Milngavie ready to fight Tesco appeal, says Jo

10.33.14am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 16th Jul 2010

Jo has slammed Tesco for failing to respond to calls for them not to appeal against the rejection of their planning application.

In April, East Dunbartonshire Council's planning board rejected Tesco's controversial application to expand its Milngavie store. Tesco has refused to say whether it will appeal the decision before the deadline of 28th July 2010.

Jo wrote to Tesco two months ago urging them not to appeal the ruling, saying that if they still propose to expand the store, they consult with Milngavie residents and submit a revised application more in line with the wishes of local people. Tesco have not responded to the letter, and Jo has today written to Tesco reiterating her plea.

Local campaigners We Like Milngavie recently called on local people to raise objections to any appeal lodged by Tesco.

Commenting, Jo said:

"I wrote to Tesco two months ago to say that if they were thinking about appealing the Council's decision then they should think again. Their lack of response is not only discourteous, but worryingly rather suggests that they may be planning to launch an appeal before the deadline on 28th July.

"Local people have already been bitterly disappointed once recently, when the Government Reporter decide to approve the developers' appeal over the Kilmardinny development, and this cannot be allowed to happen again. It is just as well the people of Milngavie are ready to campaign against Tesco should any appeal be lodged."

You can read Jo Swinson's original letter to Tesco urging them not to appeal the decision here:

http://www.joswinson.org.uk/news/001135/tesco_must_go_back_to_the_drawing_board__jo.html

The text of Jo's follow-up letter appeals below:

Jennifer Duncan

Regional Corporate Affairs Manager

Corporate Affairs

Scottish Office

Carnegie Road

Livingston

EH54 8QX

16th July 2010

Dear Ms Duncan

Tesco Milngavie, application no. TP /ED /09 /0638

Thank you for your letter of 7th April 2010 regarding the plans for the proposed redevelopment of your Milngavie store. I received your letter on 22nd April 2010, by which time I had written a further letter to you, dated 16th April 2010, to which I have yet to receive a response.

I attach a copy of my letter dated 16th April regarding East Dunbartonshire Council's rejection of Tesco's application to expand the Milngavie store.

I reiterate my request for Tesco not to appeal the Council's decision. Any appeal against this decision is likely to cause greater discontent within the local community, and local people are already preparing to launch a campaign against an appeal, should it be lodged. I maintain, along with a great many Milngavie residents, that Tesco would be well advised to reconsider its plans, consult with local people and submit a new application for a more modest expansion, rather than appealing the decision which has been made on the plans already submitted.

I look forward to receiving a response from you in due course. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you wish to discuss this matter further.

Yours sincerely,

Jo Swinson MP

Related Link:

Find out more about Jo's action on Tesco