential development and it was over a year of visiting them before I realised they were round the corner from Tesco’s. It was hidden out of view with easy access and doing great business, always busy and always with empty shelves being forever restocked.
Secondly any development of the old splash doesn’t have to be a warehouse or a shed providing some holy grail of more retail space and can easily be designed to be far more sympathetic to its surroundings and still provide a much better amenity and provider of employment for the community whatever form it takes. I always have been of the opinion that there is a real lack of Grade A office space that could be used to lure businesses to base themselves in Bridgwater, providing much needed white collar work and within the town centre too. Speculative it would be, but once filled you will have a guaranteed footfall week days which should bring in other developments as there is more guaranteed disposable income to be targeted.
As for travelling through town, well we all have to travel through town at some point to get to where we want to. Bridgwater does sadly not have a ring road round it, though ideally it should have. Personally I have to travel through town everyday not because I want to, but because there really is no alternative for me. Time it wrong and I can add anything up to an hour to my journey, which for a town the size of Bridgwater is absolutely appalling.
As for convenience how is a large shed at the end of someone’s back yard convenient for them?
I have not been resident for long in Bridgwater. It really has so much potential to be something fantastic, and there are a lot of people who I have met who want the town to do so much more. Sadly though it seems to spend its life arguing amongst itself and watching the money go elsewhere, leaving the town with cheap low cost developments with low value jobs that do nothing to enhance the experience of living here. Shame

Touchstone, how good it is to hear from a relative as you call yourself new to Bridgwater. Resident, welcome your unbiased views are what I have been trying to get across for years, what a great Town we ave here, I'm proud of this Town that I grew up in. I have travelled extensively, over the last 40+ years, and I can tell you personally, as I'm driving down the M'way from London or Birmingham, as I get within 50 Miles, I know I'm almost Home!!
For those of you who have no faith in this Town, please take your Negative ,do nothing attitude elsewhere, I'm sure know somewhere that is just right for You. ! Wherever that might Be, please feel free to take Bridgwater - Backward - Forward Members with you..........as they will have no where to swim and nowhere to shop, as Tesco's according to them will force every other shopkeeper out of Bridgwater.
Funny how that did'nt happen in Taunton, BOS, Langport. !!

Surely Blue (F)owl the fact you have been saying this for month's means you do not have to keep repeating yourself. For heavens sake give it a rest, put your prejudices aside for a minute and give everyone else a chance.

grisleyreg wrote:
It is worth a try it may work, Sedgemoor's record on green spaces is not good Medical centre on Victoria park, Medical Centre and car park on Eastover Park, Proposed road across St Matthews Field the proposed total rape of the Meads plus the Brewery Field fiasco, No intention of being a green authority I suppose.

You make comments re Sedgemoor record on our Parks, green open space, what you neglect to say is that within Victoria' s New Medical Centre, there is a Community Hub, for the residents, welcomed by the Residents.
So a Win Win situation for Victoria Rd and surrounding area Communities to use, the Old Dr's Surgery it replaced was an not fit for purpose house in Church St, I know this, as my Grans
Dr was based there.
As for Cranleigh Gardens, likewise it replaced a run down Nissan hut type PRE-fab building, rented from SDC for use as a gym,by Gary.
This has now been transformed into a Community Surgery, again offering much more in the way of Health Benefits to its patients.( it is my Dr's)
So I also know this as fact.
Since when has Brewery Field ever been known as the Towns premier open green space, recognised and used by all of the Community. The fact is for the last 10 Years, it has been used by teenagers and Younger children ,unsupervised by parental care, who make life miserable for residents abutting the field, with foul language, the police are constantly being called for anti -social behaviour.
So, this is'nt the Hyde Park, or Front Garden ,as was described re Bristol City Front Garden, they are Grasping @ Straw, or Grass, forgive the pun!
Blue-Owl

This goes far deeper than just Tesco - you know what, Town Planning these days seems to be a real-world version of the SIM City computer game... drag and drop the identikit parts into spare spaces on the 'board'.

Where's the guts, the bravery and the vision in town planning? Blindfold someone and drive then to any number to towns across the UK and they'd probably have to wait until someone opened their mouth to know if they were north/south/east/wes
t, once the blindfold was removed.

Slowly, our identity erodes into a blueprint that suits just the rich corporations...

Blue Owl wrote:

touchstone wrote:

Anonymous Me wrote:

touchstone wrote:
Tesco should be welcomed to Bridgwater but it should be built closer to all the housing that is being built rather than in the town centre. Aside from the issue of traffic and the blight that will be imposed on those living around it. Bridgwater needs to hold onto its available development land for more appropriate town centre developments. It may take longer to happen but it will happen and is more likely to happen as the population continues to grow.. Using a large Tesco store or any other supermarket as an anchor for the town centre, is only going to alienate any other development from happening in the town centre and pushing that development out to the peripheral where it divert footfall from the centre leaving Bridgy town centre as nothing more than a place full of strip malls.

It is utter madness

The supermarket and as much retail as possible, should be central, so that it is easily accessible to everyone wherever they live in the outskirts.
Why would anyone want the hassle of travelling from one side of town to the other. Would you want to drive from Bower to the furthest reaches of Taunton Road to do your grocery shopping, that would cause more traffic issues.
If it is such a blight to the people living around it, why do you suggest at the same time that it be put in amongst the more residential areas of the town. Also you say that if Tesco is in the centre it will force other development to the outskirts, which you think is wrong, but you approve of Tesco being there instead. MAKE YOUR MIND UP!

I thought I was quite clear but obviously not.
Firstly just because I say that it should be built closer to the residential developments, it doesn’t mean that is should be built in someone’s back yard. I have a friend who lived in a large residential development and it was over a year of visiting them before I realised they were round the corner from Tesco’s. It was hidden out of view with easy access and doing great business, always busy and always with empty shelves being forever restocked.
Secondly any development of the old splash doesn’t have to be a warehouse or a shed providing some holy grail of more retail space and can easily be designed to be far more sympathetic to its surroundings and still provide a much better amenity and provider of employment for the community whatever form it takes. I always have been of the opinion that there is a real lack of Grade A office space that could be used to lure businesses to base themselves in Bridgwater, providing much needed white collar work and within the town centre too. Speculative it would be, but once filled you will have a guaranteed footfall week days which should bring in other developments as there is more guaranteed disposable income to be targeted.
As for travelling through town, well we all have to travel through town at some point to get to where we want to. Bridgwater does sadly not have a ring road round it, though ideally it should have. Personally I have to travel through town everyday not because I want to, but because there really is no alternative for me. Time it wrong and I can add anything up to an hour to my journey, which for a town the size of Bridgwater is absolutely appalling.
As for convenience how is a large shed at the end of someone’s back yard convenient for them?
I have not been resident for long in Bridgwater. It really has so much potential to be something fantastic, and there are a lot of people who I have met who want the town to do so much more. Sadly though it seems to spend its life arguing amongst itself and watching the money go elsewhere, leaving the town with cheap low cost developments with low value jobs that do nothing to enhance the experience of living here. Shame

Touchstone, how good it is to hear from a relative as you call yourself new to Bridgwater. Resident, welcome your unbiased views are what I have been trying to get across for years, what a great Town we ave here, I'm proud of this Town that I grew up in. I have travelled extensively, over the last 40+ years, and I can tell you personally, as I'm driving down the M'way from London or Birmingham, as I get within 50 Miles, I know I'm almost Home!!
For those of you who have no faith in this Town, please take your Negative ,do nothing attitude elsewhere, I'm sure know somewhere that is just right for You. ! Wherever that might Be, please feel free to take Bridgwater - Backward - Forward Members with you..........as they will have no where to swim and nowhere to shop, as Tesco's according to them will force every other shopkeeper out of Bridgwater.
Funny how that did'nt happen in Taunton, BOS, Langport. !!

Touchstone, welcome to Blue Owl world. You appear to have made a friend for life and any minute now there will be about 100 lines of life history coming your way :)

Challenge for those who happen to be rather observant. Take a look at the style of one writer of the above and see if looks familiar to another who happens to be rather prolific.

There could be more than one one common denominator, In particular misplaced Capitals.

I'm not casting aspersions, but highly coincidental.

Alex@SDA wrote:
Challenge for those who happen to be rather observant. Take a look at the style of one writer of the above and see if looks familiar to another who happens to be rather prolific.

There could be more than one one common denominator, In particular misplaced Capitals.

I'm not casting aspersions, but highly coincidental.

Instead of criticising the writing mistakes or the style of Posting's, why do you not add content to the discussion, or is that beyond you small minded rhetoric. Or do you not have anything interesting to add. Just be cynical of others, what a sad life you lead..
I never have professed to be a scholar,but you know what they say about "People in Glasshouses" and stones.!
Alex, why do you not post something positive, or are you not capable of your own opinion or thoughts, that you can share in this Forum, Oops there goes another Capitalisation of Letter.
Shoot Me, Report Me To the Editorial Staff, or shall I do 500 Lines.
I Must Not Use Capitals In My Postings.
Regards Blue-Owl

smithy99 wrote:
I am split down the middle on this subject but now leaning towards welcoming of Tesco’s.

On one hand I feel that Tesco should be welcomed for the following reasons:

Boost to Jobs in the area and investment.

It will provide free parking so you can walk into the town for a coffee etc.

Convenient for those who live nearby so they can walk to it.

With the massive population increase in Bridgwater due to the houses being built we do need more facilities.


I am against it for the following reasons:

Increase in traffic in an already chaotic jam-packed road network around Bridgwater.

One less green field and play area.

Noise for any local resident near the site.


The argument against Tesco in that it will kill off the town is no longer really that relevant as the high street will not recover even if Tesco’s is not built.

I'm sad to say (from very recent and numerous experiences) that walking up the Bridgwater High Street these days you will find people effing and jeffing at the top of their voices, people spitting everywhere, youngsters standing on the statue eating and throwing the paper on the floor and many eastern Europeans standing around in groups.

I do hope Tesco’s gets the go-ahead, but only if council insists that they pay for road improvements to alleviate extra congestion and traffic chaos that will inevitably happen.

Smiffy99. You need to be careful or the "Postsite Grammatical Police" will chastise you for your use of White space between your sentences. Which you should only do, between para-graphs.
However the points you make are very poignant !
Regards Blue-Owl
Aka David L Preece

Alex@SDA wrote:
Challenge for those who happen to be rather observant. Take a look at the style of one writer of the above and see if looks familiar to another who happens to be rather prolific.

There could be more than one one common denominator, In particular misplaced Capitals.

I'm not casting aspersions, but highly coincidental.

I thought That too ! PERHAPS IT IS JUST a coincidencE ( a similar Thing happened when I worked For clarks, as to my dAd worked there and we lived in A house but before i started working for Them in my years of Experience a simiLar thing Happened too )...........but it Might be doWn to a Glitch on the mercury Website ?

Aaaaargh I've Caught the bUg !!!

Blue Owl wrote:

Alex@SDA wrote:
Challenge for those who happen to be rather observant. Take a look at the style of one writer of the above and see if looks familiar to another who happens to be rather prolific.

There could be more than one one common denominator, In particular misplaced Capitals.

I'm not casting aspersions, but highly coincidental.

Instead of criticising the writing mistakes or the style of Posting's, why do you not add content to the discussion, or is that beyond you small minded rhetoric. Or do you not have anything interesting to add. Just be cynical of others, what a sad life you lead..
I never have professed to be a scholar,but you know what they say about "People in Glasshouses" and stones.!
Alex, why do you not post something positive, or are you not capable of your own opinion or thoughts, that you can share in this Forum, Oops there goes another Capitalisation of Letter.
Shoot Me, Report Me To the Editorial Staff, or shall I do 500 Lines.
I Must Not Use Capitals In My Postings.
Regards Blue-Owl

Oh I hit a nerve there! If the cap fits wear it.

What the hell has "Glasshouses & Stones" got to do with my posting. It was just that I stumbled upon what looked a tad coincidental, and you literally jumped upon it within minutes. It was merely a point of issue, no more.

Furthermore, even if I say so myself, I am more than capable of adding to any debate, and with valid opinion; even if contrary to others point of view. This is why we live in a democratic society. I may not agree with some peoples opinion, but I respect any that had validity and is not just a rant for the sake of it.

Take a look at any of my previous postings, and they are not simply rhetoric or trolling for that matter.

For what it is worth, I've seen the hideous Tesco at Seaton.

It appeared to be a "carbuncle" during the build, and it still is. However the last time I had the pleasure (From the top of one of the trams) I could not fail to notice the car-park was full. So despite alleged unpopularity, it seems to serve purpose.

Yes should you wander towards the sea-front the place looks tired, but it was before Tesco opened up.

Now B/Water, I remember the moans about Safeway, now probably the most subscribed Supermarket in town.

Sainsburys cannot compete as long as there are the current access issues, so personally I have little or no issue regards the proposed Tesco. However there will be those who would prefer not to have it, and for those persons their reasons are important to them.

So Mr B.O. Please bear in mind whose campaign I prefer to favour.

Well said Alex Asda

Alex@SDA wrote:

Blue Owl wrote:

Alex@SDA wrote:
Challenge for those who happen to be rather observant. Take a look at the style of one writer of the above and see if looks familiar to another who happens to be rather prolific.

There could be more than one one common denominator, In particular misplaced Capitals.

I'm not casting aspersions, but highly coincidental.

Instead of criticising the writing mistakes or the style of Posting's, why do you not add content to the discussion, or is that beyond you small minded rhetoric. Or do you not have anything interesting to add. Just be cynical of others, what a sad life you lead..
I never have professed to be a scholar,but you know what they say about "People in Glasshouses" and stones.!
Alex, why do you not post something positive, or are you not capable of your own opinion or thoughts, that you can share in this Forum, Oops there goes another Capitalisation of Letter.
Shoot Me, Report Me To the Editorial Staff, or shall I do 500 Lines.
I Must Not Use Capitals In My Postings.
Regards Blue-Owl

Oh I hit a nerve there! If the cap fits wear it.

What the hell has "Glasshouses & Stones" got to do with my posting. It was just that I stumbled upon what looked a tad coincidental, and you literally jumped upon it within minutes. It was merely a point of issue, no more.

Furthermore, even if I say so myself, I am more than capable of adding to any debate, and with valid opinion; even if contrary to others point of view. This is why we live in a democratic society. I may not agree with some peoples opinion, but I respect any that had validity and is not just a rant for the sake of it.

Take a look at any of my previous postings, and they are not simply rhetoric or trolling for that matter.

For what it is worth, I've seen the hideous Tesco at Seaton.

It appeared to be a "carbuncle" during the build, and it still is. However the last time I had the pleasure (From the top of one of the trams) I could not fail to notice the car-park was full. So despite alleged unpopularity, it seems to serve purpose.

Yes should you wander towards the sea-front the place looks tired, but it was before Tesco opened up.

Now B/Water, I remember the moans about Safeway, now probably the most subscribed Supermarket in town.

Sainsburys cannot compete as long as there are the current access issues, so personally I have little or no issue regards the proposed Tesco. However there will be those who would prefer not to have it, and for those persons their reasons are important to them.

So Mr B.O. Please bear in mind whose campaign I prefer to favour.

Alex, what a well written, well reasoned and informative post which is exactly the opposite style of the Blue Fowl pestilence that infects (many) threads on the Mercury Website.

The problem with any argument or debate especially when the participating parties do not have enough information is that you end up with statements based on emotion rather than fact. There have been many dubious decisions made by town planners over the years, some have turned out to be blessings, others not so but surely anything that raises the overall feel of the place can't be a bad thing can it?

I drove through the town "centre" yesterday and was abused by a semi vagrant with a scabby dog who stepped into the road just as I was approaching seemingly with the sole purpose of causing aggro, witnessed a fight between two drunk looking middle aged men outside the library, saw the pavements littered with smoking drinkers outside the pubs and had my car window banged on by another (seemingly drunk) nutter asking for money!. All this happened withing the space of 2 miles and it was only 3pm!

Personally, I think Tesco coming to town is the least of our worries

windswept and interesting wrote:

Alex@SDA wrote:
Challenge for those who happen to be rather observant. Take a look at the style of one writer of the above and see if looks familiar to another who happens to be rather prolific.

There could be more than one one common denominator, In particular misplaced Capitals.

I'm not casting aspersions, but highly coincidental.

I thought That too ! PERHAPS IT IS JUST a coincidencE ( a similar Thing happened when I worked For clarks, as to my dAd worked there and we lived in A house but before i started working for Them in my years of Experience a simiLar thing Happened too )...........but it Might be doWn to a Glitch on the mercury Website ?

Aaaaargh I've Caught the bUg !!!

Windswept, u can get anti - biotics 4 bugs, so it's not a life threatening situation, HoWeVer, iT appe-Ars to B catchABle From This MeRCurY WeB PaGe. But only if u add input, rather that CrItIcISM.
RegarDS Blue-OwL

Keep on posting, as @ last the Editor has responded, and so has Matthew the Reporter, so here's hoping to more action in this paper, instead of the usual, "we done it " Mercury Campaign, to little Too Late, just look at this weeks Post Office Headline, nothing is settled, talks are taking place, I don't call that a result, I've been involved with PO Counters PLC, Consultations, we talked they listened, DId Nothing, apart from what they originally proposed.Close, our Cornhill Post Office, promised equal service, but did 'nt fulfill their empty promises.!
Blue-Owl

Bridgy old Boy wrote:
Surely Blue (F)owl the fact you have been saying this for month's means you do not have to keep repeating yourself. For heavens sake give it a rest, put your prejudices aside for a minute and give everyone else a chance.

All I do is respond to other Posts, as you are to mine, it's called freedom of Speech, if you want to post something interesting, please do so no one especially me is preventing you!!
Blue- Owl
David L Preece

touchstone wrote:

Anonymous Me wrote:

touchstone wrote:
Tesco should be welcomed to Bridgwater but it should be built closer to all the housing that is being built rather than in the town centre. Aside from the issue of traffic and the blight that will be imposed on those living around it. Bridgwater needs to hold onto its available development land for more appropriate town centre developments. It may take longer to happen but it will happen and is more likely to happen as the population continues to grow.. Using a large Tesco store or any other supermarket as an anchor for the town centre, is only going to alienate any other development from happening in the town centre and pushing that development out to the peripheral where it divert footfall from the centre leaving Bridgy town centre as nothing more than a place full of strip malls.

It is utter madness

The supermarket and as much retail as possible, should be central, so that it is easily accessible to everyone wherever they live in the outskirts.
Why would anyone want the hassle of travelling from one side of town to the other. Would you want to drive from Bower to the furthest reaches of Taunton Road to do your grocery shopping, that would cause more traffic issues.
If it is such a blight to the people living around it, why do you suggest at the same time that it be put in amongst the more residential areas of the town. Also you say that if Tesco is in the centre it will force other development to the outskirts, which you think is wrong, but you approve of Tesco being there instead. MAKE YOUR MIND UP!

I thought I was quite clear but obviously not.
Firstly just because I say that it should be built closer to the residential developments, it doesn’t mean that is should be built in someone’s back yard. I have a friend who lived in a large residential development and it was over a year of visiting them before I realised they were round the corner from Tesco’s. It was hidden out of view with easy access and doing great business, always busy and always with empty shelves being forever restocked.
Secondly any development of the old splash doesn’t have to be a warehouse or a shed providing some holy grail of more retail space and can easily be designed to be far more sympathetic to its surroundings and still provide a much better amenity and provider of employment for the community whatever form it takes. I always have been of the opinion that there is a real lack of Grade A office space that could be used to lure businesses to base themselves in Bridgwater, providing much needed white collar work and within the town centre too. Speculative it would be, but once filled you will have a guaranteed footfall week days which should bring in other developments as there is more guaranteed disposable income to be targeted.
As for travelling through town, well we all have to travel through town at some point to get to where we want to. Bridgwater does sadly not have a ring road round it, though ideally it should have. Personally I have to travel through town everyday not because I want to, but because there really is no alternative for me. Time it wrong and I can add anything up to an hour to my journey, which for a town the size of Bridgwater is absolutely appalling.
As for convenience how is a large shed at the end of someone’s back yard convenient for them?
I have not been resident for long in Bridgwater. It really has so much potential to be something fantastic, and there are a lot of people who I have met who want the town to do so much more. Sadly though it seems to spend its life arguing amongst itself and watching the money go elsewhere, leaving the town with cheap low cost developments with low value jobs that do nothing to enhance the experience of living here. Shame

Touchstone, don't try to explain your reasons for the eloquent points you have made, !!Stand by them proudly.
I'm convinced there is a Gremlin in the Mercury Web page that adds errors deletes, posters words, alters any 4 **** word into ****, implying a pos swear word having been posted, when all u might have typed is RAGE, or similar word, certainly not the 'F' word.
By doing this, I believe, then the Editorial Reporting Staff look better for it when you read the errors in the weekly Mercury, the one I love best is the Hyphan- at-ed words that app-ear regularly.
Regards Blue-Owl
But they are only Human, unlike the Critics on this Page, who are Perfect!!

Blue Owl wrote:

windswept and interesting wrote:

Alex@SDA wrote:
Challenge for those who happen to be rather observant. Take a look at the style of one writer of the above and see if looks familiar to another who happens to be rather prolific.

There could be more than one one common denominator, In particular misplaced Capitals.

I'm not casting aspersions, but highly coincidental.

I thought That too ! PERHAPS IT IS JUST a coincidencE ( a similar Thing happened when I worked For clarks, as to my dAd worked there and we lived in A house but before i started working for Them in my years of Experience a simiLar thing Happened too )...........but it Might be doWn to a Glitch on the mercury Website ?

Aaaaargh I've Caught the bUg !!!

Windswept, u can get anti - biotics 4 bugs, so it's not a life threatening situation, HoWeVer, iT appe-Ars to B catchABle From This MeRCurY WeB PaGe. But only if u add input, rather that CrItIcISM.
RegarDS Blue-OwL

Keep on posting, as @ last the Editor has responded, and so has Matthew the Reporter, so here's hoping to more action in this paper, instead of the usual, "we done it " Mercury Campaign, to little Too Late, just look at this weeks Post Office Headline, nothing is settled, talks are taking place, I don't call that a result, I've been involved with PO Counters PLC, Consultations, we talked they listened, DId Nothing, apart from what they originally proposed.Close, our Cornhill Post Office, promised equal service, but did 'nt fulfill their empty promises.!
Blue-Owl

Blue (Ostrich) Owl, I would much rather post criticism than unfathomable rambling garbage . There is little point at times in contributing to a thread, which could have so much potential, as they are in effect trashed by your constant brain numbing gobbledygook.

As I have said before you do have some valid points at times but it's hard work having to sieve through the endless waffle to try and work out exactly what your point is !

Samej1 wrote:

Anonymous Me wrote:

Samej1 wrote: Tescos alledged mantra is to choke small shops into closure to gain their market share - just read their former bosses views on Desert Island Discs. Bridgwater Tesco - be careful what you wish for..

Which small shops are near by that are under threat? Iceland are still better value for frozen food, and Tesco are not in the same market to compete with Poundland & 99p Stores. All the town has is betting shops, mobile phone outlets & charity shops, hardly clash with Tesco's core business!

Tesco will discount locally to compete with Iceland - core business rival so they will plan to take all their market share in town. Mobile and discount stores will no doubt survive, but local cafes will start to see major competition if (as with most large Tescos) there is an on site cafe, as will sandwich stores/bakeries, greeting card stores, clothing stores, book shops, newsagents and so on...

I am not aware that Tesco have a policy to discount locally, their main stores prices and offers are the same in each store.

Thought I would start by saying that I'm not against a Tescos coming to Bridgwater, but that it is in the wrong place. Blue Owl states that only 11% of green space will be lost but that is not in fact true ( which you expect from a politician wether current or ex) 24% of the field will go to be replaced by concrete paths and the odd flowerpot. 45% of the long term parking will go, double yellow lines are going to be introduced into many areas of the town, from in front of rowcliffes all the way up to the doctors, opposite and in Anson Way and various other places where commuters park their cars( which I do agree with) but where are they going to park? In the residential streets surrounding the new Tescos that's where. Making the parking for residents even more a nightmare than it already is, plus all the short stay in the car park will be out of action for 18 months while it is being built. Maybe some simple thought should have gone into remedying these problems first rather than blindly taking the Tesco Money.

swjoduk wrote:

Samej1 wrote:

Anonymous Me wrote:

Samej1 wrote: Tescos alledged mantra is to choke small shops into closure to gain their market share - just read their former bosses views on Desert Island Discs. Bridgwater Tesco - be careful what you wish for..

Which small shops are near by that are under threat? Iceland are still better value for frozen food, and Tesco are not in the same market to compete with Poundland & 99p Stores. All the town has is betting shops, mobile phone outlets & charity shops, hardly clash with Tesco's core business!

Tesco will discount locally to compete with Iceland - core business rival so they will plan to take all their market share in town. Mobile and discount stores will no doubt survive, but local cafes will start to see major competition if (as with most large Tescos) there is an on site cafe, as will sandwich stores/bakeries, greeting card stores, clothing stores, book shops, newsagents and so on...

I am not aware that Tesco have a policy to discount locally, their main stores prices and offers are the same in each store.

http://www.dailymail
.co.uk/money/news/ar
ticle-2090478/Tesco-
product-shake-Firm-a
dapt-product-range-d
eals-suit-affluence-
area.html

Have you all finished with taking chunks out of each other with your comments and start being constructive Tesco must be laughing their socks off if this is all you are presenting as a defence it will be game set and match for them

Lets be honest- the Tesco and houses for Haygrove apps were privately approved a long time ago. These meetings and town green inquiries won't change a thing.

Blue Owl wrote:

grisleyreg wrote:
It is worth a try it may work, Sedgemoor's record on green spaces is not good Medical centre on Victoria park, Medical Centre and car park on Eastover Park, Proposed road across St Matthews Field the proposed total rape of the Meads plus the Brewery Field fiasco, No intention of being a green authority I suppose.

You make comments re Sedgemoor record on our Parks, green open space, what you neglect to say is that within Victoria' s New Medical Centre, there is a Community Hub, for the residents, welcomed by the Residents.
So a Win Win situation for Victoria Rd and surrounding area Communities to use, the Old Dr's Surgery it replaced was an not fit for purpose house in Church St, I know this, as my Grans
Dr was based there.
As for Cranleigh Gardens, likewise it replaced a run down Nissan hut type PRE-fab building, rented from SDC for use as a gym,by Gary.
This has now been transformed into a Community Surgery, again offering much more in the way of Health Benefits to its patients.( it is my Dr's)
So I also know this as fact.
Since when has Brewery Field ever been known as the Towns premier open green space, recognised and used by all of the Community. The fact is for the last 10 Years, it has been used by teenagers and Younger children ,unsupervised by parental care, who make life miserable for residents abutting the field, with foul language, the police are constantly being called for anti -social behaviour.
So, this is'nt the Hyde Park, or Front Garden ,as was described re Bristol City Front Garden, they are Grasping @ Straw, or Grass, forgive the pun!
Blue-Owl

Your last paragraph sums up the fact that you haven't got a clue about Town Green legislation.
So stop guessing, it's a simple situation. If people have used the Brewery field for recreation,picnics, sports etc etc,for more than 20 years then the law is there to help people register that area as a town green.

if you dont believe me, then ask one of the richest people in the UK,Mr Steve Landsdown, Bristol City's owner.

He didn't take a Town green application seriously and everyone ( except you it seems) knows what has happened.
A £90 million brand new Football ground stopped, even though it has full planning permission.

So Blue Ostrich,don't bury your head in the sand, or belittle what's happening.
Because a Town Green application for the Brewery Field is FAR more serious and important than you have, or will ever be!

Thankyou for your imput " Boring says"
The point I was making is when has Brewery Field ever been designated as one of our Towns, village Green.
We have many more Parks, open spaces, within the Town that could claim this accolade. That are used by far more residents.
With Tesco's offer to pay for and improve the leisure/ play facilities there and in turn give the land to the BT Council for future Governance. Or shall it remain as it is, unused, or mistreated by present users.
I wonder who is picking up the Financial Tab for this Town Green Application ?? Is it BTC, or B.F, or us all the Bridgwater Council Tax Payer.
Blue -Owl. Keep on throwing insults, just because we have differing views!
It belittles Your Posts.!

Boring wrote:

Blue Owl wrote:

grisleyreg wrote:
It is worth a try it may work, Sedgemoor's record on green spaces is not good Medical centre on Victoria park, Medical Centre and car park on Eastover Park, Proposed road across St Matthews Field the proposed total rape of the Meads plus the Brewery Field fiasco, No intention of being a green authority I suppose.

You make comments re Sedgemoor record on our Parks, green open space, what you neglect to say is that within Victoria' s New Medical Centre, there is a Community Hub, for the residents, welcomed by the Residents.
So a Win Win situation for Victoria Rd and surrounding area Communities to use, the Old Dr's Surgery it replaced was an not fit for purpose house in Church St, I know this, as my Grans
Dr was based there.
As for Cranleigh Gardens, likewise it replaced a run down Nissan hut type PRE-fab building, rented from SDC for use as a gym,by Gary.
This has now been transformed into a Community Surgery, again offering much more in the way of Health Benefits to its patients.( it is my Dr's)
So I also know this as fact.
Since when has Brewery Field ever been known as the Towns premier open green space, recognised and used by all of the Community. The fact is for the last 10 Years, it has been used by teenagers and Younger children ,unsupervised by parental care, who make life miserable for residents abutting the field, with foul language, the police are constantly being called for anti -social behaviour.
So, this is'nt the Hyde Park, or Front Garden ,as was described re Bristol City Front Garden, they are Grasping @ Straw, or Grass, forgive the pun!
Blue-Owl

Your last paragraph sums up the fact that you haven't got a clue about Town Green legislation.
So stop guessing, it's a simple situation. If people have used the Brewery field for recreation,picnics, sports etc etc,for more than 20 years then the law is there to help people register that area as a town green.

if you dont believe me, then ask one of the richest people in the UK,Mr Steve Landsdown, Bristol City's owner.

He didn't take a Town green application seriously and everyone ( except you it seems) knows what has happened.
A £90 million brand new Football ground stopped, even though it has full planning permission.

So Blue Ostrich,don't bury your head in the sand, or belittle what's happening.
Because a Town Green application for the Brewery Field is FAR more serious and important than you have, or will ever be!

Well put Boring ....it seems Blue Tit more and more thinks he is Judge , Jury and executioner on all things posted .....perhaps he will get the hint soon that the majority of posters on here see him as a boring , egotistical prat .

Give the people who live and work in this town a vote on this,no more corruption.

What blue owl can't get his head round is that one person can stop Tesco's.
ANY area of green can be put forward to be a town green if it meets the criteria.

Boring wrote:
What blue owl can't get his head round is that one person can stop Tesco's. ANY area of green can be put forward to be a town green if it meets the criteria.

I happen to agree with Blue Owl on this one.

Even if the Brewery Fields are made 'town green' status surely all Tesco will do is alter their application so no Brewery field is used. Perhaps by making the store smaller, changing the layout, doing away with some car parking or removing the other outlet/offices.

I cannot see that it will change much, quite literally in this case, there will be no investment in the Brewery fields and it will continue to be like it is today.

Strikes me as desparate measures which are doomed to fail and waste an awful lot of money.

Blue Owl raises a good point, just who will pay for the public enquiry?? Probably all the people within Bridgwater TC's boundary, like it or not!

swjoduk wrote:

Boring wrote:
What blue owl can't get his head round is that one person can stop Tesco's. ANY area of green can be put forward to be a town green if it meets the criteria.

I happen to agree with Blue Owl on this one.

Even if the Brewery Fields are made 'town green' status surely all Tesco will do is alter their application so no Brewery field is used. Perhaps by making the store smaller, changing the layout, doing away with some car parking or removing the other outlet/offices.

I cannot see that it will change much, quite literally in this case, there will be no investment in the Brewery fields and it will continue to be like it is today.

Strikes me as desparate measures which are doomed to fail and waste an awful lot of money.

Blue Owl raises a good point, just who will pay for the public enquiry?? Probably all the people within Bridgwater TC's boundary, like it or not!

Somerset County Council have already used 100k of OUR money helping Tesco's at the planning stage.
Perhaps you should be more concerned about that!

TG'Applications are there for the people of this country to use,it's part of the democratic process of this country,what's your problem with that.

Blue Owl wrote:
Thankyou for your imput " Boring says"
The point I was making is when has Brewery Field ever been designated as one of our Towns, village Green.
We have many more Parks, open spaces, within the Town that could claim this accolade. That are used by far more residents.
With Tesco's offer to pay for and improve the leisure/ play facilities there and in turn give the land to the BT Council for future Governance. Or shall it remain as it is, unused, or mistreated by present users.
I wonder who is picking up the Financial Tab for this Town Green Application ?? Is it BTC, or B.F, or us all the Bridgwater Council Tax Payer.
Blue -Owl. Keep on throwing insults, just because we have differing views!
It belittles Your Posts.!

You just don't get it do you,if you don't understand the legislation just come clean,some of us " normal people"
will explain it in simple terms for you!
Bristol City's ground was to be built on a former landfill site at Ashton Vale in Bristol.
Methane pipes coming out of the ground are all over that site, but an independent inspector ruled that the land (and use of said land) met the criteria of a Town Green.

The Brewery field looks like the Quantocks compared to Ashton Vale.

So once again Blue Owl ( Mr Smug to most on here) if you haven't a clue about what your posting,then don't.

Boring wrote:

Blue Owl wrote: Thankyou for your imput " Boring says" The point I was making is when has Brewery Field ever been designated as one of our Towns, village Green. We have many more Parks, open spaces, within the Town that could claim this accolade. That are used by far more residents. With Tesco's offer to pay for and improve the leisure/ play facilities there and in turn give the land to the BT Council for future Governance. Or shall it remain as it is, unused, or mistreated by present users. I wonder who is picking up the Financial Tab for this Town Green Application ?? Is it BTC, or B.F, or us all the Bridgwater Council Tax Payer. Blue -Owl. Keep on throwing insults, just because we have differing views! It belittles Your Posts.!

You just don't get it do you,if you don't understand the legislation just come clean,some of us " normal people" will explain it in simple terms for you! Bristol City's ground was to be built on a former landfill site at Ashton Vale in Bristol. Methane pipes coming out of the ground are all over that site, but an independent inspector ruled that the land (and use of said land) met the criteria of a Town Green. The Brewery field looks like the Quantocks compared to Ashton Vale. So once again Blue Owl ( Mr Smug to most on here) if you haven't a clue about what your posting,then don't.

My understanding is that there is to be another public enquiry into the Ashton Vale town green after more evidence etc came to light, maybe it will be overturned?

My understanding is that the inspector only makes a recommendation, the local authority designates the area as a town green.

I also understand the reason the planning for Tesco was given reduced fees was due to a difference of opinion over whether the undercroft parking at Tesco is not floor space Tesco believe it is not, something I would agree with.

Boring wrote:

swjoduk wrote:

Boring wrote:
What blue owl can't get his head round is that one person can stop Tesco's. ANY area of green can be put forward to be a town green if it meets the criteria.

I happen to agree with Blue Owl on this one.

Even if the Brewery Fields are made 'town green' status surely all Tesco will do is alter their application so no Brewery field is used. Perhaps by making the store smaller, changing the layout, doing away with some car parking or removing the other outlet/offices.

I cannot see that it will change much, quite literally in this case, there will be no investment in the Brewery fields and it will continue to be like it is today.

Strikes me as desparate measures which are doomed to fail and waste an awful lot of money.

Blue Owl raises a good point, just who will pay for the public enquiry?? Probably all the people within Bridgwater TC's boundary, like it or not!

Somerset County Council have already used 100k of OUR money helping Tesco's at the planning stage.
Perhaps you should be more concerned about that!

TG'Applications are there for the people of this country to use,it's part of the democratic process of this country,what's your problem with that.

If you are going to quote figures, then get your facts correct !!
Short enough 4 u
Blue Owl

4 u ??? Deary me.

Well on the bright side the trolls on this site won't have to go all the way to Taunton to get their horse meat when Tesco invade our town centre and ruin it forever!

That wasteland would look so much better with a Tesco on it.

Krysiz wrote:
That wasteland would look so much better with a Tesco on it.

No surely not, Northgate would be far better to the Town as a derelict Site, kept in its present state for 5-10 years until the "ToothFairy" lets a Rainbows end settle there, and the Gold that's found therein, is enough funding for to pay for Fun Pool and IceRink, Multiplex Cinema and free for all users to enjoy.......
If Tesco's gets its consent today, then this Northgate Site will start the regeneration of the Towns Shopping, maybe Angel Place, owners of the precinct, will also re- invest in their property which is looking a little dated, which in turn will enhance the shopping experience, thro to the High St. Then perhaps we will get other smaller retailers on our High St, in the empty shops there @ present. Replacing the Phone , bookies, Charities Shops, Estate Agencies. When, other National Retail Chains see the possibilies that Bridgwater can offer, re population, spend ability, we may get more than Pound Shops, or 99p Shops.
Remember, up to 25000 more people coming to work and live in our District, within next 2-10 years.
Blue-Owl

Blue Fowl,

did you not you try your own hand at a little regeneration of the Northgate/ Mount Street area once?

As memory serves you attempted to open a "fine dining" emporium in the old Thompson's Ironmonger building a few years back, but despite going to extraordinary lengths to advertise the fact it all went "blue tits" up at the last minute!

Now, if as you would have us all believe, you are an expert on virtually everything (but for the purposes of this thread let's just say "planning law"), what on earth went wrong with your own failed application?

Thanks in advance for your lengthy and rambling reply

Blue Fowl,

did you not you try your own hand at a little regeneration of the Northgate/ Mount Street area once?

As memory serves you attempted to open a "fine dining" emporium in the old Thompson's Ironmonger building a few years back, but despite going to extraordinary lengths to advertise the fact it all went "blue tits" up at the last minute!

Now, if as you would have us all believe, you are an expert on virtually everything (but for the purposes of this thread let's just say "planning law"), what on earth went wrong with your own failed application?

Thanks in advance for your lengthy and rambling reply

Blue Owl wrote:

grisleyreg wrote:
It is worth a try it may work, Sedgemoor's record on green spaces is not good Medical centre on Victoria park, Medical Centre and car park on Eastover Park, Proposed road across St Matthews Field the proposed total rape of the Meads plus the Brewery Field fiasco, No intention of being a green authority I suppose.

You make comments re Sedgemoor record on our Parks, green open space, what you neglect to say is that within Victoria' s New Medical Centre, there is a Community Hub, for the residents, welcomed by the Residents.
So a Win Win situation for Victoria Rd and surrounding area Communities to use, the Old Dr's Surgery it replaced was an not fit for purpose house in Church St, I know this, as my Grans
Dr was based there.
As for Cranleigh Gardens, likewise it replaced a run down Nissan hut type PRE-fab building, rented from SDC for use as a gym,by Gary.
This has now been transformed into a Community Surgery, again offering much more in the way of Health Benefits to its patients.( it is my Dr's)
So I also know this as fact.
Since when has Brewery Field ever been known as the Towns premier open green space, recognised and used by all of the Community. The fact is for the last 10 Years, it has been used by teenagers and Younger children ,unsupervised by parental care, who make life miserable for residents abutting the field, with foul language, the police are constantly being called for anti -social behaviour.
So, this is'nt the Hyde Park, or Front Garden ,as was described re Bristol City Front Garden, they are Grasping @ Straw, or Grass, forgive the pun!
Blue-Owl

The field has always been used by teenagers and not in a good way...late night binge drinking and drug taking! I fully welcome tesco!

Blue Owl
Its been passed ...Labour Cllrs including the Ward Cllrs for Westover Failed to stop it ...
Now its time to move on...
Lets all hope Bridgwater can now move Forward not Backwards
All the Council Tax money that Bridgwater Town Council receives any its powerless to stop anything waste of time having it .(Labour Controlled )

What about money that's going to be lost from Angel Place after wilko's ect pull out? you haven't a clue blue owl, you really haven't. It's only good news for Tesco's. If this was a city then fair enough but not in this town. At least the post office has somewhere to go now which is why it was holding out for so long......

Somerset will now have,
Weston-Super-Mare and Bridgwater-Super-Mar
ket.
So much going for this town now,6 super markets and a crappy rundown cinema. Whoopee.

ianeggbert wrote:
Blue Fowl,

did you not you try your own hand at a little regeneration of the Northgate/ Mount Street area once?

As memory serves you attempted to open a "fine dining" emporium in the old Thompson's Ironmonger building a few years back, but despite going to extraordinary lengths to advertise the fact it all went "blue tits" up at the last minute!

Now, if as you would have us all believe, you are an expert on virtually everything (but for the purposes of this thread let's just say "planning law"), what on earth went wrong with your own failed application?

Thanks in advance for your lengthy and rambling reply

For the record, not that is any business of yours, but as you asked, the reason was that after, spending a large amount of MY Own Money, on obtaining, Planning permission for the appropriate change of use, buying the Catering Equipment, Crockery, etc, and giving my Solicitor the £45.000.00 deposit, with one week b4 signing the Contract, my Bank withdrew its Loan Offer, as we were as u recall, entering into the recession and the Banks decided not to lend on Businesses that were Bars Restaurants, or Pubs. So now you know!!
So you can smugly know that, if I had not heeded my Solicitor s advice, I would no doubt have lost all that I have worked for, in the last 30 years.
I suppose you would have liked that to have been the outcome, at least I was planning to open something new in Bridgwater, Restaurant, WineBar, Wine Shop and Conference Facility.
With employment, numbering 12 Plus.
You Asked, so now move on to the Topic, or you and your mates will criticise me for Hogging the Thread!!
Regards Blue-Owl
If only you knew anything !!

ianeggbert wrote:
Blue Fowl,

did you not you try your own hand at a little regeneration of the Northgate/ Mount Street area once?

As memory serves you attempted to open a "fine dining" emporium in the old Thompson's Ironmonger building a few years back, but despite going to extraordinary lengths to advertise the fact it all went "blue tits" up at the last minute!

Now, if as you would have us all believe, you are an expert on virtually everything (but for the purposes of this thread let's just say "planning law"), what on earth went wrong with your own failed application?

Thanks in advance for your lengthy and rambling reply

For the record, not that is any business of yours, but as you asked, the reason was that after, spending a large amount of MY Own Money, on obtaining, Planning permission for the appropriate change of use, buying the Catering Equipment, Crockery, etc, and giving my Solicitor the £45.000.00 deposit, with one week b4 signing the Contract, my Bank withdrew its Loan Offer, as we were as u recall, entering into the recession and the Banks decided not to lend on Businesses that were Bars Restaurants, or Pubs. So now you know!!
So you can smugly know that, if I had not heeded my Solicitor s advice, I would no doubt have lost all that I have worked for, in the last 30 years.
I suppose you would have liked that to have been the outcome, at least I was planning to open something new in Bridgwater, Restaurant, WineBar, Wine Shop and Conference Facility.
With employment, numbering 12 Plus.
You Asked, so now move on to the Topic, or you and your mates will criticise me for Hogging the Thread!!
Regards Blue-Owl
If only you knew anything !!

I read that David Preece spoke in favour of Tesco's today at the planning meeting.
By all accounts his speech was "interrupted by Owl noises" from the gallery!
Fame at last It seems!

Boring wrote:
I read that David Preece spoke in favour of Tesco's today at the planning meeting.
By all accounts his speech was "interrupted by Owl noises" from the gallery!
Fame at last It seems!

Boring ,you really are a Fool!, so it only takes one sensible person ie ; me to make a valid 3 Minute presentation, to the Commitee, Twittering, Hooting, or whatever, to speak correctly, with Knowlege and authority to knock the Anti-Tesco argument into touch.
The only reason that Wilkinsons may or may not be considering closing, is either their lease is soon to expire in Angel Place, or perhaps they feel that
they will be unable to compete with the new Range Store opening soon on Bristol Rd.
So Boring, why don't you grow a pair,!!
Twit-too Woo
Blue-Owl

cidreman wrote:
Blue Owl
Its been passed ...Labour Cllrs including the Ward Cllrs for Westover Failed to stop it ...
Now its time to move on...
Lets all hope Bridgwater can now move Forward not Backwards
All the Council Tax money that Bridgwater Town Council receives any its powerless to stop anything waste of time having it .(Labour Controlled )

Cidreman, how right you are, It was interesting to see that the BTC Councillors that sit on SDC Planning Commitee, although saying and declaring that they had taken no part in the Bridgwater Town Councils debate, re the No to Tesco's Application, after the Town Clerk, had spoken to oppose it from the T Councils viewpoint, it was interesting to see to a man these Councillors Voted Against, with the exception of our Town Mayor, who decided, that just when it was coming to the time to Vote, he left the room to one presume use the Toilet Facilities, but in doing so, was then unable when he returned to actually Vote. as he had left the Commitee Room.
So talk about, not exercising his Duties as a Member of the Commitee, I'm sorry Graham, but in my book, what you did was a Cop out!! By not voting one way or the other, you have been on the Commitee for to many years not to understand the consequences.
Regards David Preece
Blue-Owl

ianeggbert wrote:
Blue Fowl,

did you not you try your own hand at a little regeneration of the Northgate/ Mount Street area once?

As memory serves you attempted to open a "fine dining" emporium in the old Thompson's Ironmonger building a few years back, but despite going to extraordinary lengths to advertise the fact it all went "blue tits" up at the last minute!

Now, if as you would have us all believe, you are an expert on virtually everything (but for the purposes of this thread let's just say "planning law"), what on earth went wrong with your own failed application?

Thanks in advance for your lengthy and rambling reply

As you posted the question twice, I thought it only correct to answer both postings!.
Blue-Owl

Blue Owl wrote:

Boring wrote: I read that David Preece spoke in favour of Tesco's today at the planning meeting. By all accounts his speech was "interrupted by Owl noises" from the gallery! Fame at last It seems!

Boring ,you really are a Fool!, so it only takes one sensible person ie ; me to make a valid 3 Minute presentation, to the Commitee, Twittering, Hooting, or whatever, to speak correctly, with Knowlege and authority to knock the Anti-Tesco argument into touch. The only reason that Wilkinsons may or may not be considering closing, is either their lease is soon to expire in Angel Place, or perhaps they feel that they will be unable to compete with the new Range Store opening soon on Bristol Rd. So Boring, why don't you grow a pair,!! Twit-too Woo Blue-Owl

So your denying that people were making owl noises whilst you spoke!
You best get your ears cleaned fella!

I also presume that you will apologise to the Wilkinson employees when they lose there jobs in 3-4 years time.

As for you calling me a fool, oh the irony!

Blue -Owl just for the record
How did the Labour Cllrs vote ...

For and against ....who didnt vote ?

Cidreman, I can answer if you wish. one abstained ( well, he was in the toilet at the time of the vote!) 2 voted against, and one stunned everyone by voting for Tesco.

The other no vote was by the Highbridge independent. All the Tories,( who all come from outside of BW) voted yes for Tesco.

Now Blue Fowl I know you do want to hear this as it will run contrary to your anti Labour bias but Cllr Granter having only just been discharged from hospital, against Doctors advice, he attended the planning meeting because he recognised the importance of the debate. Unfortunately due to the nature of the condition he had to visit the toilet, it was of course a 2 1/2 hour debate. Unbeknown to him he was then debarred from voting on the recommendation and somewhat unfairly his vote was recorded as an "abstention" . Having taken his civic duty very seriously I believe he has been let down by the system.

A labour Cllr voting for the Building of the Tesco Store ...and one not able to vote at all ....
The forward backward group must be in total shock .....
What going to happen now ...we heard comments like the whole of the Town Council labour group were all against the building of the Tesco Store ...not heard any comment from Cllr Smedley regarding the way the vote went ...or the Leader of the Bridgwater Town Labour Group .

Bridgy old Boy wrote:
Now Blue Fowl I know you do want to hear this as it will run contrary to your anti Labour bias but Cllr Granter having only just been discharged from hospital, against Doctors advice, he attended the planning meeting because he recognised the importance of the debate. Unfortunately due to the nature of the condition he had to visit the toilet, it was of course a 2 1/2 hour debate. Unbeknown to him he was then debarred from voting on the recommendation and somewhat unfairly his vote was recorded as an "abstention" . Having taken his civic duty very seriously I believe he has been let down by the system.

should have taken a poop bag!!

If this was the case that Cllr Graham Granter, had to excuse himself from the Commitee due to Medical reasons, then of course , I apologise, as this fact was not apparent. The rules of Commitee, are well laid down, and if this was the case, He, Cllr Granter, could have expressed his thoughts and the way he was intending to vote ,for or against prior to leaving the Chamber. If you leave, before or during any Planning Application you are then not able to rejoin and take part in the Commitee debate on that Application. I think, it was as I said a Cop-Out. !!!
Blue-Owl

Boring, You just don't get it do you, you and the Minority of residents were not listened to, with regard the Tesco's Planning decision. Cllr Smedley and his Backward Forward Campaign group, who certainly have no Forward Vision, for our Town. Lost the debate.
You can make all the references to myself as blueFowl, bluetit etc, all u do is Highlight Wot a Tit u R.With regard to Wilkinsons employees, if that store were to relocate or close, how can you cast the blame on me or Tesco's, get a grip on reality, u will blame me for Woolworths demise next!, as I've said the reason several stores left Angel Place at the time their Leases were due for renewal, and the companies had to either renew for 10-15 yrs, in a recession, with retail trading difficult, those companies decided not to renew the leases, fact, economic conditions prevailing.
The same reason, my little venture as you called it, not being finalised, or should I have gone ahead against my Solicitors advice and borrowed £250k, so I could have become a not her Bankrupt Stat, !! Get a Life !!
Regards Blue -Owl