FOR:
Michael Dixon, Tesco Corporate Affairs manager
"Having listened to local people and altered the plans accordingly, we think people will agree that our revised proposals are ideal for this part of Harrogate."
 
How it will look - Tesco's visual impression of its new store at New Park
 

AGAINST:
Richie Malloy and Dave Burns of the
“No To Tesco” group.

"A new Tesco store would aim to bring in custom from a wide area, much of which would be by car."
Total Messages
For Tesco:
44%
Against Tesco:
56%

"We've made some important changes to the proposals to provide a store more in keeping with the area, as well as incorporating a host of sustainability measures.
"The north side of Harrogate is not well served by supermarkets and many residents have to travel across the town to do their weekly shop. This creates cross-town traffic which we can reduce with a store in New Park.
"As well as providing supermarket shopping close to home, the store will create over 360 jobs for local people, with excellent training and career development opportunities. We're also clearing up an eyesore, rejuvenating the Oak Beck and bringing a public footpath back into use.
"Tesco is proud of its ongoing commitment to public consultation and grateful to all residents who have taken the time to share their views.
"Following a thorough review of all feedback received from residents, and further discussions with Harrogate Borough Council, Tesco has made important changes to the proposals.
"The new proposals are for an environmental format store, which makes use of leading-edge technologies to reduce energy consumption, waste and artificial lighting. Another change is the reduction of the retail floor space by 25 per cent to better meet the current needs of this part of town.
"Responses to date have been positive; the majority of feedback forms are in favour of the store and our revised proposals. Residents are looking forward to the site being redeveloped and are happy that their views have been listened to. "All responses we receive will be collated and reviewed in detail."

 

New Park ward member Trevor Chapman said residents nearby were split 50-50 on the plans with many still worried about the impact on traffic congestion, while Miss Diamand, who lives with her two-year-old son in Knox Lane, Bilton, also voiced concerns about the increase in traffic.
She said: “It is already a very busy road and there is so much traffic.
“It is hard to cross the road when I am with my little boy, and a Tesco store will bring in a lot more traffic. “It is the wrong place for the supermarket and it is not needed. It may not be the mega shop they were proposing before, but it is still a big store.”
Ian Pickering from Electric Avenue, Harrogate, said he was disappointed the basic plan is still the same as when the plan was submitted last year, while Patrick Clarke from Harlow Grange Park said Tesco was not particularly cheap compared to competitors. Mr Pickering added: "Nothing in the new plans has been done to soften the environmental impact on New Park and its residents, and the traffic problem is now even more critical with the opening of the new Focus.
"Harrogate is already well served by supermarkets and mini marts we do not need any more, and are the 350 jobs on offer to compensate for all the small businesses and their employees who will suffer when/if Tesco get their way and establish themselves in every post code area in England.
"Be it on your heads if they ruin New Park."
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Name:
Administrator
Date:
31/05/3007 10:41:56
Message:
 There have been a number of personal insults on the board recently. These kinds of comments are NOT allowed and will be deleted.
If anybody sees a comment that is completely off topic or deliberately insulting to another poster please email: matthew.bowden@ypn.co.uk and it will be swiftly removed. Thank you.

Name:
Chalky
Date:
12/06/2009 21:36:13
Message:
 Our council is against Tesco, no matter where ir is sited.Lets be honest. they are only a talking shop, the co-op is a waste of space, cannot blame the staff for the distinct lack of produce whatever time you go shopping, bad management. At least Tesco would make them buck their ideas up.If council inytoduced a levy of 10% on all successful planning applications that were successful, ringfenced the money, hey presto, a new northern relief road. Not rocket science.

Name:
Jessie (a southern yank from Texas)
Date:
12/06/2009 04:17:54
Message:
 I just want to say I came to Harrogate in the mid 70's, lived near the Valley Gardens for 3 years and my favorite place to shop was Standings grocer for lots of my little treats, and I used the various shops around town for meats, baked goods, etc. I lived again in Harrogate from 2003 - 2005. What a difference the years have made with so many new buildings, businesses, and housing alternatives. Just want to say I loved Harrogate then and I love it still! I certainly never found people to be snooty or off putting. . quite the opposite. It seemed folks were genuinely friendly and nice.

Name:
Malcolm
Date:
11/06/2009 10:33:13
Message:
 After reading this ****s Harrogate Advertiser I fail to see how the planners can give the go ahead to Tesco. On top of redirecting the HGV
along Skipton Road, I read they are now considering allowing another budget supermarket (Liddle) planning. They would have to take a serious look at the infrastructure. Sorry folks but the road is just not adequate to take all the extra traffic.

Name:
A message for Charles
Date:
10/06/2009 11:06:00
Message:
 No Charles, a lot of the people of Harrogate are very unfriendly, and they're well known for it, and I know for a fact that a lot of them were born and raised in Harrogate. So, no good trying to blame the Southerners and everyone else you can think of. Harrogate has got a bad reputation for being aloof and unfriendly, who think they're better than anyone else. I mean, heaven forbit, they actually love the idea that Harrogate is the only place in the country without a Tesco! How sad!

The people I know who have moved here for whatever reasons, have all said its a very unfriendly town. In fact the people I have met who are very friendly all seem to be either from West Yorkshire or from the South of England. I know a group of women who are the frienliest people going, thank god I've met some people like that in Harrogate, and they're all from London and the South East. So Harrogate folk, stop trying to be something you're not.

And Charles, you are in fact the only person I know who praises the Conference Centre as much as you do. Everyone else says how expensive and costly it is. Wish I could afford to buy tickets like you do on a regular basis.

Ade, you're the best.

Name:
Nv
Date:
09/06/2009 23:00:10
Message:
 Ade. thank you for seeing things from a sensible point of view, at last there is some sanity in this debate.
some of you are not listening and keep going over the same point which is traffic traffic traffic, come on peeps lets get a grip, the solution is there but you are ignoring it, will somebody buy a field at New Park and make it park and ride and lets pe***ion the council to make the show ground also a park and ride.
Also how come nobody apart from Ade commented on my idea that will make even Charles happy (not) shut the big supermarkets and give us the corner shops then nobdy can moan.....
Oh but i forgot not all the shops open late do they so most of the normal people who shop after work go to, wait for it......A BLOODY SUPERMARKET and does it really matter what the name is above the door???? Tesco, Morrisons, Asda etc we would all probably be nosey and go in it anyway so lets stop this stupidity, let Tesco build the store and then EH can have her bloody club card points, can't you see you could be damaging this woman by depriving her ??

Name:
EH
Date:
09/06/2009 22:45:48
Message:
 How about everybody stops whinging and then Tesco can start building!!! Hooray for clubcard points!

Name:
T.A.
Date:
09/06/2009 18:02:50
Message:
 I am not a snob nor do I dislie Tesco as a store and I am not against change to Harrogate.But I am against adding a lot more traffic to an already busy area which the new superstore would inevitably attract.I also think that not everyone to the north of the town would always shop there just because of its proximity to their home, I and others that I know of use all the supermarkets to get a wide choice of goods and prices so traffic reduction is unlikely to happen.And a supermarket building doesnt improve the look of an area so I can see why some nearby residents are not happy

Name:
Charles
Date:
09/06/2009 16:38:29
Message:
 Sorry to disappoint but no, I don't work for the council, nor for the international centre, nor for the showground. I don't actually think my profession, or any of my other details like age, gender or income, have much to do with this debate. The comments I have made are my honestly held opinions, as someone who has grown up in Harrogate. I've been to the international centre for numerous events throughout my life, including school concerts etc, so why should I resent its presence? I don't want to go to all of the events either; they're not all to my taste. But I'm able to make that decision without having to blame the council or anyone else for offering something I don't want.

Similarly, I shop at the places I want to. You may not like what's on offer in Harrogate, but some people do. Not liking the shops is no reason to cut off a major source of the town's economy, surely.

Have you considered that I'm the only person you've ever heard of who supports the conference centre because only those who have a strong opposition to it tend to make comments? I should think it's the same with most things - people who are in support of it, or who are not strongly opposed, don't generally feel the need to comment on stuff like this.

And as for Harrogate people being unfriendly - I disagree. In any town, there are people who are friendly and people who aren't. Most of the people I know and who I grew up with are very friendly, so perhaps some of those unfriendly folk are incomers from elsewhere. Or perhaps I'm generalising.

Name:
A message for Charles
Date:
09/06/2009 15:00:56
Message:
 I disagree with a lot you have to say. I think the Conference Centre is a waste of space and far too expensive. I can't afford to buy tickets for anything, which is just as well as I don't particularly like a lot of what's on any. I mean, who did you quote? John Barrowman and Status Quo - please! And also, you're the only person I've heard who actually supports the conference centre. Partly because of that our council tax bills are ridiculously and disgustingly high.

As for the Yorkshire Showground, another waste of space. You might have quoted an antique fair, a craft fair etc, but how often is that? About 90% of the time the Yorkshire Showground is empty and there is so much Harrogate Council could do with it. But if they did I'm sure there would be a pe***ion by a small element of Harrogate folk who would oppose that too, just like they oppose everything.

And you say the money the tourists bring in goes to Harrogate shops and restaurants. Well Harrogate shops are rubbish, which is why a lot of people go through to Leeds, or York, as often as they can.

And on a final note, that has nothing to do with Tesco either. Harrogatge folk have a reputation for being stuck up and thinking they're better than anyone else, which I have found in my experience. Can I please ask all you Harrogate folk that next time you walk past someone, on a quiet road or avenue, to look at them, smile and say hello. That would be a great thing to do. I've lived here for many years, not out of choice, and I have never met anyone that does this. I was brought up to be friendly and polite and I always like to look at people and smile, whereas in Harrogate they either look at you and turn away or completely blank you. So, its no wonder Hgte has a bad reputation.

So comeon Harrogate snobs, your'e no better than anyone else, so smile a little more and try and make people feel a little more welcome. You've nothing to gain by being ignorant. Try and be a little more frienlier like the rest of Yorkshire folk.

Thank you.

Name:
Ade
Date:
09/06/2009 14:46:50
Message:
 nv,

I loved your message and absolutely agree with you on everything. Wow, its so nice to hear someone with such similar views.

I think Charles must work for the Harrogate Council. I can't think of anyone else who would highly praise the Conference Centre and its costs and also the Yorkshire Showground. Only a few would do that.

I personally cannot afford to buy any tickets at the Conference centre, tickets are way too expensive.And the things I would like to go and see are for trade only. I'm sure Charles can afford to go and watch anything he likes there, but I certainly can't and a lot of us can't.

nv, Charles never told us his job did he? Wonder why!

And finally nv, please keep the messages coming in. I love hearing from you.

Name:
Louis
Date:
09/06/2009 11:38:39
Message:
 Charles,

The Conference centre is a complete waste of space and is partly responsible for our high council tax.

You say there are a lot of concerts there. Yes, but how much are tickets? About £35 and higher. I've wanted to go and see many an act but tickets are just too expensive. Also, the acts that appear there aren't to everyone's cup of tea. John Barrowman, orchestra's, Status Quo etc, not really my cup of tea. The things I would like to go and see always seem to be Trade only, including the toy fair every year, which I would love to go to. I think they should allow at least 1 day when its open to the public to visit.

And why do these benefit the whole town? The shops are rubbish in Harrogate and people have to go to Leeds to shop somewhere decent.

I agree with the person who highly praises Leeds Council. They really have done a considerable amount over the years to make Leeds one of the most exciting places. The only thing that's missing there is a concert venue.

I guess you're one of the few people who can afford to live in Harrogate Charles. I just find it one of the most expensive towns to live in and if I could I would leave tomorrow.

PS: You don't work for Harrogate council do you? You rather do sound as if you do.

Name:
Charles
Date:
09/06/2009 09:32:35
Message:
 nv,

With all due respect, you have no idea who I am or what I do. Please let's not personalise this debate - I'm interested in reading rational points of view and having a reasoned debate, not having personal attacks made based on what you think my job is because you disagree with my points. My views are not pointless simply because they differ from yours.

I believe I have already given several examples of what happens at the showground throughout the year and don't wish to bore anyone by repeating myself.

Name:
Stuart
Date:
09/06/2009 08:35:16
Message:
 To "a message for JA":

To say we pay huge council tax for the international centre is incorrect - it is a profitable business run at arms length from the council.

Also building more shops on the GYS would concentrate more shopping to the south and increase traffic there, in my humble opinion.

Let Tesco build at new park - the sooner the better (and don't build any new houses off penny pot roundabout where the 'B' roads can't handle it!).

Name:
Momnot
Date:
08/06/2009 22:20:25
Message:
 I don't think we need another huge supermarket for Harrogate - we do already have quite a lot of choice.
I do think it will cause an increased traffic nuisence for the area.
I think I would like to see an Aldi though, as it is smaller, and considering it's size - offers a more diverse range of products.

Name:
nv
Date:
08/06/2009 18:04:42
Message:
 Well charles what can i say to your reply?
Lots actually and after reading your comment on how much the GYS is used my response is this...
There is the Yorkshire Event Centre in a small part of the show ground and the Blacksmiths training college there that are used more than the three days a year that causes chaos to Harrogate and the traffic that comes to it, there are also the antique show and the odd bunch of campers that take up another small part and not forgetting the Pavillions which still leaves a vast amount of land that is dormant for 362 days but please feel free to add to my list Charles if you know of anything that i may have missed out.
Charles is obviously one of the do gooders that likes to sit in the traffic jams that occur in and around this bottle necked town or maybe he works for the highways department and he's the bloke who wanted all the traffic lights and crossings that work so well at holding the traffic in the town at peak times, come on Charles own up to your job lol
Ade i thank you for your support, maybe we should run for local government and put some sense and reasoning into the traffic situation and the planning restrictions that this town puts on businesses be it a supermarket or barn.
what i want to ask all the anti-tesco snobs is whats so horrible about a sensible priced supermarket opening its doors in this so precious Spa town when you allow the council to grant licences to premises for lap dancing joints?? surely the are not within the keeping of the precious Harrogate image??
Come on folks, get a grip and have some sense and stop this pathetic snobbery about Tesco having a store here, you might as well say why have an Asda or a Morrisons and not forgetting the Co-op's and Waitrose infact lets shut down Marks and Sparks too and put the corner shop, green grocers, butchers and any other small business back on top.
Come on Charles i'm waiting for what i know will be a pointless reply from you yet again...
Ade i would also like your views on my posting :)

Name:
Charles
Date:
08/06/2009 11:02:54
Message:
 To "a message for JA":

I agree with your point against JA, that if the majority people want to shop then why should others prevent them just because they don't think shopping is a good pastime?

But I have to say the rest of your argument doesn't stand up to scrutiny. The GYS is for the public, as are the flower shows, food shows, craft shows, schools events etc. If you choose not to go, that is your decision, but you can't then say "its not for the general Harrogate folk but by businesses and trade only". And, as I've said before, bringing visitors in from elsewhere benefits the whole town. The money they spend helps to sustain the shops and restaurants you use.

As for your comment that the International Centre is just for trade and businesses - utter nonsense. It holds hundreds of public concerts every year. In the last few months I know it has hosted John Barrowman, Sharleen Spiteri, Status Quo... the list goes on. Again the audience contributes to the local economy - and guess what? If you want to go to the gigs, you're allowed to buy a ticket too!

The International Centre is one of the most important factors in sustaining Harrogate's economy, along with the showground. They both contribute plenty of money and offer events that local people enjoy. Lose them, and you will lose many more businesses as well.

Name:
A message for J.A.
Date:
08/06/2009 10:46:02
Message:
 J.A.

Why should the younger element of Harrogate always be put first, like you suggest? What about the older generation - there's nothing for them?

As for the shops of Harrogate, theyr'e rubbish. We could always do with more, and better shops, instead of having to go through to Leeds to find decent shops. Harrogate hasn't got that many main high street shops, and it is full or expensive, independent shops that a lot of people can't afford to go in.

I take it you're male J.A. as yes, shopping is one of life's pleasures and enjoyed by all, men, women and children, young and old. If women can't have shops why should you have sport?

Most towns and cities have indoor shopping malls, the nearest being the White Rose in Leeds. Why can't they build a big shopping mall on the Yorkshire showground and keep a lot of us happy. Shopping is enjoyed by so many people, of all ages.

And Charles, the Yorkshire Showground is hardly used and a complete waste of space. If it is used then mostly its not for the general Harrogate folk but by businesses and trade only, just like the Conference centre which we pay huge council tax for yet is not allowed for the general public. Trade only again.

I think Harrogate Council needs to take a leaf out of Leeds council. Leeds used to be an awful place but the council have transformed it over the years into something quite amazing. Its getting awards for all sorts now, and they've done wonders for it. Harrogate is still living in the dark age.

Name:
Davey
Date:
08/06/2009 10:24:16
Message:
 Karen,

You sound a typical Harrogate snob! You seem quite hurt & angry that Aldi is coming to your part of town, that a "cheap" supermarket, as you say, dare to move in to your area. You also say that because Aldi is planning to move into your area that you must be "poor and uneducated".

I think you have shown that you are uneducated by your quite ridiculous, and ignorant, message. Aldi is visited by thousands of people throughout the country on a daily basis, and not all these people are poor and uneducated like you assume they are. I'm not poor, and I'm very educated, but I visit Aldi, as do all my family and friends. To say only poor & uneducated people visit Aldi is quite pathetic and I think you have shown your true colours by saying this. And you are typical of an element in Harrogate who think they are better than anyone else, who are downright snobs.

I'm a Harrogate person, and not a snob, and I love Aldi. Its food and produce is brilliant, its on a par with all the other supermarkets, and its always busy with shoppers ready to accept their much cheaper produce. Just because its a cheaper supermarket doesn't mean it sells rubbish.

Seems not only are you a snob, but you're also anti the South part of town. Is there anybody you do like? The South part of town has Sainsburys and Morrisons, so don't you think its time the North side had something.

I live off Jennyfield and I welcome a Tesco and an Aldi, its something we desperately need, rather than having to travel to the other side of town. Why are some people, including yourself, against everything that's ever proposed? How narrow minded are you?

Karen, I suggest you take a trip to Aldi in Leeds, or York, and see for yourself what a great store it is. It isn't just for the poor & uneducated like you say, but for people of all wealth and background.

And also, in this current recession, isn't it a good thing that Harrogate is proposing an Aldi. Not everyone can afford to shop at Waitrose!

As for our area in the north of the town, I wouldn't say its lovely green countryside - I would say its full of eye sores and unused waste. The sooner they build and Aldi and Tesco then the better.

And Karen, you could always move.

Name:
Karen
Date:
06/06/2009 18:22:29
Message:
 Oh dear, now we have the threat of yet another foodstore at New Park.And a cheap one at that.Tell you what Harrogate Borough council, why not bulldoze all the homes schools etc on the north side of town and turn it into a giant shoppping centre complete with motorway?and why is it considered to be ideal for this part of town, are we to assume that the residents here are all poor and uneducated?No to Tesco and an even bigger no to Aldi.And definitely no to the mass housing planned for the area.Let the south of the town take their turn and expand that way instead of putting everything in our already over expanded area.We have the right to keep our lovely green countryside as much as anyone else in the town.


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