Planning Application - Tesco at Partick

[crusty_bint]

It's that time again, another contentious planning application has been lodged, this time for a behemoth of a tesco and student flat complex (see plans here: >FutureGlasgow.co.uk<)

Do you live in Partick or Glasgow Harbour or the surrounding areas, what do you think of this proposal? What do you think the impact, both on an economic and aesthetic level will be on the area if this proposal gets the go ahead?

Not looking for diatribe or cheap pot-shots at the council, but all opinions welcome

[glasgowken]

Looks like something from the Soviet Union

The area is pretty grim anyway, will this spoil it ??????

[Ally Doll]

I wasn't able to get good enough photos from the plans at the library (sorry), but I can say it's going to be pretty huge.

The flats will be bigger by a few storey than this building on Cooperswell Street

(from this post Cooperswell St)


It will cover around this much of the area, includng flats and access roads.

[AlanM]

I used to live on Anderson St which is literally a stones throw away from this proposed development.

The site has lain derelict for as many years as I can remember and I would love to see it being used forsomething, however I do not feel that the current proposals are suitable. Either the Tesco on its own or the student flats would be ok but to try and squeeze both in by going up the way is far too much.

The proposed building covers a huge area and at over twice the height of anything in the vicinity will be totally out of place here.

I also have infrastructure concerns, the number of flats proposed will also put a large additional strain on water and sewerage services in the area as well as the additional traffic a Tesco store in that area would generate. I would also question the sanity of a developer wishing to build a huge superstore with underground parking on the banks of a river that has caused flooding in the not too distant past (admitly not at that location though)

Alan

[glasgowken]

Depite my "grim area" comment I think it would be totally out of place.
And being so close to Partick it would surely have quite an adverse effect on the Dumbarton Road small traders.

[Ally Doll]

It looks from the plans as if the flats will be on top of the supermarket, and that there will be carparking too. I'm looking at the Cooperswells St. building from my flat now, and can't get my head round the idea that the proposed structure will be bigger.

[AlanM]

Depite my "grim area" comment I think it would be totally out of place.
And being so close to Partick it would surely have quite an adverse effect on the Dumbarton Road small traders.

To be honest there aren't many left, most of the small traders in Dumbarton Rd are solicitors, take aways, charity shops or specialist traders. There are a few newsagents but I doubt anyone heading for the subway would go to Tesco for their paper in the morning rather than their usual shop.

The main losers would be Morrison's in Merkland Court and Sainsbury's in Crow Rd

[glasgowken]

Yeah very true, you hardly see anyone selling groceries in Partick now, the odd fruit & veg shop maybe.

[Ally Doll]

There are a ridiculous number of charity shops, but there are also a few fruit shops, butchers, places like semi-chem, card shops and the like. I'm not sure that the independent ones will be able to survive. I was out on Dumbarton Road earlier when I went along to the library, and I was surprised at just how busy it was. The farmer's market was on today as well (lots of nice stuff on display!), so that might have contributed.

I'd hate for the area to lose this character and busyness.

[AlanM]

There are a ridiculous number of charity shops, but there are also a few fruit shops, butchers, places like semi-chem, card shops and the like. I'm not sure that the independent ones will be able to survive. I was out on Dumbarton Road earlier when I went along to the library, and I was surprised at just how busy it was. The farmer's market was on today as well (lots of nice stuff on display!), so that might have contributed.

I'd hate for the area to lose this character and busyness.

The fruit 'n' veg shops and butchers should do ok, their customers tend to be the older residents of the burgh, and the surrounding areas, who are quite stuck in their ways and they'll always win on quality, the card shops will win on choice and the farmer's market will also continue to do well.

[mags]

This development would totally dominate the skyline of the Partick area, especially along Beith Street. The 2 storey houses across Beith Street from this proposed monstrosity would hardly get any sunlight. It looks like something from an eastern block country. Can you imagine the amount of extra traffic going along Beith Street. At the moment it's at a standstill at peak times. I cannot believe the Council would let this go through - but then we all know what big bullies Tesco are.

[Alex Glass]

I must limit my comments as a member of the Planning Committee.

In order to understand the situation with planning applications you need to know what the legislation says. It is also necessary to take account of the City Plan. I would again urge everybody to submit their opinion on the City Plan II consultation which is currently underway. This is now posted on the Council's website.

The general opinion is that we do not take everything into consideration when dealing with planning applications or that some developers bully there way through the Council. This is far from true. We have dedicated Officers who go through every application and have lengthy discussions with developers before an application is put before the committee for consideration.

I would like to hear more about why people think this development is not right for Partick and a bit less of the snipping.

Alex

[Flyingscot]

Personally I don't think the development is good on traffic grounds. We already have a major development in Glasgow Harbour, and Morrisons have an existing supermarket within 100 yards. Not to mention that the road is really 1 lane, is the main link between Partick Cross and the expressway, and has a junction that has only just been fixed by the developers of Glasgow Harbour!

Now what will the various traffic anaysises (TRICS or GCC method) say about the number of car journeys to the store? Fair enough there are good transport links in the area which will reduce the burdon but considering this is a large Tesco Extra, it will attract people from Finnieston, Botanics, Whiteinch. However we cannot be drawn into the paper chases of Green Travel Plans which IMHO are unworkable for supermarkets. They are purposefully car designed, and relativily few people will lug 8 bags of food 200yds to Dumbarton Road in the rain then onto a crowded 62 on Dumbarton Road. It's not un-reasonable to expect say 150-250 vehicles an hour using the store- an extra 100 vehicles per hour on the already gridlocked local roads network.

Now presumably if this development goes ahead, we will need effective use of traffic on Beith Street and I suspect a CPZ of some sort will need to be introduced to Beith Street, cutting the unofficial 'park and ride' of Partick Station. If this happens then even more people will be forced into their cars! Even when the TA gets to GCC's hands, you have to remember that it is in the devolpers interests to prove that it will work- hence Braehead apparently would cope with it's traffic. Look at Braehead on a Sunday at 3pm now!

As for whether this is good for the community I severly doubt it, but ho hum!

[Strike Team]

I presume the site still belongs to Network Rail or some other branch of government? If so, the smart use for this site would be a nice big park-and-ride car park for the Partick bus/train/subway station. This would be a simple way to reduce car journeys and city centre congestion, by giving people a chance to drive part way and then use public transport for the part of the journey where congestion is at its worst.

The thing that baffles me is why government is discouraging park-and-ride when it is one of the most effective and affordable ways to imporve the transport system. Glasgow council has introduced parking charges around train and subway stations in the west End to discourage commuters from parking at them. There is massive demand for peak-hour train services from Bearsden/Westerton/Milngavie, such that the car parks are always full and passengers often park on surrounding roads. Instead of providing much-needed extra parking East Dumbarton Council have put up bollards to stop parking on the main roads, and sent cops out to hand out fines.

East Dumbarton and Glasgow councils both have stateds policies of reducing car use, yet they are using the power of the state to make it thoroughly difficult for people to use environmentally-friendly, low-pollution, low-congestion non-car transport.

This problem doesn't just apply to public transport. East Dumbarton Council have a stated policy of promoting cycling, yet at the same time they're putting speedbumps everywhere and systematically neglecting the roads so that they're full of potholes, as a result the roads are a complete nightmare for cyclists. I asked my elected representative about this contradiction when I wrote to her about transport issues a while ago, but I didn't get any kind of satisfactory answer.

I've explained why I feel this development is not the best use for this land, now will any of our elected representatives actually listen?

[onyirtodd]

..........................
This problem doesn't just apply to public transport. East Dumbarton Council have a stated policy of promoting cycling, yet at the same time they're putting speedbumps everywhere and systematically neglecting the roads so that they're full of potholes, as a result the roads are a complete nightmare for cyclists. I asked my elected representative about this contradiction when I wrote to her about transport issues a while ago, but I didn't get any kind of satisfactory answer.

........................

So do what every other cyclist does and cycle on the pavement