A Tesco store in Great Dunmow, Essex, has been granted planning permission to make expansions and on the current site, but only on the condition that it does not open an optical outlet or offer any other services that may harm local businesses .
The news has been greatly welcomed by Optical practitioners in the town with support being shown from the majority of councillors from Uttlesford District Council as long as there were safeguards in place to ensure the supermarket giant did not use the extra space to open other practices, such as a pharmacy, an optical practice, or a post office .
Planning control manager for the council, Michael Ovenden, said, “The council’s planning committee considered it appropriate to apply such a condition to protect the vitality of the town. With the condition in place the extension to the Dunmow Tesco store was not considered to challenge the vitality of the existing shopping area.”
Francine Hammond, manager of The Opticians, which is one of the two practices located near the Tesco store, was more than happy with the decision.
“If Tesco had opened an optical outlet I think that one of our businesses would have closed. Many of our customers are children and retired people and I think they would definitely choose Tesco over us because it is cheaper, so I am very glad the council has reached this decision,” she said.
Tesco has never been far from controversy, and only last month was the subject of a Channel 4 documentary called, ‘The Supermarket That’s Eating’ . The programme criticised its aggressive expansion tactics and its abuse of power.
A Tesco spokesman explained that the grocery retailer carries out ‘pre-application consultations’ and, with regards to the expansion plans, had already met and discussed issues with members of the local community in Dunmow last year.
He said, “The people of Great Dunmow were passionate about the town centre when we spoke to them last year so we voluntarily agreed a statement of community involvement and were happy to give assurances that we would not be impacting upon the town centre.”
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