Yiewsley: Residents Angry At Store Plans

Original Copy:

CONTRAVERSIAL plans to build a supermarket are awaiting the go ahead by the local council.

Plans have been launched to build a Tesco Extra store upon 7,000 square metres of land, a regeneration programme of the former Tapling Trading Estate which will replace the existing smaller store.

Nine-thousand leaflets have been distributed to residents in the area and 82 per cent of returned cards were in favour of the plans.

James Wiggam, Tesco corporate affairs manager said: “It’s very encouraging to see that the overwhelming majority can see the many benefits that these plans will bring. The new designs for the site have gone down very well and we believe that the plans will boost Yiewsley by keeping shoppers in the town for their main food shopping, providing hundreds of new jobs and regenerating this run down site.”

However, Yiewsley community involvement group are angry that the plans have been proposed.

Gay Brown, 60, campaign co-ordinator for the group said: “The council’s retailer assessment proved that Yiewsley and West Drayton do not need another supermarket in the area until 2016.

“The area’s blue ribbon policy includes three factors - creating vistas, creating heritage for future generations and respecting the canal’s history and environment. None of these are being honoured. Views of the canal will be blocked giving a horrible vista.”

Earlier plans by Tesco were rejected on the grounds that the design would impact negatively on the Grand Union Canal.

Mr Wiggam said: “The new plans make sure that there is easy linkage to the tow bar and is set back away from the canal.”

This is allegedly the fourth time plans by Tesco have been rejected and they assure the new plans have taken the canal into consideration.

The building is said to be six-storeys high which would make it approximately 35 ft taller than the DIY store next door.

The road on which Tesco is proposed to be built is reportedly working at 98 per cent capacity, but an inspection of the proposed supermaket suggests that the store would not have an inverse affect on the traffic in the area.

Ms Brown said: “We will continue to fight and stand up for ourselves.”

The plan is due to be agreed by the council in the next 13 weeks.

ENDS

Word count: 380

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Published for the Hillingdon Times:
http://www.hillingdontimes.co.uk/display.var.1897344.0.yiewsley_residents_angry_at_store_plans.php

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SELF-REFLEXIVE REPORT:

This was an interesting piece to write as I used several sources. A press release discussed plans for a new supermarket, but were vague. I rang the press office and found out it was a Tesco. I spoke to James Wiggam, Tesco corporate affairs manager on the telephone to gets quotes and also a local woman Gay Brown who was very angry about the plans. Ms Brown was quite difficult to interview because she was very opinionated and did not answer my questions. She was very angry on the telephone, but I kept calm and continued to ask the same questions to get a strong quote, and in the end I believe I got some good ones.

The original intro stated controversy over the plans which I wanted to angle the piece on, but the published version is angled on angry Ms Brown. The published version improved the angle to make it more local to the paper's readership.

The length is appropriate for the article as there is sufficient information given to the reader. However, if it could be done again I would interview a resident who is for the supermarket opening to get a balance of local opinions.

It was important to get both sides of the story in order to avoid problems of libel. By simply saying Tesco will build a supermarket despite residents not wanting it would be falsely accusing Tesco of not considering the local community.

A follow up could be done in 13 weeks time to find out whether or not the plans will go ahead after a consultation by the council. I would contact a councillor and ask for an interview.