Tesco flout planning law for quick buck

A Tesco store in a north Devon seaside town has angered local traders by setting up a marquee selling beach goods without planning permission.

The supermarket giant, which last year sponsored the London ‘Gay Pride’ parade, has set up the tent in the car park of its Ilfracombe store, selling items such as barbecues, buckets and spades and wetsuits, which are normally sold by other local traders.

Tesco said it was “pleased to be offering our customers summer essentials” and said it was “proving to be really popular”.

But it was described as  “immoral” by one shopkeeper, while others said they could not compete with Tesco on prices.

Tesco have applied for retrospective planning permission, but North Devon Council say they can carry on selling goods until permission is either granted or refused.

A Council spokesman said: “Responsible businesses would be expected to apply for planning consent prior to opening, although it is not illegal for them to open before permission has been granted.”

Local shops have already been hit by Tesco and the store’s illegal foray into beach goods could be the last straw for many.  There seems to be no remedy for the local traders to use planning law to close the marquee in the meantime.

The authority added “any enforcement action should normally be held back while the application is considered”.

By that time summer will be over and it will be too late for the local traders who rely on the seasonal trade in holiday goods.  High Street shopkeeper Gwynn Churchill said: “They haven’t got permission, they have got a big enough store anyway.  It’s sharp practice. Even though it’s legal, morally it can’t be right.”

Morally it wasn’t right to give £30,000 to the 2012 London Gay Pride parade either, but morality is one product which seems to be in short supply at Tesco.