The ASDA Exhibtion 29th May

in Forum > Walmart ASDA

gaby 115 posts Thursday, 29. May 2008 07:08PM

Well, I've just been to see the plans but, unfortunately, most of what was on display was spin on ASDA - what fantastic employers they are as well as suppliers of everything a householder might need and desire. There were some plans, but they were small and attached to the advertising posters at about knee height.

Did any of you go? What did you think of the new traffic layout? I had to speak to several of the representatives there before finding someone who could explain the new layout to me. So there's now not going to be a roundabout, Battle Road will be widened by about the depth of the victorian terrace (about to be demolished) and there'll be traffic lights by the entrance to ASDA on Battle Road. Silverhill traffic lights are staying as they are, although they will apparently be "rephased" in order to allow traffic to flow. According to the ASDA rep, they are now not phased properly and this is the reason why there is so much congestion. It's hard to believe, but this guy was trying to convince me that, once the traffic lights are phased properly, traffic will flow like a dream and it'll all be much better than it is now.

The 21 flats they had originally planned have disappeared and been replaced by a huge health centre. Do we really need that? Personally, I feel that what this area really needs is somewhere for the kids to go. Oh, but they'll now have jobs stacking shelves at ASDA. - The placquard outside advertised "hundreds of jobs". How gullible are we?

dtreen 18 posts Sunday, 01. June 2008 07:31PM

I also went to the ASDA exhibition, the new road layout, is a major concern, four lanes, eventually converging into two in Battle Road, this is absurd, the two lanes of Battle Road already presents a bottleneck for through traffic, and is hardly wide enough for two opposing vehicles.
I see some major problems with the new layout:
1: The central lane coming from the North waiting to turn right into ASDA will backup into the exisiting two lanes, presenting long waits for through traffic.
2: All residents living East of Silverhill (Eversley Crescent, King Edward Avenue etc) shall use roads like Silverlands Road, Duke Street, Duke Road, Perth Road and PaytRoad as lazy rat runs, therefore stressing the aforementioned Roads plus adding further stress to Battle Road, of which has more traffic load from the North.
3: All the roads effected already have problems with car damage, broken wing mirriors etc, I can only see this problem increase.
4: If cars are able to make a right coming from Sedlescombe Raod North, this will backup far into Silverhill.
5: Unfair increased noise, light, sound, gas and material pollution to the local residents.

The argument for linkage shooping is complete spin, nobody doing there weekly shop is going to cross four lanes of traffic and then two lanes of traffic in order to buy something that they could buy at ASDA or not. The Co-op and Tesco apparently take 2% of the publics weekly shop, I can imagine that the 2% is a fragile figure if reduced slightly then the businesses will fail to continue.

Also I was informed that the medical center was a most wanted addition, what I would like to know is where they got this information and why the public that are immediatley effected asked, if this was what the councillers suggested, then the public are out of the equation, so much for community spirit.

At the end of the day, ASDA do not have to be in Silverhill, its not a matter of life and death, why should the local residents of Silverhill be let down into a lower standard of wellbeing just for the greed of one corporation.

gaby 115 posts Monday, 02. June 2008 02:10PM

Check out the Observer story:

http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/newshastings/Asda-plans-for-new-store.4135438.jp

carolnjohn 34 posts Monday, 02. June 2008 03:28PM

Just a quickie, because Asda have swamped the UK planning website with so much bumf and it is very indigestable.

Everybody, please exclude all comments by Jean Sullivan of 21 Battle Road (on the Observer video & her letter to HBC on the planning website). She has a very large vested interest in that Asda will gift her the large area edged red adjacent to her house - nearly as big as the floorplan of the proposed medical centre.

And talking of vested interests: so has our Wishing Tree councillor Scott as Asda are providing him and his family with the medical centre. So as I wrote in the Observer the other week, we in Wishing Tree have no representation at all as both our councillors have a conflict of interest.

gaby 115 posts Monday, 02. June 2008 11:07PM

I am complaining to the Observer because Mrs Sullivan is interviewed on their video about the exhibition speaking in favour of the development. She is also quoted in their article as saying that the development would be good for Silverhill. She is, however, also listed on the ASDA application to HBC as an interested party and can therefore not be shown, as she is, as speaking for the community of Silverhill.