"Tesco should pack up its carrier bags and leave"

Anne Main has today spoken of her relief at last night's decision to refuse the Tesco proposal for the London Road site.

Anne Main, MP for St Albans, has today spoken of her relief at last night's decision to refuse the Tesco proposal for the London Road site.

Anne said:

"I am delighted at this decision. It is the right result for our city and those who live near the site. This refusal was based on a robust and comprehensive set of arguments, which included pollution and the negative effect on the city centre.

I have spoken to many residents who had grave concerns about the impact of pollution, and even Tesco's own report, which I pressed them to produce, damned the proposal's effect on air quality, stating that "close to the store, increased traffic resulting from the development has the potential to increase the exposure of nearby residents to traffic related pollutants". It is right that environmental concerns have been added to the list of reasons for refusal. Importantly, the comprehensive list of objections that have been cited means that Tesco now has a bigger mountain to climb should it choose to appeal.

Now that this decision has been made, there is still the grim prospect that Tesco may land-bank the site, and leave it mouldering away for another few years. After all, they spent many years pulling this parcel of land together, whilst at the same time blighting London Road. This is a key site and its unattractive appearance gives a bad impression to visitors and detracts from our beautiful city. Tesco should pack up its carrier bags and leave so that the city can look forward to a better proposal being put forward for this area.""