Thousands of commuters face weeks of dirsuption thanks to Tesco... and our dear chum John Prescott. Several of the arches intended to hold the store up above the railway line at Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, have collapsed onto the tracks putting the main line to Birmingham out of action. As usual with Tesco, nobody wanted the store anyway. There's a massive Tesco only a few miles up the road in Amersham and there's another in nearby Slough.


(from Bloomberg.com)

"Determined to Build

Tesco first unveiled plans for a 27,000-square-foot (2,508- square-meter) store at the town's train station in 1997. The district and county councils both refused permission for the project on concerns about traffic and the impact on existing retailers' trade.

The company lodged an appeal. It was approved by the office of Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, which oversees national planning. Jon Church, a Tesco spokesman, says the company spent several years planning engineering work for the store, located on a specially built foundation above the train line, and aims to open in November.

``They were absolutely determined to build this store even though they realized the damage it was doing to their reputation,'' says Peter Hardy, 52, leader of South Buckinghamshire District Council and a campaigner against the development.

CEO Leahy disputes the notion that the company ignored the protests of an unwilling population.

``It went through a democratic planning process,'' Leahy, 49, said at an April 12 London press conference announcing annual results. ``It isn't one of our biggest stores and although there were some people against it, I'm sure when it all settles down, it will be a good and valued part of the community.'' "