Littleton Street Inquiry
A Public Inquiry into proposals for Tescos to move out of Walsall to the Littleton
Street has been running through September. Gerald Kells gave evidence for Walsall
FOE and was cross-examined at some length, which suggests our arguments against
out of town development are being taken seriously. There was a lot of hogwash
talked by Tesco's barristers who are claiming that the benefits of redeveloping
the current Tesco would outweigh the downside of the out-of-centre store. We
nailed them down on social inclusion and accessibility and, if there's any justice,
the Inspector will reject their arguments.
We believe we can win the Inquiry, especially given Safeway's opposition to the
store. Their careful, prolonged and effective cross-examination has been helped
by half-hearted defence of the proposals by Walsall's officers, who in many cases
do not appear convinced themselves. As always, we will have to wait on the Inspector's
report, and his cards are close to his chest. But it would certainly be a great
victory if we won.
Tesco continue to claim they won't revamp their store in town without Littleton
Street. However, we know from ASDA in Darlaston that when supermarket bosses
lose a lucrative out-of-centre option they often end up doing what they swore
blind they would never do. It's three years since Walsall FOE's campaign defeated
ASDA's attempt to build an out-of-town store in Darlaston and they have recently
applied for and got planning permission to reopen the town centre store they
boarded up to try and force Walsall's hand.
As usual the Inquiry has also unearthed a mound of documentation, much of which
will be useful in fighting other out-of-town shopping proposals.
Gerald Kells Walsall FOE