Islington Tribune - News: Anger at Archway supermarket plan

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 20 April 2007

Pictured: (from left) Cllr Janet Burgess, Sarah Tyce, Gerry Cummings and Jamshid Orodpour protesting against the Bludgens development

Anger at Archway supermarket plan

Deliveries and parking will ‘turn lives upside down’

FURIOUS residents and traders are demanding to know why Budgens are able to open a new supermarket in Archway without planning permission or consultation with the community.
Labour ward Cllr Janet Burgess is leading a campaign against the store after residents discovered by chance that the supermarket had acquired the former Allied Irish bank in Holloway Road close to the junction with Hargrave Road.
The proposal is for a supermarket on Holloway Road with delivery and customer parking at the back.
Under planning regulations Budgens doesn’t need permission for the store but they will need it – and may obtain it retrospectively – for turning the previous private car park at the back into one for large delivery vehicles and customer cars.
Cllr Burgess and residents will urge Islington council to refuse permission for the car park on the basis that it will create 24-hour noise and litter.
At the same time she claimed many of the small shops nearby will be forced to close because the new store is expected to eat into their trade.
Cllr Burgess argued that a loophole in the planning laws has allowed this kind of development to proceed.
She said: “The first residents knew what was happening was the arrival of builders in demolition lorries at 6am in the morning. Residents at the back of the store in Gresham Place will have their lives turned upside down by this scheme. There will be parking and security lights. Many of them have not even been consulted.”
Islington’s environmental health officers have been called out to the store at least twice this week after residents complained about the noise of drilling inside the premises.
“We understand the only planning permission needed is for storage and delivery space at the back,” Cllr Burgess added. “At the very least Budgens could take leaf out of nearby Sainsburies’ book and provide deliveries through the front of the store.
“Budgens will also be applying for a late night alcohol license on April 26 which we will vigorously oppose.”
Gresham Place resident Gerry Cummings, front of house manager at the Bloomsbury theatre, has launched a petition against the planned delivery car park.
He said: “ There will be a lot of noise and large rubbish bins will be another potential hazard. The first I heard about the scheme was when I got back from holiday last week.
“We hope Islington council will at least turn down the car park scheme. Otherwise there will be no peace at night.”
Sarah Tyce, a teacher of austic children at Bridge school, was appalled by the scheme. “We haven’t been told what’s going on. But suddenly I hear we will be looking down at a huge commercial car park,” she said.
Jamshid Orodpour, owner of next-door Super Persia store, said he would be probably forced to close when Budens opens. “It’s just another problem for small shops. Everyone wants us to stay but we have no protection from the big stores.”
Budgens were unavailable for comment but an Islington council confirmed that changing the use of the bank to a supermarket does not required planning permission, neither is permission needed to use the back area as a car park.
Planning permission is needed for the external work at the back to build a ramp for wheelchair and trolley access.

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment: