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The Greening Alton &
Holybourne Campaign
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A committee of volunteers has been inspired to form a local 'Greening Alton & Holybourne Campaign' (GAHC).
It is based on the hugely successful campaign run in Petersfield in May 2007 and has now spread to
hundreds of towns and villages across the South of England.
Proposed New Tesco Store in Alton
The official date has passed but here are some issues that
the Greening campaign has about the new store.
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The next Greening Committee meeting will be at 7:30pm on Tuesday 18th July 2009
in the Cellar Bar of the Crown Hotel.
Meetings are free!! Do please come along if you would like to join in and help us.
On Wednesday October 1st 2008, Sainsbury's in Alton removed
one trip plastic bags from display.
Customers now have to ask for a one trip bag.
Reusable bags are also on sale for 10p each.
Here are some totally sad pictures of wildlife
entangled in plastic bags.
Biofuels are mostly a bad idea. To find out why and to contact your MEP:-
Click Here
Proposed New Tesco Store in Alton
You are probably aware that Tesco has put forward a planning application for a new store on the outskirts of Alton (on Mill Lane at its junction
with Montecchio Way).
The application has been placed with East Hampshire District Council (ref 22467/003) and is currently in the middle of
its consultation period. This consultation period ended on 8th June 2009.
At the time of writing no date has been set for this application to be reviewed by the appropriate planning committee.
If you are planning on writing to East Hampshire District Council to either support or object to this application, or have not decided
what to do please look at some points that the Greening Alton and Holybourne Campaign believe should be considered by those making
a decision regarding this application.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Emissions
Tesco mention in their proposal that this building ‘reduces its carbon emissions by 28%’. This sounds
commendable until you consider that Tesco has achieved a 70% CO2 reduction in the carbon footprint of at least
one other store and the Government’s targets for CO2 reduction currently stand at 80%.
Power Consumption
The planning application includes a number of energy saving technologies. However, these only appear to
contribute 3% to the overall CO2 saving. Tesco should be considering a building that would consume substantially
less power for lighting, heating, cooling and electrical devices than that proposed.
Renewable Technologies
The application includes provision for a combined heat and power system. However, there is no commitment for using renewable energy technologies.
Pedestrian Access
Access to the store by foot assumes major changes to the paths and road junctions. Improvements are described in the
application, but such changes are the responsibility of Hampshire County Council. Therefore this application should only
be approved if there is a firm commitment from Hampshire County Council that any changes to the paths and highways are
complete when the store opens.
Public Transport
Access to the store by public transport assumes major changes to the road layout and agreement from the relevant bus service
provider. Again suitable provision is suggested in the application. This application should not be approved unless there is a
binding commitment from both the Bus Company and Hampshire County Council that changes will be in place when the store opens.
Shuttle Bus?
At about 1.5 miles from the town centre, the proposed store is too far away for most of Alton's residents to walk with their
shopping and the Bus Service that currently operates to/from Montecchio Way is infrequent with currently no Sunday service.
Therefore in order to encourage Tesco customers to leave their cars at home, Tesco should provide a shuttle bus between the
proposed store, Holybourne and Alton.
Impact on the Local Economy
Tesco has claimed that the presence of a store on the outskirts of Alton would bring shoppers to the town centre and result
in a positive impact on the local economy. However, anecdotally, a store like that proposed would have the opposite effect.
We would therefore feel that the range of goods on sale in the proposed store should be restricted so that it compliments that
which is available in Alton. Also, Tesco should work with local producers and traders and thus help to maintain and enhance the
self sufficiency of the local economy.
You may or may not agree with the above. But if you do, do make sure that any letter of support or objection includes any points
that you do agree with. Please make sure that any letter arrives at
East Hampshire District Council
Penns Place
Petersfield
Hampshire
GU31 4EX
no later than 8th June 2009.
Other points to note include:
The planning reference number (22467/003) should be included in any correspondence that relates to this application.
If you feel that the application should not go ahead, please use the word ‘object’ in your letter.
Details of the application can be found at East Hampshire District Council’s web site using this
link:
or
go to this page
and enter the 22467/003 application number into the Application Quick Search box.
It is also possible to post your comments online using the link at the bottom of EHDC’s plannng web page.
If you have any questions on the above, please do not hesitate to contact us by using the email link at the top of this page.
Here are some additional comments about the effects of supermarkets from the CPRE in September 2008.
The number of supermarkets has risen from 457 in 1986 to 1102 in 1997 and market share increased from 30% to 54%.
Four firms now account for 75% of grocery sales. Market shares in 2008 were Tesco 31%, Asda 17%, Sainsbury 16%, Morrisons 11%,
Co-op & Somerfield 8%, Waitrose 4%, Aldi 3%, Lidl 2% and Iceland 2%.
Effect on smaller convenience stores. Supermarkets kill smaller convenience stores:
64% have been lost in Fakenham and 75% in Warminster after a superstore opened.
Job losses. During two year period after opening of 93 superstores, net job losses in retailing alone
averaged 270 jobs within a 10 mile radius of each superstore opened. These figures do not include florists,
clothes shops and newsagents which have been badly affected too.
Local produce? Typically only 1 – 2% of supermarkets turnover comes from locally produced food.
National consumer surveys show that 70% of British shoppers would like to buy local food and
49% would like to buy more than they do now.
Local economy. The money spent in local independent shops is then re-spent 3 times before it leaves
the area, while over 90% of money spent in supermarkets leaves the area immediately.
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You can contact Alton Friends of the Earth - (AFoE)
If you see a mistake or wish to comment on the campaign, please send an email to
If you would like to use any of the material on this site, please email us.Here is the link to our home page at:-
Greening Alton & Holybourne Campaign
and here is some sample code for the link -