Residents Say Store Will Mean Misery

East Devon residents claim their lives will be made a misery when Tesco starts building in Seaton.

One million tons of rubble is being brought in by pipes and lorries to raise the new store site by two meters as it is on a flood plain.

James Semple from campaign group Tesco-watch is worried about the noise: "it's going to be much noisier than they predict and it may be every day or 2 to 3 hours for up to 12 weeks and we think this is intolerable"

He continued: "there will be quite a large number of heavy lorries and we've got some very narrow corners and difficult junctions. A lot of people are worried about that."

Tesco corporate affairs manager, Juliette Bishop said: “We have undertaken this approach, at considerable additional expense to ensure that the effect of construction on nearby residents is minimised. We are glad to have a dialogue with those who have expressed concerns and hope to do what we can to allay their fears, many of which are the result of misinformation.

We have been in discussion with East Devon District Council for a number of years and our approach is the result of lengthy and detailed discussions with them about the best way to progress with this redevelopment.”

Planning permission was given for a mixed-use development on Harbour Road last autumn after it was allocated as a regeneration area by East Devon District Council and Seaton Town Council. Homes, a hotel and leisure facilities will also be built.

Tesco is going to use pipes as well as lorries to deliver the rubble so as to reduce the amount of noise. Because of worries about the amount of noise the pipeline might make the supermarket chain has commissioned a second servey to check the levels will be acceptable.

It's also hoped the pipeline will be quicker so reducing the time it takes to built the platform.