Stop Pushing Around St Margarets

Small is beuatiful

2009-07-10T15:31:00.001+01:00

Well, I am pleasantly surprised to report that Superdrug has swung into action, and given the most excellent customer service. Good on them, and so please, go and spend money with them:

Dear Mr Cannings,

As promised, our store assessment team have visited the St Margarets store regarding the valid concerns that you raised and the following actions have now been put in place:

1. No deliveries will be made prior to 09:30am.

2. Our shortest length articulated vehicle (10m trailer) will be used as the team feel this should fit the loading bay without causing issues. However, this will be reviewed on the next delivery and an alternate option put in place if the overhanging problem is still evident.

I hope that you find the above actions satisfactory and that you will contact me directly if you have any further concerns. May I take this opportunity to thank you for your valued feedback and be assured of our best interests at all times with regards to the local communities where our stores are situated.

Yours Sincerely,

Simon Reynolds

Superdrug

Unit 1

Prologis Park

Arenson Way

Dunstable

LU5 4RZ

An accident waiting to happen, happened

2009-07-03T17:28:00.002+01:00

I made myself somewhat unpopular when I suggested to the Council that they get a licence to use the CCTV camera at the station for parking enforcement way back when. I did suggest they sent warning letters, and not a sheaf of parking tickets, but nonetheless they did get the licence and use it, and now there are many fewer cars, vans and lorries blocking the sight-lines into Broadway Avenue.

Was it justified?

Well, I've just got the accident statistics for the stretch of road up to the A316. In the last 3 years, there have been only 4 accidents involving the injury of pedestrians on St Margarets Road up to the roundabout. One was someone falling getting onto a bus. Two were at the top of Amyand Park Road (if you've crossed there, you understand), and the other one? A driver turning left into Broadway Avenue hit a child.

Tell me it's not worth keeping traffic out of the way on that corner.

Superdragged into the fray

2009-07-03T17:26:00.002+01:00

Well, I have to say I have surprised myself this time. I sent Superdrug a long letter the other day with a load of photos of what their lorries were up to, and got a near immediate response as follows:

Dear Mr Cannings,

Thank you for your letter dated 30th June 2009 relating to concerns with deliveries to our store at the above address, the matter has been elevated to our planning management team who will now re-evaluate the way in which we deliver to this store.

Our immediate intention is to send a member of our store assessment team to visit and feedback best practice to the planning department who will ensure that all local restrictions and hazards are taken into consideration and ultimately abided by.

It is not the policy of our company to cause disruption or dangers within the local communities and assure you that a satisfactory conclusion will become evident to the local residents.

Due to the nature of the information you have provided full focus will be now be applied in order to ensure that measures are put in place as soon as practicably possible.

Again, thank you for your feedback and be assured that when the new delivery profile is established it will be communicated to you accordingly. If you have any further concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours Sincerely,

Simon Reynolds

Limping back into action....

2009-07-01T14:59:00.002+01:00

I am amazed to see that my last post was in 2007.

I sat back and waited for the TfL review of the crossings, and predictably got nothing apart from an unofficial agreement from two TfL engineers that the crossings were dangerous, and that cars regularly mistook the red crossing lights for the red filter light for oncoming traffic.

To my shame, I then didn't do too much for a while, until in a burst of enthusiasm, I started writing letters again.

TfL's response was very simple. No-one's been killed or injured, so we won't spend the money. But we will spend money upgrading the lights to be exactly the same as they are now (a process that started a few weeks ago). So, we are staring at an accident waiting to happen, and when it does, they will try to prevent the next one!

I now have a copy of the accident statistics, and it is true that there have been no reported injuries, although there may be others where there was a near-miss, which fall outside of the stats (A really big thanks to the fine officer at the Met who responded in a quick, helpful and friendly manner to my request.)

It feels a little Kafkaesque. The Council wants to help, and use some of its ill-gotten station camera money to make changes to the crossing, but as it's a TfL piece of road, they can't. And as TfL is very good about never giving you a real person to talk to, pestering them is proving difficult.

Next step is to gather some more stats from local residents who have seen issues at the crossings, and then off to the papers again. The Rich & Twick were great in the Tesco fight, and got us syndicated to the Standard and even the Guardian in the end. Maybe they'll do the same now?

God, it's no wonder so few people bother to complain. How do we get the time for a day job?

Less cross

2007-08-06T17:17:00.000+01:00

Hurrah! TfL has confirmed a full review of the crossings at the A316/St Margarets Road junction - Perhaps they might even deign to talk to us, but I shan't hold my breath...

Still cross

2007-07-18T15:45:00.000+01:00

The crossing situation is getting no better. I am pleased to say that one of my neighbours has reported a car that sped through the lights to the police. Let's hope they do something.

I have e-mailed Geoff Pope the Lib Dem vice-chair for transport at the GLA. He wrote to me a while ago to give me the (somewhat useless) TfL response. I've also been in touch with the Rich and Twick so hopefully they can help as well. They certainly seemed interested a few weeks ago.

Get a life, Nigel!

2007-06-14T15:55:00.001+01:00

It's a comment that I have heard increasingly the older I have become. Is it just me, or has the world just become a more irritating place to live in?

I am sure that there is a secret department out there devoted to doing things that get my goat.

The latest example:

I came home late last night from a long day at work, and though I was hallucinating. There is a huge, soon to be illuminated, sign blocking the pavement where the phone box used to be on St Margarets Road, near Westbourne Close.

Not only is it very close to a bike rack, which will make getting a buggy past very difficult, it is vile.

I assume that someone at Richmond Council must have known about this, as I suppose you can't go digging up large parts of pavement without telling someone.

I have asked for clarification, but if you notice a large paper bag over it one day, it is probably me...

Small world

2007-06-14T15:50:00.000+01:00

These parking tickets are getting everywhere.

I went to a show yesterday, and met someone who lives in St Margarets who, guess what, just got a parking ticket through the post! Doesn't that make me popular...

Anyway, I just got the following e-mail from one of our ever helpful councillors (and unusually for me, I say that without even a trace of irony. God forbid, I am thinking that I might end up voting Liberal next time round...)

"
Nigel

The signs were placed at the following locations prior to start of enforcement but we take your point and Cllr Geoff Acton has requested another sign be put near Tesco

Regards

Cllr Ben Khosa

445 The Barons
446 St Margarets Road
447 Crown Road
448 St Margarets Road
449 Bridge Road
450 Amyand Park Road
"

I have written back, asking that they be big signs, not those silly little CYA signs they usually put up about CCTV!

When good ideas go bad

2007-06-11T13:47:00.000+01:00

The council recently applied for permission to use CCTV images to issues parking tickets to people misusing the loading bay, bus stop and double yellow lines outside Tesco. This is a move that I have been advocating for some time, if only to show the true scale of the problem.

Sadly, it has been implemented in rather an unfortunate way.

Ideally, a notice would have gone up warning people that CCTV was being used for parking control, as the ideal number of parking tickets would have been zero, as people moved on to park or load legally.

Instead, a large number of tickets seem to have been issued, in some cases, several to the same car as a batch of images has been analysed.

Sadly, this makes the whole exercise look like a cynical revenue raising scheme, rather than a positive way of reducing the traffic issues in St Margarets.

The Council needs to erect prominent signs along that stretch of road so that people are aware that CCTV is and has been used to issue parking tickets, to deter people before they get a ticket, not after.

Not everyone is aware of the restrictions, and some people assume that because everyone seems to park there with impunity, the restrictions do not really apply, which is the Council's fault in the first place!

Oh well, you try...

The Price of Protest

2007-06-07T13:20:00.000+01:00

About 75p a day at the moment.

Using my specially purchased laminator, I produced some rather fetching posters to hang around the offending crossings to solicit local opinion (actually, to get fellow protesters involved, which when you think about it is a whole different thing)

It took me a little while to master how to tie them around the poles at the crossing (It's a real science. Unless very well secured, they spin in the wind)

Anyhow, I was pleased with the results, and a number of people stopped to read, and to comment about how they too felt the crossing was dangerous (and one suggested it depended on whether you pushed the button or not. Thanks for that mature consideration, mate).

So, I strolled off to the station this morning, and guess what. In a fit of unusual efficiency, the rubbish guys have taken them down. Can I get the Council to pick up my rubbish once a week without spilling it all over the road? No. But a legitimate piece of local protest literature. Whipped away as if it had never been there. Now I understand why people paste posters on now (which is genuinely messy and hideously illegal).

So, it looks like 75p and 10 minutes a day out of my life for the next few weeks, and I do battle with that most unlikely enemy of democracy, the road sweeper...

Cross about the Crossing

2007-06-06T14:53:00.000+01:00

My battles against bureaucracy in St Margarets are not limited to Tesco, although you could be forgiven for thinking so.

My latest fight is again Transport for London (TfL) . There is a pedestrian crossing just near our house, just north of the A316. In theory, my son is of the age that he can walk to school by himself, which is not much use as he has a younger sister at the same school who needs an adult. But it would be useful for coming home after late school activities

To do this, he has to cross a footbridge, and this one pedestrian crossing.

In theory, you press the button, the traffic light turns red, the green man goes green, and then you cross, saf in the knowledge that the cars have stopped. That has been my experience of pedestrian crossings up until I met this one.

It is in a funny location, just north of a major arterial road, but on a sharp corner. And you often can't see people waiting to use the crossing.

But even that in itself is not the biggest problem.

The way the lights are phased, the pedestrian crossing turns red, as the lights on the A316 go green. So lots of impatient motorists, pull away on the green light, and only by the time it is too late to they realise that they are now on a red going north.

I have seen a large number of vehicles go through, some never realising, some screeching to a halt half way across the crossing. Exactly 10 feet too late to save the life of whoever they have just run over.

Some time ago, I took the matter up with TfL. The first analysis of the situation showed that the crossing was not active for long enough in any event. It is supposed to be red for 13 seconds (the things you find out), and it was only red for 10. So they changed it, somehow missing my point that they needed to re-phase the lights to ensure there was no traffic passing through, not just extend the time they left pedestrians waiting to get knocked over.

So I tried again.

This time they sent a man out for an hour in a bright yellow jacket to see if anyone jumped the lights. Well, hardly surprising no-one did as he looked for all the world like a traffic policemen, and was probably visible from space!

I popped out there for 10 minutes today until I saw someone jump the lights, and then retired, smug. (Yes you white van LC52 NVG)

It's not just me, as a number of other local people have seen the same thing. I am just trying to rally the troops to get something done.

The answer? Another Jiglu space! Yes http://crossing.jiglu.com will be the focus of the latest campaign. I am turning into Victor Meldrew, so help me God. It's when I fight the council to take the apostrophe out of the road sign round the corner (Not St Margaret's, chaps) that you will really have to take pity on my wife...

Corporate Responsibility

2007-06-04T11:38:00.000+01:00

The question, I suppose, is who is ultimately responsible for keeping the streets free of traffic outside the local Tesco.

In the old Olivers days, there was never the constant presence of cars there is today. The shop was very local, and almost everyone who used it walked to it.

Today, the demographic is quite different.

You see commuters in cars and vans stopping for cash and other items. What was once a local store is now a magnet for people passing through St Margarets.

So, who should sort out the mess it has caused? Should we have the Tesco chairman camped outside thanking people for their custom, but asking them to be more considerate to the local community. Or should the polluter not pay?

I think that it is a joint problem. Tesco should encourage people to use the parking that is available, or should rent some space over the road. The council should continue its heavy enforcement presence to remind people that they are affecting an entire community with their thoughtless actions.

I am not anti-Tesco, and can be seen there on a regular basis. But I continue to advocate a policy of St Margarets first. Perhaps it's time to watch "Passport to Pimlico" again to see if I can pick up a few tips...

Not quite the Last Post

2007-06-04T10:32:00.001+01:00

Not everyone has found their way over to the blog at Jiglu.com. So an update on the current situation.

The good news is that Tesco really do seem to be sticking to the loading hours, and trying to minimise the number of lorries.

The bad news is that the parking situation is becoming farcical.

The restrictions are pretty clear, and a fairly long strip has double yellow lines. None of this deters people from parking pretty much anywhere along that part of St Margarets Road, including in the bus stop, while they stop for cash.

Things are getting so bad that the overspill sees people parking over the edge of some local roads, making passing near impossible (I saw this last night on the close opposite Bridge Road)

Our new local councillors have been good about pushing the issue of the lorries. Allegedly, the council now has the power to issue Parking Tickets just using the CCTV. I have yet to enquire if they have done so. Get in touch, and tell them how you feel. The details are here

Last ever post!

2006-08-07T11:50:00.000+01:00

Ohmygod! You beat Tesco?

No, I just found a better place to do my campaigning - I've moved to Jiglu, the first Blogger to do so, but not the last - Jiglu gives me blogging ability (and by e-mail!), a wiki, a feed reader, the ability to let other people post easily, and it generates automatic tags, straight from the content, linking my blog, dicussion, wiki and feeds together - It's the new wave of e-mail.

Come see us at http://spasm.jiglu.com

Jobs to be sued over podRage incident?

2006-06-21T17:01:00.000+01:00

It seems that finally someone has snapped over that tinny noise you hear from those iPod headphones. It would be nice if Apple spent a little more on headphones that didn't upset passers-by

read more | digg story

So are Tesco playing by the rules?

2006-05-27T12:53:00.000+01:00

Saturday, about 9.45, just on the way to football.

Two Tesco lorries, one in the loading bay, and one waiting outside Oddbins!

Small yellow Mini on the double yellow line, and to complete the picture, a white van swooping round the corner - Totally safe for all those children on their way to Saturday activities!

It's not over - By a long shot

2006-05-26T14:45:00.000+01:00

According to one Richmond Council official, all is well in Tesco-land. Parking enforcement is at the correct level and Tesco are playing by the rules.

I don't get into St Margarets as much as I used to during the day, but here are some shots from today, one at 8.30 this morning (when the Loading Bay is supposed to be totally clear), and one at about 2pm - that lorry you notice parked on the corner (notice the absence of driver) is a Tesco delivery. I'm sure he would argue it's not his fault because of the people parked in the Loading Bay.

I have a small amount of sympathy, but if Tesco know a delivery is scheduled, they could easily have a few people waiting by the loading bay, to wave away errant drivers

Instead, I almost got knocked over by someone swinging round the front of the lorry.

Gone, but not forgotten

2006-04-26T09:10:00.000+01:00

A few months have passed.

Has the situation got any better? No, not really.

The promised review of the loading bay by the Council has failed to materialise, so it seems we are stuck with near permanent congestion outside the Tesco store in St Margarets.

This means we have juggernauts, vans and private cars parking in the extended loading bay, the bus stop, and on the double yellow lines. This happens throughout the day, and into the evening, causing traffic congestion, and constituting a major hazard to pedestrians crossing nearby roads.

Leaving aside the major quality of life concerns, there is the issue raised before about what it means in pure environmental terms to have these lorries coming into the centre of our village. Tesco is committed to putting more food onto its lorry fleet - ie it wants to deliver the most food with the minimum amount of drivers.

What this means is that the lorries we have will get bigger, not smaller - Transport 2000 says that a juggernaut has 10,000 times more impact on the road infrastructure than an average car. Infrastructure that will then have to be dug up, at local taxpayers expense, and replaced.

As the country's biggest retailer, Tesco is in a position to use "green" diesel in its lorry and van fleet, and to sell "green" diesel at its petrol stations. This diesel (known also as bio-diesel) is made from vegetable oil (Rudolph Diesel designed the diesel engine to run on peanut oil), so it is entirely carbon neutral. At the moment, most waste vegetable oil is mixed with animal feed. As well as the environmental benefits, it is also much cheaper than regular diesel, as the tax is only 20p per litre. Any diesel car, van or lorry can run bio-diesel, without harm or adjustment.

Obviously, the solution for areas where Tesco is placing its smaller stores is for Tesco to employ more drivers, driving smaller vans, all running bio-diesel - One side effect is that this will create more employment. It will not increase congestion, as the amount of road space will be roughly the same -

Tesco pays lip-service to the use of bio-diesel and other bio-fuels (http://www.tescocorporate.com/biofuels.htm), but it has the corporate clout to switch its own fleet to bio-diesel, and allow the rest of the country to do so.

Reaching the boil

2005-11-25T09:56:00.000Z

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

2005-11-21T12:43:00.000Z

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...

2005-11-20T11:32:00.000Z

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

2005-11-18T14:29:00.000Z

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!

2005-11-18T12:29:00.000Z

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

2005-11-11T10:11:00.000Z

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

2005-11-04T22:05:00.000Z

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

2005-11-02T17:29:00.000Z

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

2005-11-02T17:23:00.000Z

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

2005-11-01T12:52:00.000Z

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...

2005-11-01T12:37:00.000Z

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...

2005-10-26T16:14:00.000+01:00

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

2005-10-21T19:01:00.000+01:00

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.

2005-10-20T11:23:00.000+01:00

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

2005-10-18T16:49:00.000+01:00

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

SuperDrag

2005-10-18T16:22:00.000+01:00

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

2005-10-17T18:55:00.000+01:00

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?

2005-10-17T18:52:00.000+01:00

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

2005-10-17T18:44:00.000+01:00

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

2005-10-15T13:06:00.000+01:00

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?

2005-10-12T13:32:00.001+01:00

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

2005-09-09T18:06:00.000+01:00

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

Get your own back

2005-09-09T17:07:00.000+01:00

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

2005-09-09T16:59:00.000+01:00

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.
>

2005-09-08T10:30:00.000+01:00

Lorry parked over the pedestrian crossing!

Posted by SMS - Last 4 digits: 1314

2005-09-03T22:23:00.000+01:00

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

Posted by SMS

The Cognoscenti

2005-07-09T13:17:00.000+01:00

Someone else who feels like I do

London, and what it means to me

2005-07-09T12:58:00.000+01:00

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

2005-06-21T14:25:00.000+01:00

Tesco lorry almost to corner of Broadway Avenue

Posted by SMS - Last 4 digits: 1314

Keeping the issue alive

2005-06-20T15:12:00.000+01:00

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

http://tinyurl.com/derq4

Too kool 4 skool

2005-06-15T15:04:00.000+01:00

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...

2005-06-09T15:12:00.000+01:00

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

2005-05-29T21:12:00.000+01:00

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...

2005-05-29T21:09:00.000+01:00

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!

2005-05-24T10:41:00.000+01:00

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

2005-05-13T15:01:00.000+01:00

Ryder lorry outside and too wide!

Posted by SMS - Last 4 digits: 1314

2005-03-25T17:21:00.000Z

P245HJB BMW in bus stop getting cash

2005-03-25T08:15:00.000Z

The bread lorry is blocking the bus stop.

2005-03-24T10:56:00.000Z

White van in bus stop

2005-03-18T10:13:00.000Z

T 527 KTW blue car parked in cup stop

2005-03-13T17:15:00.000Z

P467DPE parked in the bus stop. Bus obstructed.

All over? Almost.

2005-03-13T11:12:00.000Z

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!

2005-03-03T20:33:00.000Z

A car in the bus stop. The passenger in Tesco

2005-03-02T20:12:00.000Z

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

2005-03-02T13:58:00.000Z

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)

2005-03-02T13:57:00.000Z

How many?!

Victory?

2005-03-02T09:59:00.000Z

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!

2005-03-01T08:44:00.000Z

Car parked in bus stop

2005-02-28T13:32:00.000Z

9.15 today - The bread "van".

2005-02-28T09:38:00.000Z

Still there in the bus stop.

2005-02-28T09:23:00.000Z

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

2005-02-25T15:58:00.000Z

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...

2005-02-25T15:55:00.000Z

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

2005-02-25T15:54:00.000Z

Front view

Thank you the Richmond and Twickenham Times!

2005-02-25T12:40:00.000Z

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...

2005-02-25T09:59:00.000Z

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.

2005-02-25T09:58:00.000Z

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.

2005-02-23T16:16:00.000Z

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?

2005-02-23T16:14:00.001Z

Front view

2005-02-23T16:14:00.000Z

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?

2005-02-23T16:13:00.000Z

Very bus friendly, you see.

2005-02-23T15:29:00.000Z

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

Posted by SMS - Last 4 digits: 1314

2005-02-23T09:23:00.001Z

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.

2005-02-23T09:20:00.001Z

Just by the bus stop.

2005-02-23T09:20:00.000Z

And on the way past.

2005-02-23T09:19:00.000Z

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

2005-02-22T09:01:00.000Z

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.

2005-02-20T20:32:00.000Z

3, yes 3, cars in the bus stop.

2005-02-19T09:56:00.000Z

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

2005-02-17T14:45:00.000Z

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.

2005-02-16T08:40:00.000Z

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...

2005-02-14T15:38:00.000Z

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

2005-02-14T09:48:00.000Z

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.

2005-02-14T09:33:00.000Z

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

2005-02-14T09:32:00.001Z

Just the one parked in the bus stop this morning?

2005-02-14T09:32:00.000Z

No, there's another one behind it.

2005-02-14T09:31:00.000Z

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

2005-02-14T09:30:00.000Z

A bus trying to get round.

2005-02-14T09:29:00.000Z

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

2005-02-11T14:18:00.000Z

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

2005-02-11T14:17:00.000Z

1.50 this afternoon.

2005-02-11T10:55:00.000Z

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