Reaching the boil

Thanks for all the texts - Very useful in collating information.

Here's this week's email to the council:

Dear Mr Potter

I, like you, have better things to be getting on with

So far this week, I have been past Tesco only three times between 8.40,
and 9.30 -

On each day, there has been some sort of delivery - I have left you two
voice mails, and we spoke once.

Today, for example, there was a delivery at 8.40 that I saw (I have a
text saying it started at 8.25), and then at 9.05, another lorry turned
up, and because someone was parked in the loading bay, parked in the bus
stop - So a bus had to unload on the crossing!

At 9.15, the person in the loading bay moved up to the double yellow
line.

The lorry moved up, and filled the whole loading bay (as all these
lorries do) - Which meant that the Tecso personnel started unloading in
the bus stop.

So, three days out of three Tesco has loaded when they shouldn't, parked
in the bus stop, and then unloaded into the bus stop. An impressive
average.

One of those lorries (out of the 5 I have seen) got a ticket (Wednesday,
I think) - It still hung a round, though, from 9.00 to past 10.00, when
another Tesco lorry came and parked behind it in the bus stop (this is
not one of the 5 previously mentioned, of course)

I phoned Sureway today - The person assured me that at 8.40, Tesco could
unload, as the Council had "waived the restriction". I found it hard to
convince him otherwise.

One of the few rights I seem to have in this is to ask for information,
and I feel complelled to do that right now, as nothing is happening.

So, could you please let me know:

1. What steps have been taken in the last 4 weeks to communicate the
loading restrictions to Tesco?

2. What has their response been?

3. Have any further communications taken place to complain about the
continuing infractions?

4. If so, what was their response? If not, why has no such
communication taken place?

5. Aside from the three month review as to the operation of the loading
bay, if Tesco continue to flout the loading bay and bus stop
restrictions, at what point will the Council take more draconian action?
Does it intend to allow three months of infractions to take first?

6. What will those measures be?

There's probably a lot more I could ask, but you are busy, and I'd
rather you spent your time sorting Tesco out.

You can imagine, though, that when everything I said would happen with
the new loading bay has actually happened, I'm a bit frustrated to see
little positive action taking place to really enforce the restrictions -
One parking ticket doesnt quite cut it.

Perhaps you an Councillor Kreling would like to join me when I finallydo
lie down in the loading bay?

Many thanks

Nigel Cannings

No Goods at all

9.08 this morning - Not only in the restricted window, but so big that it had to be unloaded in the bus stop

There is such a thing as too long...

Interesting loading bay discovery

The loading bay is the exact size of Tesco's largest lorry. If a lorry parks totally in the loading bay, the unloading has to take place in the bus stop!

To get round this, Tesco is parking almost to the corner of Broadway Avenue to give them room to unload in the loading bay - But in doing so, 5 or 6 feet of the lorry is outside the loading bay, and totally obscuring the view crossing the road

Well done Richmond Council!

Children under threat

Dear spasm

Hilary may well have made this point but as a walker of the walking bus to
St Stephens and Orleans Infant School on Fri am, the presence of anything
more than pedestrians on the pavement is a nightmare in keeping safety on
the bus. There was a delivery this morning. Ideally there should be either
early morning ie 7am or mid day.

John Cranna

REMEMBER - EMAIL m,potter@richmond.gov.uk

Email Mr Potter!

I'm delighted to see a number of emails to the Council coming through m.potter@richmond.gov.uk

Cllr Kreling said on Tuesday night it would be THREE MONTHS until a review took place.

Guess what, every morning, there's a lorry there when there shouldn't be - During the day, people park in the loading bay illegally, and when Tesco turn up, they use the bus stop!

A small sample below:

Dear Mr Potter



My understanding was that Tesco would limit deliveries between 9 am and 3 pm. Why then yesterday and today at 8.47 am they had deliveries. This is at the peak of school drop off time.

Surely, it is time for the council to admit that all policies, monitoring of this issue has not worked, and that you are insulting the intelligence of the residents of St Margarets. Yet again there were no enforcement officers to hand, unlike on other days and times when normal folk are in the vicinity.

When Tesco have deliveries, the carts block the pavements and people have to walk into the road to get past.



I like everyone else, am at a loss to understand how you gave approval for this to happen. No doubt if it was a smaller retailer, you would have declined.



Richmond Council - Don?t upset the very hands that feed you unless ofcourse Tesco?s hands are bigger!





Del Randhawa

So much for the new regulations

Yesterday, I saw a Tesco lorry parked in the bus stop from 9.10 to 9.30

Today, I got this email:

Today Friday 11 November:

8.30am 2 large lorries unloading into Tesco, road obstructions, backed up both ways beyond the roundabout, usual pavement obstructions with empty "trolleys", now further exacerbated by two unloadings going on. All this joined at 8.45am by third equally large Superdrug lorry to unload.... so much for "new regulations from 31 October".

OT, but incredible

Just had the most amazing technology demonstrated to me.

An email system that learns the information in your email as it comes in, creates a database of the interesting stuff, sends you digests, automatically organises it, puts hyperlinks in your email to link it to other emails, and which manages information for one user, a group, or a whole organisation.

Imagine being a sales director, and having all of the information from your sales people extracted, and accessible. Or a CEO who can get information about what the company is doing. All automatically.

It was like magic - I'd love someone to automatically sort and organise my mail, and extract the useful stuff as it came in. It's like the holy grail of email management.

http://www.kinomi.com

Text in this am

This morning the tesco lorry is parked on the brow of the hill on white zig zag lines and the bus stop. Dangerous. Inhibits the use of public transport and causing tail backs. This should be stopped.

Tescopoly

Got this today:

"Hi there,

[I am] a resident of Broadway Ave, and I attended the
Area Consutlation Meeting with local councillors last night at York
House.

I'm sure that either you or someone connected with your excellent
website must have been there last night and obviously you will have
heard the overwhelming amount of protest and frustration regarding the
recent opening of both Tesco and Superdrug in the area.

I do know that you have an objective editorial stance and I respect this
and you may also know that St Margaret's residents (or a lot of us) are
not alone in regretting the uninvited arrival of the two multi- nationals
in our quiet, small residential area. I have recently found an
organisation dedicated to oppostion of the 'Tescopoly' of our local
streets and the link is attached below. It gives people the opportunity
to protest to the DTI, the Tesco Chairman and a wide variety of other
bodies concerned with connected issues.

Would you consider offering the link on your website to interested
parties? If people don't want to protest, that's fine, but if they do
at least they have somewhere they can go to register their frustration."

Yes we would be delighted to.

Go here

AdWords irony

See those adverts at the top - when I view them, they are all for Tesco! Might as well use their money to fund the campaign against them!

Told you so...

This one is at 9.10
(in the bus stop)
This is at 8.45

And this one at 9.20
(in the bus stop)

What do we have? One lorry parked in the bus stop because a Tesco customer's car is parked in the loading bay (and it's earlier than the permitted 9.30 start in any event.

The other loading at 8.45, obstructing traffic during the height of the rush hour, obstructing the view for people crossing on their way to school, and of course, doing it in the middle of the no loading blackout period.

Tesco's new Car Park opens...

Step one of the new loading bay was unveiled today - A key part of the Council's strategy is to ensure that the new loading bay is kept clear of non-goods vehicles so that when the juggernauts turn up, at least they are in the new loading bay, so the sign says "Goods vehicles only"

My response was that all you will do is create a bigger car park for customers.

Above are two pictures, taken from the same spot - On my right was the sign (See "Goods Vehicles Loading only" towards the bottom) - On the left, the car of a woman who parked, and walked straight into Tesco.

I think 2 pictures still equals a thousand words...

That Standard Article

Yup, fame at last...

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money-savers/article.html?in_article_id=404448&in_page_id=5

Bet you didn't think it could get worse.

Obviously attracted by the publicity in The Standard, there has been a little lorry get-together this morning outside Tesco. Thanks to Kevin for these photos, taken between 9.25 and 9.45 this morning

Street Scenes

Just a small selection of recent photos sent in by the disgruntled people of the village

SuperDrag

Good to see that Superdrug are doing their best not to be left out - This lorry was there for well over an hour - Twice in the same day
- And made no pretence of even trying to use the loading bay

High noon

Sent in today:

12.00 noon Tesco

Tesco lorry parked in bus stop and is unloading. Lorry is using all the bus stop.

bus cant use stop has to use zig zags at crossing.

Illiberal?

Thanks and no thanks to the local Liberals for featuring my campaign in their latest newletter.

I'm flattered they care, but, just so everyone knows, this is not a political campaign, and I in no way endorse the Lib Dems, nor am I officially backed by them.

Outside Tesco 8.30pm

I had just had a meeting with the new Wine Bar guys. They see the waiting problem, and are going to think about it- And so I stood outside their proposed entrance for 5 minutes, and took these - For anyone who thought that there was no traffic at this time of night, here are a few of the photos I took.

Bus stop as car park - All of these people were going into Tesco - There was nowhere else to go.

What will it be like with taxis etc etc

I hope someone will get their head together with someone else, and figure this one out

Good value Tesco Jam

Received last night from a passer by:

"I don't have my phone, but at 2:30pm on 14th October 2005 I walked by to see a silver VW Polo parked in the middle of the Bus Stop with no one in it and another light van parked by the Superdrug on the yellow line at the end of the loading bay. Then a giant Tesco Lorry, unable to easily pull in, parked behind the Polo and was waiting and blocking the entire North bound lane all the way to Amyand. He was attempting to wave people around, but in the 30 seconds I stayed, there was a large queue already. "

As it happens the van was a locksmith, as the Superdrug people had been locked out all day - Of course the locksmith could have parked legally 20 feet round the corner - But then as no-one else seems to, why should he?!

Action from the Council?

Another recent image!

Mixed messages from the Council.

On the one hand, Mark Kreling, Transport Cabinet Member decides to overrule local objections, and extend the loading bay by 4 meters - On the other hand, the Council Chief executive is demanding action on the lorry issue - Time for the left hand to have a chat with the right hand.

Tesco have responded, and basically said nothing at all!

And I made the local press again, this time looking more like Arthur Dent than ever!

See article here

This was Thursday's debacle - Parked over the pedestrian crossing!

Get your own back

How to really piss Tesco off- If you see one of their lorries illegally parked (especially over the pedestrian crossing or the bus stop) phone 020 8744 0462 - It's the parking enforcement line, and they'll send a warden straight over.

No bar on whining here

On a new but related topic, we are to have a wine bar under Tesco, with the entrance where Streets currently is.

I like the Wine Bar idea, but having the entrance there is going to cause traffic chaos. Taxis will be dropping off people on Rugby days, cars will parking the Bus Stop when they find how limited parking is in St Margarets.

A word from one local resident who got in touch below

Please email or text me your comments - All will be published

Jane Greene wrote:
>
> I am dismayed to see a new application for the wine bar in Broadway
> Ave. The application was withdrawn last year becasue of local opposition.
>
> Broadway Avenue is not the place for a wine bar or a retail outlet. It
> is a residential street. There will inevitably be noise, and huge
> traffic problems.
>
> St Margarets is losing it's sense of community and identity. Tesco's,
> Superdrug, extended opening hours as St Margarets pub and now this.
>
> It is completely inappropriate.
>

Lorry parked over the pedestrian crossing!

Posted by SMS - Last 4 digits: 1314

Just seen a huge lorry outside tesco, so large it was almost twice the loading bay..?

Posted by SMS

The Cognoscenti

Someone else who feels like I do

London, and what it means to me

This is nothing to do with Tesco, or anything. I like a lot of people have been feeling very odd the last few days, emotionally stunned, and somehow detached.

I just got an email from a friend of mine in the US - We went to school together, and keep in very periodic touch - I haven't heard from him for ages - And he hunted me down, and sent me an email just to send his thoughts.

For me, it has enabled me to express some of what I have been feeling, so, for what it's worth, here's what I sent back to him. If you want to text your thoughts in, so it, to 07900 435322, and it will appear on my other blog, http://notablogatallreally.blogspot.com:

Hey there - yes it is me, and thanks for the thought.

Cathy was stuck up in town - She never works on Thursday, ever, but had a meeting to go up to that day - In the end, she had to walk most of the way back, and I was so worried.

One of my aunts gets the tube into Liverpool Street, and we didn't hear from her until about 2pm - All the phones had been diverted for emergency use.

Everyone here is deeply affected - Wednesday, we were all celebrating, and on a massive high - The next day, it was a sense of collective loss and grieving. All of us who were brought up in London, or live or work here have always been fiercely proud of our city - You probably remember that from when you came over to visit that time, and we did the tour. Well I have to say that I for one have never been so proud to call myself a Londoner.

London is one of the most ethnically and racially diverse cities in the word - It is an ironic choice of target if you are trying to hit the "British" - There are 300 different groups live here, and all of them are proud to be British, because that's what we all are - At least one British Moslem is dead - These people are no more fighting for Islam than the IRA were fighting for Catholics - They represent a distillation of evil, and no matter what banner it fights under, evil will never win.

Thanks - You have helped me crystalise a lot of the anger and frustration I have been feeling.

My love to all of you

N

****** wrote:

> Hi Nigel,
>
> Just thinking of you and your family. Hope you're all
> safe and well. If you're not the Nigel Cannings who
> went states-side for a year at Milton, well, I hope
> you're all good anyway.
>
> Cheers,
> evan

Tesco lorry almost to corner of Broadway Avenue

Posted by SMS - Last 4 digits: 1314

Keeping the issue alive

Thanks again to the Richmond and Twickenham Times for highlighting the issue:

http://tinyurl.com/derq4

Too kool 4 skool

Well, here we are at school pick-up time, and there's a large lorry blocking the road outside Tesco again. Will they ever listen? Their lorries intefere with the line of site for those crossing Broadway Avenue - And this time of day, that's mainly children...

Friday rush hour - Currently, this is illegal - But if the Council gets their extended loading bay...

Is this what you want in St Margarets? The Council want to extend the loading bay and allow this for an hour at a time - You can barely get by if there is nothing parked there! Urge the Council to get Tesco to use small vans that fit the existing loading restrictions. Why should we change to fit Tesco's logistics ? Surely the most profitable retailer in the country can afford a few small vans...

If the Council get their way - You'll get this over and over again - Every day - For an hour at a time

It's not over!

Blimey, just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water....

Below, some recent correspondence with the council

Write to Matthew Hill, and tell him if you agree with us or them...

-----Original Message-----
From: Nigel Cannings [mailto:ncannings@fairadsl.co.uk]
Sent: 11 May 2005 16:33
To: Matthew.Hill@richmond.gov.uk
Cc: cllr.ahambidge@richmond.gov.uk
Subject: Tesco (at it again), and Broadway Stores


Dear Mr Hill

I am sorry to have to contact you again.

Slowly, Tesco is getting up to its old tricks again.

Last Saturday, 9.50am - One large juggernaut parked upto the edge of
Broadway Avenue - One Securicor van parked in the bus stop - There were
roadworks opposite, so the traffic was ultra-congested.

At this time, several hundren children and parents make their way past
to play football in Moormead Park, or go to ballet in Haliburton Road.

The previous Thursday, a huge lorry "in" the loading bay

Bank Holiday Monday - The same (at about 7pm)

The previous Saturday evening - The same (about 8pm)

All of this breaches the agreement.

I do not wish to have to engage in another protracted battle - I am sure
the local paper would love to have another pop, but if you can assure me
you will deal with this at once, I will refrain from taking any
further action

Incidentally, I have had no further minutes of the meetings the Council
has had with Tesco - Could you please forward these, by mail or email.

Broadway Stores - Obviously emboldened by Tesco's use of juggernauts,
Nisa are now delivering to Broadway Stores once a week from a
juggernaut, which parks not in, but across the loading bay outside - I
have some pictures, but it really is a joke. Can you please take some
action to get them back to using vans that fit in their loading bay?

Many thanks



Nigel Cannings


============================
The first response:

Dear Mr Cannings

I acknowledge receipt of your email. Unfortunately I am on a training course for two days today and Friday, and on leave Monday and Tuesday. I will provide you with a full response on my return next Wednesday. Apologies for the delay.

Please be assured in the meantime that we continue to work closely with Tescos on these issues.

Regards


Matthew Hill
Section Manager, Public Transport and Parking
Transport Planning Service
Environment Directorate
LB Richmond upon Thames

============

19th May 2005

Dear Mr Hill

I trust you had a pleasant break

I have another sighting to report, from my own point of view, a more serious one.

Last night I was returning from Casalty with my son, who had been taken into hospital earlier that day.

You are probably aware that there are roadworks on the bridge in St Margarets at the moment.

Parked opposite at 8.49pm was a very large Tesco lorry - Parked in front of it, covering the last few metres to Broadway Avenue was a Tesco customer - St Margarets Road itself was blocked with people trying to turn into Broadway Avenue, attempting to get past the blockage -

Fortunately, I was not delayed for long - But I had a sick child in the back of the car, and any delay meant causing him further discomfort.

Had I been on my way to the hospital, however, as I had been earlier in the day, the delay would have been more considerable as the lane out of St Margarets was blocked.

They should not be parking large lorries outside at that time of day.

In particular, they should not be doing it when there are roadworks opposite.

I should be grateful for a detailed breakdown of how the council are going to react to Tesco's increasing disregard to the agreement you reached with them - I hope it will not have to wait for another meeting, but can be dealt with quickly by phone.

As I said before, I do not want to reopen the campaign against Tesco, but I will if Tesco does not react quickly.

Kind regards



Nigel Cannings

===========

19 May 2005

Dear Mr Cannings

Tesco St Margarets

Thank you for your email of 11 May 2005.

Further to previous correspondence, as you will recall there has been an informal agreement to avoid deliveries after 2pm at Tesco St Margarets. However, in late March Tesco informed us that they were unable to deliver the required volume of stock without a further fresh food delivery. This extra delivery was therefore programmed for 8pm to ensure it missed the busiest times of day in traffic terms.

In mid April, the Council received a complaint from a nearby resident regarding noise nuisance from both early morning and late evening deliveries from Tesco.

It was therefore concluded, at a meeting with Tesco on 26 April, that the concept of early morning and late evening deliveries was likely to cause on-going noise nuisance to an unacceptable level in a residential area. Therefore it was agreed that Tesco would replan their delivery schedules to ensure that all deliveries take place between 9.30am and 4.00pm. This avoids the busiest traffic and pedestrian times as well as early mornings and late evenings. We await confirmation from Tesco that they can deliver this schedule. If this schedule can be delivered, the Council agreed to reconsider provision of an extended loading bay and allowing loading times of up to an hour. This is as per our original proposal first advertised in September 2004. This decision would only be taken after consulting local Ward Councillors and the Cabinet Member for Traffic, Transport, and Parking, Cllr Mark Kreling.

These changes, if they are progressed, will continue to be reviewed on a regular basis. Thank you also for bring the issue of Broadway Stores to our attention. I will ensure that our Parking Enforcement section is aware of this for enforcement purposes.

I will forward copies of minutes from meetings with Tesco next week - I am awaiting final copy of the minutes of the March meeting at present and expect to receive them at our next meeting on Monday 23^rd May.

Yours sincerely

Matthew Hill.

===========

Dear Mr Hill

Many thanks for your response.

I can certainly see how the noise of a Tesco delivery might upset local residents, and understand that problem.

However, I do not believe the Council is taking the correct approach in dealing with the delivery issues.

As I write, there is a Tesco lorry parked half in the bus stop, and half in the loading bay. It is so wide, that other traffic cannot properly get past it. I am sure that the TfL camera will confirm this.

Your proposal to extend the loading bay, in length and time, cannot possibly allow Tesco to achieve what they want. To do that, you would need to extend the width of the bay as well, which would take up almost the whole carriageway - Surely on a narrow stretch of road, this is unacceptable.

I sympathise with Tesco's inability to restock.

There is an answer to this.

Tesco bought the store, knowing the existing character of the village, and its parking and delivery problems.

So why should St Margarets change to suit Tesco's logistics? As the most profitable retailer in the country, surely Tesco's logistics can change to suit St Margarets.

I would propose that Tesco be encouraged to use small vans (the size of the delivery vans they use to delivery groceries), if necessary throughout the day, to restock. If they don't, the current restrictions should be enforced.

Yes, I am sure they want to use larger lorries because that suits them, but that should be no excuse for allowing them to do so, just because they are Tesco.

If you do not intend to enforce the current restrictions, but instead intend to proceed with the plan to extend the loading bay please let me know as soon as possible - I can assure you it will be met with a much more vociferous campaign than last time.

It is probably worth noting that the loading bay is often used as parking for people shopping in Tesco, which is obviously outside of the definition of loading - If you extend the bay, you extend that problem too.

Also, any loading after 3pm will intefere with the local school runs.

Incidentally, my FOI request of the week:

Can you supply the number of parking tickets issued in the last three months in the following categories:

1. Between St Margarets Station and Broadway Avenue, broken down between Tesco owned/related vehicles and other vehicles- Both sides of the road

2. On Crown Road, between the junction of St Margarets Road, and Beaconsfield Road - Both sides of the road

3. In the loading bay outside Broadway Stores.

4. From the top of Amyand Park Road, to the first block of flats (ie up to the end of Black and White's premises) on both sides of the road.

Kind regards

Yours sincerely


Nigel Cannings

Ryder lorry outside and too wide!

Posted by SMS - Last 4 digits: 1314

P245HJB BMW in bus stop getting cash

The bread lorry is blocking the bus stop.

White van in bus stop

T 527 KTW blue car parked in cup stop

P467DPE parked in the bus stop. Bus obstructed.

All over? Almost.

So, we had the planning meeting - The ATM stays - Didn't think they'd make Tesco remove that - But all the signage has to go - Detailed wording not agreed, but something to do with "the visual impact arising from the materials and design being detrimental to the character of the building and the area." Which it is!

It shows that concerned local residents can be heard, and have an impact.

The loading seems well under control due to your pressure (thanks for the support), although I am awaiting a picture from someone which shows Tesco's early morning lorry parked across Broadway Avenue - As that is all one way, it effectively blocked about 500 homes in!

A car in the bus stop. The passenger in Tesco

The new Tesco Car Park - aka the bus stop and, er, a blind hump back bridge.

1.40 today - The driver walked into Tesco, and a few minutes later a Tesco employee started to wheel pallets out to the lorry. (The person pictured in not the driver BTW)

How many?!

Victory?

Received today by one of our correspondents from the Council:

"Further to our meeting yesterday with Tesco, I am pleased to tell you that as of today, Tesco have managed to consolidate their lunchtime and early morning deliveries into one single daily delivery, which will occur approx 6.15am. This delivery will last approx one hour. There will be no further Tesco 1-2pm deliveries (except cigarettes - see below).

The bread delivery continues at approx 8am daily. This delivery should be able to load legally from the existing loading box, however, they are discussing with their bread supplier about the possibility of moving this delivery either earlier or later to help remove conflict with buses at the busiest time.

The milk delivery is currently daily between 7&8am. Tesco are discussing with their milk supplier about the possibility of this being moved to 7pm, however I am unable to confirm this at this stage.

The daily early morning news drop continues, as does the once weekly cigarette delivery (Tuesday lunchtime).

I hope you will agree that the removal of a daily delivery around 1pm is a significant improvement and demonstrates the effort that both Tesco and the Council are putting in to ensure that Tesco can operate harmoniously with its neighbours in the borough."

If true, fantastic - Keep a look out though!

Car parked in bus stop

9.15 today - The bread "van".

Still there in the bus stop.

There's a lorry in the loading bay. And a van in the bus stop. Parked. And delivering.

A new tactic - Park on the other corner! The driver and his mate both walked straight into Tesco. The time? 3.40pm. At the time we walk past with our children on the way back from school. And you know what a "Community Support Officer" watched them pull up, and turned into Broadway Avenue (just ahead there), and walked away. Thanks for the help...

As I stood on the corner, looking over my shoulder to cross the road.

Front view

Thank you the Richmond and Twickenham Times!

for pointing out yet another Tesco bully-boy tactic. From page 5 of today's paper:

"Beleaguered Tesco stores in the borough have yet another complaint to deal with as residents declare that a cash machine has been set up at the St Margarets site without planning permission.

Residents in the area said that the previous postmaster asked Richmond upon Thames Council whether he could have an ATM, and they said no.

Now Tesco have erected its machine without applying for permission and this claim has been substantiated by the council.

A spokesman for Tesco admitted the ATM had been put in place without planning permission... 'It is not something we make a habit of'..."

If we had done it?...

See the application at http://tinyurl.com/4vf2f

Why not lodge an objection? Let's have an ATM, but in a sensible place, for the benefit of a local shop, not a multi-national - The community Post Office has said they would be wiling to apply again, with our support.

Snow joke...

And did you know that those pallets pictured below were finally picked up (by the usual huge lorry) at 8.45, in the middle of a snow storm according to one passer by - so not only was the pavement blocked, but another juggernaut blocked the road at just the time Tesco swore it wouldn't.

7.20 in the morning (ugh) - Pallets waiting to be picked up. Bear in mind this is a major pedestrian thoroughfare for the station, the bus stop, and the schools.

So this is what we had at 3.13 today, on the way to school - This is the view you would have if you were looking back over your shoulder, trying to cross Broadway Avenue... Could you cross safely with your child?

Front view

So here we are at 2 o'clock today - When there are supposed to be no deliveries - And does that look like it fits in the loadin bay?

Very bus friendly, you see.

A large lorry delivering now, at pickup time for the schools

Posted by SMS - Last 4 digits: 1314

A few snatched photos from this morning at 8.40, on the school run. The same lorry was still there at 8.55. And may have been there later - The Council are supposed to be operating an enhanced enforcement regime between 8am and 9am - On the way back at 8.55, a bus took several minutes trying to get round this lorry - Snarling up the traffic in both directions as it tried to do so.

Just by the bus stop.

And on the way past.

Many thanks to the council for helping keep the Bus Stop clear - There is rear access, you know. Taken Monday at 3.42pm - Right at school pickup time again

a large Buxton lorry, half on the pavement, half on the road. About 10 minutes ago. Possibly not Tesco, but it doesn't say much for the new enhanced enforcement regime.

3, yes 3, cars in the bus stop.

there's a council(?) dustcart in the bus stop. Nice example to set!

They said absolutely no deliveries at all after 2.00pm - This is, er, at 2.30. If you could see the pavement, you would see it is covered in trolleys and pallets.

No deliveries between 8 and 9? There's a van outside now! And it's not the bread van...

Posted by SMS.

Oh, just one more thing...

Just in from the Council:

"To clarify, Tesco have a delivery of 'ambient' goods - ie non-refrigerated - programmed for 1pm 6 days per week."

So that's alright then... Not.

The Freedom of Information Act is your friend

At the beginning of December last year, one concerned local resident asked a simple question of the council: If you have agreed with Tesco that they won't park juggernauts outside, why are you still allowing them to do so?

And then he asked again.

And again.

Eventually, having phrased the question as a request under the Freedom of Information Act, he received a response - With 2 days to go before the deadline expired.

What did he discover?

Well the Council has met with Tesco, not just about the problems in St Margarets, but also about the other stores in the borough - And the Council is getting tough, oh yes. They have reached an agreement with Tesco regarding deliveries to stores. They have said to Tesco:

"Apart from the problems being caused to traffic flow and inconvenience to residents, the current situation is damaging the reputation of Tesco stores in the borough"

And so, in the last meeting, a scheme for deliveries was reached for St Margarets. To quote from a letter from Matthew Hill, Section Manager, Transport Planning Service of Richmond Council of 9th December:

".... Tesco has committed to the main fresh food delivery no being at 0600, ensuring that no deliveries take place between 0800 and 0900, the busiest bus stop time. Currently Bread is delivered at 0800 but in a smallish van and a quick stop, which the existing loading box, yellow line can accomodate. No deliveries are planned after approx 2pm so there will be no impact on the bus stop in evening peak"

Take a look below, does this look like no deliveries between 8 and 9? Or last week, the main delivery being at 6am?

The shots from today show a traffic flow in half term - What is is going to be like next week?

Write to the council:

Tell them what you think about their enforcement policies. email matthew.hill@richmond.gov.uk

Why not tell your councillor what you think, email cllr.ahambidge@richmond.gov.uk

Also, did you know that the postmaster asked the Council whether he could have an ATM? And they said no.

And did you know that Tesco's ATM still doesn't have planning permission? You might tell your councillor what you think about that, too.

Remember, if you see the road blocked by a Tesco lorry, or Tesco loading outside these hours, or from an inappropriate lorry text STM then the details to 07900435322.

Monday morning 8.50 am - Tesco's absolute blackout time for deliveries. But there's a lorry is the bus stop - Some mistake, surely.

Just the one parked in the bus stop this morning?

No, there's another one behind it.

The lorry, in all its glory. Would you try crossing this road with your children?

A bus trying to get round.

Turning left made easy - These cars are all stationary, including the cars on the left of the frame.

This is Tesco's idea of fitting in with the local community. Again, 1.50 this afternoon.

1.50 this afternoon.

Tesco trolley full of rubbish at top of Amyand Park Road. Very pretty.

Just as we were about to declare victory in the Loading Bay wars, here they are again at 9.30 in the morning, with a large lorry - We had reports from a local policeman that he saw a similar incident a few days ago, but then the lorry was in the bus stop - He says the buses couldn't pull up, and couldn't get round

9.30 this morning.

This person was seen stopping (today), getting cash out, and then going into Tesco - I suppose that putting his hazard lights on made it alright.

People parking in the bus stop? Never! (7th Feb 2005)

Very pretty - Should help us win most beautiful village this year,

Freedom of Information

One of our correspondents reports:

"I have been trying to get information out of Richmond Council now for about a month and a half about the current state of the decision over loading outside Tesco in St Margarets. I finally sent an email to the Council the other day, using the magic words 'Freedom of Information Act', and lo and behold, they've promised a response! Hurrah, and thank you Mr Blair.

I have asked for all emails, correspondence etc, so I'll forward these when they come in"

Two cars parked in the loading bay now. A bus tried to pull out and barely made it, blocking the road in the process. It needs to be double yellow lines along here, I think.

MF 52 DXE Another huge Tesco lorry parked mainly in the bus stop.

This morning the entire pavement blocked with 8 foot high pallets. Must have been 15 to 20

and a pavement full of pallets

Only 2 cars parked in the bus stop!

I just saw huge Tesco lorry on Crown Road! It's not big enough for cars to get through, let alone an articulated lorry

Sunday Morning 10am - The Barons/St Margarets Road Junction

Just when you thought it was safer...

Yesterday was another prize day - Three vans out front (one in the bus stop), and a large lorry parked at the very top of Broadway Avenue over several parking spaces and yellow lines - No idea how they managed to manoever it round the one way system to get it there!

Tesco's window cleaners. Parked in the middle of the bus stop in the middle of the rush hour! Blue Rover M11 HCS

just been in the station. Every window smashed. Glass everywhere. Loads of new graffiti round the back of the chapel as well. Why this all of a sudden?

Well I never. Our little campaign made the nationals! Guardian G2, part of the cover story.

Stick it to your Employer and help save the world

This is a great one...

"Here's one for you - donate to the UNICEF Tsunami Appeal by text!

Think your employer has been a bit slow off the mark donating? Well stick it to them and help save the world. They're not going to refuse a donation to charity now, are they?

£1.50 per text (plus your usual sending fee)

text PILL AID to 88222

All UK networks except 3

Brought to you by textmeareminder.com"

A little something for Lynne Truss from the Wetlands Centre at Barnes...