as anticipated, the Planning Committee of Slough
Council narrowly voted to approve Tesco's planning
application on Tuesday 28th

The initial speeches seemed to be 5-4 in the tree's
favour. A named vote was called, requiring each member
of the committee to commit themselves in public. The
one Labour councillor who had until this point opposed
Tesco (the other 2 were very enthusiastic for the
development) then asked if one of the proposed new
trees could go in his ward - if so, he would vote for
Tesco. When told that no such assurances could be
given, he decided to change his vote anyway

The chair of the committee, David Macisaac
(Independent), has previously an extremely good record
on environmental issues. However, clearly Tesco have
been doing their softening up work - it seems that
they made clear that they would appeal any decision,
drag it out for as long as possible, cost the council
huge amounts, and withdraw the "benefits" they are
offering if it went that way.

Clearly feeling unable to face down such audacious
blackmail, Macisaac voted with Labour and the single
Tory to approve Tesco's plan. All the other
Independent councillors voted against Tesco.


Local activists are extremely annoyed and disgusted,
as they made clear to the Tesco representatives
attempting to get out of the public gallery and the
councillors. Many of these activists worked with the
local Independent councillor group (BILLD) to remove
Labour from office in June, and are appalled to see
the new Administration caving in so quickly. Activists
with more experience point to the fact that Tesco
submitted a duplicate planning applicaton, with the
high probability that they would have been prepared to
negotiate on this application if the Council put up a
strong enough fight

As it happens, they gave in without any fight at all,
rolled over and let Tesco do whatever they liked. If
(or when) the cedar is felled, the trust that local
residents placed in the ruling Independent group to
make a real difference in Slough will be destroyed
with it.


-----------------------------------------------

SLOUGH EXPRESS: Sep 30 2004

 http://icberkshire.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/sloughandwindsor/tm_objectid=14702896%26method=full%26siteid=50102%26headline=tesco-cedar-will-get-axe-despite-protests-name_page.html

Tesco cedar will get axe despite protests






TESCO'S cedar tree WILL be chopped down despite a huge
public outcry, as councillors this week approved the
firm's superstore plans.

Members of Slough Borough Council's planning committee
voted 5-4 in favour of the two-storey development in
Wellington Street, after hearing that Tesco had been
unable to incorporate the tree into its designs.

The firm offered instead to import eight semi-mature
cedars from Germany and Italy at a cost of £200,000 to
be planted in the area's parks. But protesters, some
of who packed the Town Hall's public gallery on
Tuesday, said the tree had been sacrificed to increase
Tesco's profit.

Speaking after the meeting, David Wood, of East
Berkshire Green Party, said: "This decision will not
benefit the people of Slough, but only Tesco
shareholders and developers."

He added most of the 200 extra jobs would be low-paid
part-time and temporary positions, and filled with
staff from the Uxbridge Road site.

Meanwhile, Slough Borough Council leader Richard
Stokes (Lib: Haymill) said: "Once again the planning
committee has failed the people of Slough. Their
decision to sacrifice an important 140-year-old
Lebanese cedar tree to allow Tesco to maximise its
profit is environmental vandalism at its worse."

He said he intends to persuade Tesco to save the tree,
and hopes to gain Slough MP Fiona Mactaggart's support
for his campaign.

During the meeting, cllr Neil Arnold (ILR: Langley St
Mary's) said the tree could live for another 150
years, but the fashion for superstores could have
changed long before then.

But cllr James Swindle-hurst (Lab: Cippenham Green)
said if the plan was rejected, Tesco could win on
appeal. "We can achieve more by making the decision at
this committee and pushing for more conditions," he
added.

Cllr Joginder S Bal (Lab: Farnham) said: "Let's go and
ask them to redesign the store to include the tree."
But he later said: "I do not think we can lose the
benefits."

The decision will now go before the Secretary of State
for approval.