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'Tesco town' warehouse plan

7:46am Friday 23rd February 2007

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A MAMMOTH Tesco warehouse and distribution centre proposed on the western edge of Andover could bring as many as 1,200 extra jobs to the town - but would totally transform the nature of the surrounding area.

The proposal, outlined by developers Rosemound, is in its early stages. But if it goes ahead it would see one of Europe's largest buildings erected on a large part of the former Andover Airfield - an area already scheduled for industrial development in the local plan.

The new building, around a third of a mile long (1,900ft) and large enough to house five football pitches, would dwarf the nearby DLO buildings and resemble a similar 750,000 sq ft development built for Tesco at Drift, near Daventry in Northamptonshire.

Local MP Sir George Young attended a public meeting in Abbotts Ann when the company revealed its proposals.

"My view is that this proposal has come from nowhere and has caught people on the hop," said the MP.

"The planning application is about to be submitted and Test Valley Borough Council will need to respond in a few weeks.

"The Achilles' heel of the proposal could be the transport links to the site.

"Roads to the south through Monxton are already congested and not built to cope with more traffic.

"I will be asking the Highways Agency, which is responsible for the A303, whether it is satisfied with what is proposed and county councillors Pat West and David Kirk want to know what has been said on their behalf by the county council," said Sir George.

Concerned villagers who formed an Airport Group some time ago have been shocked at news of the proposal.

Monxton councillor Mrs Katrina Saville, said: "We knew there were plans for light warehousing and a hotel in this area but we didn't expect anything so huge.

"It seems mad to build on what is green fields when there are hundred of thousands of square feet of industrial space available on industrial estates on the other side of town much closer to where the town's new houses will be built."

A Test Valley Borough Council spokeswoman said: "We have been involved in some pre-submission discussions with Tesco, but until a planning application is submitted we will not be in a position to make any comment."

Rosemound Developments expect that the Andover Airfield site, which will have a hotel and other users as well as Tesco, could accommodate in excess of 2,000 new jobs.

"Rosemound Developments Ltd are working closely with the Highways Agency, Hampshire County Council and Test Valley Borough Council to ensure the access to the site from the A303 is improved in an appropriate manner," the company said in a statement. "The company is also developing detailed traffic management proposals to ensure HGV movements would not affect the residents of Monxton and the other nearby villages."

zMeanwhile, villagers from Weyhill, Monxton, Abbotts Ann and Amport are determined to present a united opposition to the Tesco warehouse plan.

On Tuesday around 100 people gathered in Red Post Lane, adjacent to the site, to give the scheme a giant thumbs down. "It shows how strong feeling is running in the area," said Mrs Saville, who organised the protest.

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Your Say YourAndover

andy mayberry, Andover says...
2:40pm Fri 23 Feb 07

I think its an exellent idea , to create more jobs for everyone in anodver

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Damon Little, Surrey says...
3:02pm Fri 23 Feb 07

They may be new jobs for the area, but they will be at the expense of others elsewhere. It will be a replacement not an addition.

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Lynne Greenhalgh, says...
3:50pm Fri 23 Feb 07

I agree, the Tesco distribution centre would bring much needed jobs to Andover and is in an ideal location being so close to the A303. Amazes me that the 'not in my backyard' brigade from Amport, Monxton and Abbots Ann are opposing the development as it is not as if many of them are going to be next door neighbours and be disturbed or to affect their property values!

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John Moon, Andover says...
5:01pm Fri 23 Feb 07

This development will do nothing for Andover - it will just bring more low-grade jobs of the sort we don't need and will bring hundreds of extra HGVs every day onto local roads. We need development that will raise Andover's low average wage levels, not depress them further.

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john doe, cheshire says...
5:12pm Fri 23 Feb 07

how many of these jobs will go to locals at a resonable hr rate? or do you not think that an overseas workforce will step in at minimum wage? tesco cutting costs for profits! they are shutting another site in crick northamptonshire and opening another super site lichfield 44 miles away. new terms and conditions. oversea workforce again i think possilbly.

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ian jones, andover says...
7:03pm Fri 23 Feb 07

well done tesco and why all the foreign jobs quotes i work in a basingstoke warehouse as there is nothing this size in andover and we cant recruit british workers with salaries on offer of over 24k + bonus!!! this can only be good news and will revitalise the andover area

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Chris Kraemer, Kitchener Ontario Canada says...
3:09am Sat 24 Feb 07

Re John Moon 'Will only bring low paying jobs '
Until the University of Andover establishes itself as being the high tech centre of Britian I would think that Andover should do everything in its power to bring Tesco to the area. As I recall the only thing since Thruxton race circuit, Kingsclere stables and the second world war air field (not mention Tate butchers) there has't been too much. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Regards a one time resident, Chris Kraemer

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H Kelley, USA Former Andover resident says...
11:56pm Sun 25 Feb 07

Like it or not Andover continues to grow by leaps and bounds, the amount of council housing continues to grow, if there are no jobs available, perhaps you'd prefer to support them through government dole/welfare programs. If you're concerned about the land being used then you all have to band together and spearhead groups that can lobby to have certain amounts or areas of towns and or districts protected against development.

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Andover resident, Andover says...
12:32am Mon 26 Feb 07

Yes - let's lose our glorious countryside and attract more foreigners to our town, for it won't be the locals getting these jobs. Not for me thanks!

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Ian Marshall, says...
6:54pm Mon 26 Feb 07

Let's all debate this issue without emotion and predujice until such time as we have had full access to the application when it comes. The main concern I believe is the higways management plan to cope with 5000x40 tonners road vehicles,

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Richard Derbyshire, Southampton says...
8:13pm Mon 26 Feb 07

I'm struggling to see what's really in it for Andover people apart from more traffic, higher house prices and mainly short term jobs filled by people from outside the town and putting pressure on local employers. Other Hampshire towns have already rejected this. TVBC council shouldn't cave in either. Its also not much of a memorial to an important WW2 airfield.

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John Burroughs, Newport says...
7:44am Tue 27 Feb 07

Believe me when I say that it's a fact that those 1200 jobs will more than likely be migrant workers. That is what has happened in South Wales. They haven't employed any British people for over 18 months but at the same time, taken on over 400 Slovakians.

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Sarah Clayton, Andover says...
11:40am Tue 27 Feb 07

How can we allow this when there are so many empty units on the Industrial Estates? The old PIC unit on Portway has been empty for a few years now and what about all the old Ducal Units? I don't see the point of building on yet more of Andover's 'Green' land. The traffic would be a complete nightmare. Also, if Tesco had anything to do with a new road infrastructure to support the warehouse, just think about the fiasco they created at Enham Arch!!

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Kerry Hall, didcot says...
6:41pm Wed 28 Feb 07

This proposal for a site at andover is very concerning.I live at didcot and know employies that work at the local tesco distrubution centre.since tesco have taken over from excel who ran the site tweleve months ago,Major changes have been taking place no more local people have been employed as full time instead they have used more and more agency workers from abroad.other concernes are that there are rumours that the new buildings work taking place at the didcot site have been suspeneded.not only that there are also big rumours that if this site at andover goes ahead the following sites will close.DIDCOT.SOUTHAMTON,WEYBRIDGE.AND DIDCOT RSU.so if this happened where is this going to leave the local people in these areas.

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chris heffer, oxford says...
6:56pm Wed 28 Feb 07

Be carefull Andover!! Tesco are a ruthless organization that will not stop to get what they want why should people roll over and let them get what they want.At the end of the day they might be saying that they are bringing employment to the local area but are they.How do you think they made their £2bn profit last year By using cheap labour ie migrant workers.I know local people that work at Tesco distribution centre at Didcot and there are a lot of rumours spreading as to what is going to happen to the site people are worried quite rightly about whats going to happen as no contracts have bben signed and work has been put on hold....what are people to think if no one is been told as to what is happening.Tesco are so under handed. BEWARE

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Jill Hawkins, andover says...
9:44pm Wed 28 Feb 07

I can't see what this proposal will do to benefit Andover. It makes a complete mockery of the local plan for a business park. By the time Tesco have build this enormous warehouse there'll be no room for any offices and as for the plans for a hotel - what a joke. Who'd want to stay there with a charming view over the world's biggest shed and the noise of the lorries coming and going all night long.
In a wider context the traffic congestion caused by thousands of Tesco trucks thundering up and down the A303 and surrounding roads will have an adverse environmental impact not just on Andover but all the nearby towns and villages.
If TVBC is serious about wanting to improve the quality of life in Andover it should tell Tesco where to go and build a proper office park on the airfield which would bring skilled jobs to the town.

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Ian Hughes, Wiltshire says...
8:33am Thu 1 Mar 07

As other people have already commented this proposal will have a detrimental effect not just on Andover but on many other communities as well.
I live near Solstice Park (where there is lots of empty business park space if anyone wants to build an office block) and the A303. The road is already choked with traffic in the summer. Down here we can't see how it can possibly cope with all the extra heavy goods traffic this warehouse will generate. The A303 will become one giant Tesco car park.

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Steve Hunter, Anna Valley says...
9:08am Thu 1 Mar 07

I am appalled to read of the proposed development of the old Andover airport site, by Tesco. With the exception of the existing DLO site there is little or no industrial development south of the A303. All of the new housing which is proposed is north of the A303 and most to the east of Andover town. For this reason there is limited infrastructure and this gives the area its charm and is one of the reasons for the volume of tourism referred to in a recent report by Test Valley Council.

Allowing a massive warehouse, with access 24/7, will destroy the area and be the thin end of the wedge, leading to more and more ribbon development which will eventually engulf all the villages close to the south side of the A303.

Imagine the volume of juggernauts which will be thundering down, not only the A303, but all the other feeder roads surrounding the site, round the clock. Yes, Tesco will say they will stick to the A303, they would wouldn't they, but inevitably the lorry giants will stray onto roads totally unsuitable for their weight and size.

It was bad enough when the original plan was for the area to the west of the DLO site being a business park, mainly for offices and a hotel, I wonder why Test Valley Council then agreed to change the criteria for the Business Park, when there is so much spare capacity within existing industrial sites in Andover, it is a disgrace. I sincerely hope that voters will show their opposition to this planning fiasco, at the forthcoming local elections.

We must not sit back and let this happen, Tesco are renowned for their bullying tactics, the recent BBC TV program showed what can happen. They have a habit of doing and then asking for permission afterwards. Please say no to this proposal while we can, don't allow the Tesco Juggernaut to roll.

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gary trotter, whitchurch says...
11:47am Thu 1 Mar 07

Many are right to be concerned as the nature of distribution centres encourages low-paid/part-time/shift type jobs, which may bring little benefit to the local employment picture.

Traffic concerns are also justified, as the excellant road connections (A303, nearby A34/M4) that make this site so attractive to Rosemound Developments/Tesco will inevitably result in a vast increase in HGV`s, both locally and further afield; this problem will be exaccerbated if the Government allows the introduction of the 60 - 80 tonne "roadtrain" lorries (currently back on the political agenda with the Department of Transport carrying out yet another study, with initial findings due out this summer).

Given the close proximity of the airfield site to the existing railway, I would urge all those concerned about the HGV issue to lobby Rosemound/Tesco/TVBC/local councillors/MP`s etc. to ensure that the developer`s proposals
include a rail link to keep as much freight off the roads as possible.

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Disgruntled Civil Servant, Durrington says...
3:16pm Thu 1 Mar 07

Interesting to see their 'Green Travel Plan', I doubt the Council will restrict Tesco's on site car parking as they are determined to do at the DLO Site where Land Forces staff are being forced to relocate from Upavon & Wilton. We can all car share or walk to work from Salibury and the surroundind areas to make way for all those HGV!

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John Marks, VERY CLOSE says...
4:51pm Thu 1 Mar 07

Look out Andover Tesco employ only a very small amount of local people they then bring in more and more migrant workers,cheap labour.they dont care about any local community they are only interested in one thing MONEY.they have this saying join us its a job for life.so what happens to the people that will loose there jobs in there local areas if this massive site goes ahead.its about time tesco got put in there place and a stop was put in place to stop them walking over all employers.

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Ian Marshall, Weyhill says...
1:50am Sat 10 Mar 07

As I write the application has still not been formally lodged. If you have concerns over this heinous development then please support the Residents of Andover and District Awareness Committee by emailing your contact details to i.marshall@btinternet.com

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Tesco Manager, weybridge Surrey says...
9:18am Sat 10 Mar 07

Im a manager at Tesco Distribution in Brooklands weybridge Surrey and know that Tesco will get what ever they want and this new warehouse will be builtas the weybridge depot is due to close as this is costing to much so this build will go ahead Tesco will always get their way

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Tesco Employee, Surrey says...
10:46am Sat 10 Mar 07

Tesco have huge financial muscle and usually get their own way!
As for creating loads of jobs 75% of these will go to Eastern Europeans who are treated as slaves with low pay and no frim contract of rights. They would be used adhoc as and when the volumes of work are high, and not getting paid when on standby. This already happens at the many sites where they are already employed.

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andove citizen, southampton says...
12:54pm Mon 12 Mar 07

Tesco Employee wrote:
Tesco have huge financial muscle and usually get their own way! As for creating loads of jobs 75% of these will go to Eastern Europeans who are treated as slaves with low pay and no frim contract of rights. They would be used adhoc as and when the volumes of work are high, and not getting paid when on standby. This already happens at the many sites where they are already employed.
what is so new about this? i have worked in warehousing for 20 years - ALL warehouse and distribution centres use agency workers as the volumes go up and down so dramactically!! if we employed normal staff on low weeks they would be paid to do nothing!!!, agency staff is warehousing is a fact of life if you look as asda waitrose lidl sainsburys boots etc they are all the same- this is just knock tesco and covert racism as well

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Stan Patrick, says...
8:52pm Sun 25 Mar 07

What an excellent location. The surrounding area will definately benefit from the number 1 store in ''Britain''

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Ant, says...
8:30pm Thu 29 Mar 07

John Moon wrote:
This development will do nothing for Andover - it will just bring more low-grade jobs of the sort we don't need and will bring hundreds of extra HGVs every day onto local roads. We need development that will raise Andover's low average wage levels, not depress them further.
Excuse me?

If it weren't for 'low-grade' workers, from whom would your quite obviously snobby self buy his Quilted Velvet toilet roll from?

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Philippa Law, Abbotts Ann says...
1:18am Wed 25 Apr 07

I am staggered that the ground works for the new Tesco warehouse are already underway. What arrogance Tesco's has that they assume that they will be granted planning permission. As many people have said there is a huge amount of empty warehousing in and around Andover which could be utilised without building yet more vast and hideous structures. Surely development must be contained and we should use brown field sites first. Tesco's must not be allowed to ride roughshod over the wishes of local people.

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James Glover, Monxton says...
3:47pm Wed 9 May 07

This development will operate 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week stretching the local transport infrastructure to breaking point.
House prices are unlikely to appreciate as a result of agency workers being employed on shifts - if anything the propsect of this vast set up on your doorstep will depress prices.
When Tesco employees express their concern for the locals of Andover take heed and worry about letting Tesco's build the distribution centre.
Remember Tesco's is the business that is proud that £1 in every £4 spend in UK shops goes to them - all they care about is their profit margins.

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steve, weybridge depot surrey says...
11:01am Fri 18 May 07

hmmm u may think great its gonna create 1200 JOBS in the area but what about weybridge depot that employs around 400 staff and southampton depot that would close down if this gose ahead it would mean approx 800-900 people going out of a job so how can this be creating 1200 jobs andover ppl think about weybridge and southampton without jobs would that make u happy ????????????????????
quote

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withheld, says...
7:24pm Wed 23 May 07

with all the fuss about tesco and whether it should be amesbury or andover - tesco are adverrtising for a site manager to work on the andover distrinbution cetnre which will commence building in april /may 2008 seems tesco is prety confident esp as planning permission hasnt been granted yet!!! check this out at http://www.careerbui
lder.co.uk/UK/JobSee
ker/Jobs/JobDetails.
aspx?je=myrec&jrjob=
true&Job_DID=J3I2YZ6
2JQ5DH1TY8TZ&cbRecur
sionCnt=1&cbsid=1522
0bc1b9d2405bba4e271e
0e3645ba-233244619-J
K-5

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Tanya, Andover says...
10:05am Thu 2 Aug 07

Do you want your children to work in a warehouse (apart from the fact this one is so hi-tech it probably doesnt need humans anyway) or a marketing or finance department?

This isnt about the posh people in villages and traffic noise or house prices.

TESCO ARE NOT OFFERING A BETTER FUTURE FOR PEOPLE IN ANDOVER. Why take the risk anyway, if we turn them down the worst that can happen is that another warehouse - one that gives jobs to local people - will get permission granted. Or maybe smaller companies move in offer a better choice of opportunities for our kids future.

Either way, TEsco arent right so lets stop them.


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Ben Haverdee, Hampshire says...
2:07pm Fri 3 Aug 07

Tanya, if you want your children to work in marketing or finance, get them to move to Eastern Europe or India!

You shouldn't be thinking so much of who Tesco employs at the new warehouse, but the knock-on effect of those additional people on the Andover area. More housing demand means your house value goes up, more requirement for fuel, newspapers, dry cleaning, shoes, clothes etc etc increases demands on the existing local businesses and infrastructure. Thus it will not drain the local economy but feed it - now is the time to set up business in Andover to make sure you're there ready to surf the wave of the incoming trade it will bring.

Suggested reading "The World is Flat" by Thomas Friedman

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Mr K, andover says...
12:20pm Mon 6 Aug 07

The warehouse may create jobs but these will simply end up being given to polish people. they work for nothing becuase the rest of there money is given to them by the government so they dont need high saleries.

this is why the UK is in such a state and its only going to get worse

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Ed, Andover says...
7:35pm Wed 8 Aug 07

Andover is a good location for more higly-paid jobs. It is not far from London. There's the A303. It is an old town, surrounded by beautiful countryside (the sort of place where highly-paid people would want to live and work). And Andover and the surrounding area would benefit, financially, from having such people and companies they work for in the area.
But allow the Tesco super warehouse to go ahead and the decent companies / employers will stay well clear of the place. Because there would be hundreds of lorries driving all over the place, causing congestion and pushing local people onto other roads. Then there would be the issue of noise. And Andover getting a name as the place where Tesco has this massive warehouse thing (the size of Heathrow Terminal 5 or whatever the details of this are).
This would be very bad for Andover not just from an environemental and quality-of-life point of view, but would, in the long term, only away drive decent jobs and decent salaries for the people of Andover.
Winners: Tesco. Losers: people of Andover.

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Phil, says...
3:22pm Mon 20 Aug 07

I can see both sides of the arguement but who cares if the jobs are as a results of losses elsewhere, as long as they weren't in hampshire! also, has anyone considered that the old service areas near andover airfield could be used to filter traffic on and off of the A303, they'd never need to bother local traffic to that degree, the only shame in all of this is there will still be hundreds of thousands of square metres of industrial units left empty in Andover, such a waste.

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Peter Derbyshire, Andover says...
6:24pm Mon 3 Sep 07

Phil

Using the A303 old service areas is a sensible solution but the HCC Highways people say it would be a dangerous junction ! Never mind that the A343 Salisbury slip roads being so close the 100 Acre Roundabout are going to be allowed to be used !

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Philip, Hampshire says...
1:39pm Tue 23 Oct 07

It should be a planning condition that 75% of all freight should arrive or leave by rail.

The vast profits of Tesco should be used to improve the environmental impact rather than squandering our children's energy for a quick return to the shareholders.

300 lorries a day at 5mpg is criminal.

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Floyd Richards, Andover says...
1:44pm Tue 23 Oct 07

Since we lost Ducal, Andover is without a big name employer. The knock on effect of this warehouse to the local economy will be great. shops, restaurants, bars etc. I'm fed up of seeing empty warehouses on the Portway and Walworth Industrial Estates. If we don't move on we are in danger of becoming a crummy commuter town. I'm an Andover resident who is backing Tesco - Every Little helps!

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Maija, Over Wallop says...
1:01pm Sat 23 Feb 08

If you do not want this Megashed YOU MUST BOYCOTT TESCO. Tesco does not care what we think, they only care that we shop at their stores. It is the only expression of objection that they will understand and yet how many of the people objecting to the megashed still shop in Tesco stores? Plenty I am sure.

Also - there will only be room on the roads for Tesco. We, the tax payers will be paying for repairs to roads that Tesco monopolises. Will they be contributing to road repairs? Highly unlikely! And how will the council respond to the overstretched roads? They will find a way to make us pay for their bad decision I'm sure, not Tesco, not the council, the taxpayer. I can't even imagine how the clogged roads are going to impact on our daily lives. Traffic is already a problem in this area and the roads cannot handle this.

Local people applying for jobs at the megashed will be in the minority which means more traffic as employees come into work or more pressure on Andover's affordable housing shortages.

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mathew, Amport says...
2:15pm Wed 27 Feb 08

it's not a great idea, and people from andover won't get any jobs, people from poland will get jobs

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Garry, Houston, Tx - formally Andover says...
10:33pm Thu 17 Jul 08

Im very much against this warehouse. Apart from the increase in road traffic from the Tesco lorries dont forget about all the outside carriers that will be delivering to the warehouse. They will be the main problem. Also, where are all these lorries going to be parking when the are waiting to unload??? There is no room in Andover for the volume of lorries.

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Concerned Citizen, andover says...
1:18pm Mon 15 Sep 08

I rent a few properties in Andover and find alot of people are low earners and need help from the council. Now we'll have an army of workers needing council help to top up their low wages - council help means more council tax for the rest of us. This shed will cost the average Andover resident more money and we will be subsidising Tesco. Still a great idea ?

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