Tesco's Expanded Loading Bay — Two Weeks On
Has anyone noticed an improvement since the loading bay outside Tesco has been expanded and the hours and rules changed?
We haven’t.
In fact, anecdotally, it seems to be the same or even worse. We have also received many emails and heard many comments from readers seeing the same. All these observations can be boiled down to the following three issues:
- Delivery trucks are getting nearer to and even into the Broadway Avenue intersection making this a blind turn to A316 bound traffic and a hazard to pedestrians.
- More ‘non-good’s’ cars and vans are using the loading bay as temporary parking to run into Tesco and shop, which is clearly against the rules for most of the time.
- There has been no visible increase in enforcement.
We then contacted Michael Potter, Senior Engineer of the Transport Planning Service for the Richmond Council asking him to comment. He said;
“As far as I am aware enforcement has been increased. I am copying my colleagues in Parking Enforcement asking that checks are made that this is being done.
Discussions will continue and I will be reporting back to the Council’s Cabinet Member, Mark Kreling on this matter.
I will do my best to improve matters within the Council’s powers.
In the meantime, I thank you for advising me of your observations."
To that end, we recommend the following:
- Contact Michael Potter if you see traffic issues at: m.potter@richmond.gov.uk
- Report these same issues (via a cc:) to the SPASM website by emailing: spasm_2004@hotmail.com
- Another excellent resource recommended to us is Tescopoly, a national website trying to limit the power Tesco has as a near monopoly. On the Tescopoly site you can voice your opinion, lobby the government and follow other local campaigns across the country, including the similar issues with the Tesco at Kew.
- Vote in our new poll [ view results ]
Comments
The other day I noticed a shorter in length delivery vehicle unloading during the morning (after the rush hour and school run) and there were no problems at all with traffic or congestion on the pavement. I had no problems at all as a cyclist, but it is a nightmare should I be coming home during the school pick up time in the afternoon.
Mothers parked everywhere and anywhere regardless of the obstructions they were causing. Perhaps more effort should be put into the problems these mothers, with their inconsiderate parking, are causing!!
McCreddie M (Mac) on 2005-11-19 18:44:27 +0000I wonder if other residents have noticed the parking of the tesco delivery trucks who seem to believe they have the right not only to block the street but also use the pavement as part of the parking space. I have watched over the last few weeks the number of delivery trucks that are unable to fit into the loading bay. They persistantly park with wheels on the kerb. This also applies to the early morning delivery when there is no one else around. They use the kerb, is there a reason? I wonder who will pay for the cost of the damage this will cause.......I somehow doubt this will be Tesco!!!!!
Ian Makin on 2005-11-23 08:22:23 +00001) St. Margarets Road is a road suited to serving journeys made within St. Margarets and communities within the Borough. Such journeys are made on foot, by bicycle and nowadays by car.
The types of motor vehicles Tesco requires to sustain its operation in St. Margarets Road are delivery vehicles which are suited to main distribution roads.
The vehicles required by Tesco are not suited to St. Margarets Road and the vehicles discourage journeys made on foot and by bicycle.
2) St. Margarets Road accommodates businesses and shops whose offerings are provided with mutually beneficial sympathy to the character of St. Margarets village.
Tesco's operation "rolls out" a format which is applied nationwide without sympathy to the location in which it is installed. Tesco can produce a format once, therefore there is a one off cost for design which follows through to a greater chance of higher profits for Tesco.
3) The format itself, is a brightly commercial design which is quite visible from cars travelling along the road (when the shop front is not obscured by its delivery lorries). It is a convenience store. Cars plus convenience store equals car parking. However St. Margarets Road is not a car park. It is a road. Broadway Avenue is not a car park. It is an Avenue. Winchester Road is also a road and Amyand Park Road and Bridge Road are roads as well.
4) The lorries parking in the loading bay have the following effects : (i) totally eliminates visibility to pedestrians on the pavement from a car driver's vision from St. Margarets Road; (ii) lines of vision for a car driver when turning left into Broadway Avenue are clear only immediately before turning left; this requires an excessivley slow approach to the corner which combined with the reduced road width causes a backing up of traffic; (iii) danger to pedestrians has been introduced by Tesco's delivery lorries in points (i) and (ii) which will discourage journeys by foot and eventually cause the death of an infant, (iv) a level of driving care must now be exercised by residents and that level of care is unreasonable; I did not move into St. Margarets to assume greater driving responsibilities for the benefit of Tesco.
5) Tesco's operation in St. Margarets erodes valuable and rare standards. St. Margarets is a community which is a rich example of London life, culture and heritage. Tesco's operation might have been harmless. But, the delivery lorries are not suited to St. Margarets, tesco has then extended the loading bay, and now, reported in The Times, Tesco sells a sex aid in its stores. I don't want a store with a convenience goods brand offer stocking a sex aid.
A Curely on 2005-12-06 14:01:54 +0000my husband came to pick me up and stop in the picket up bay but there is no sign that stay how long one can stop their or who can stop and pick up and ukpc charge us 70pounds
avis smith on 2009-03-17 15:05:20 +0000Add a comment