Obligation on Tesco car park

I am dismayed and angry to hear of Tesco’s proposal to sell part of its car park in Tenterden for housing.

When Tesco was granted approval to build the supermarket, the car park was an integral part of the whole scheme. It was intended not just for the use of Tesco customers but as an amenity for the people of Tenterden. The undertaking may not have be in writing but was a clear moral obligation and should be honoured.

Since the building of the supermarket, Tenterden has grown and is set to grow even more with the new housing developments.

The pressure on parking space has increased over the years and on Fridays and Saturdays and near Christmas the Tesco car park is usually full. So the situation will become much worse in future if fewer spaces are available and the high street, customers and visitors will all be disadvantaged. I regard the proposal as money-grabbing, selfish and immoral.

As a shareholder in Tesco,

I am very disappointed in its behaviour and will sell my shares at the earliest opportunity if this goes ahead. I hope Ashford Borough Council will take steps to prevent this proposal going forward and ensure the car parking facilities continue to be for the benefit of Tenterden as a whole.

Deirdre Thom,

High Halden