Roman Rd: Plan for supermarket is a broken promise

Published: 2:46 PM March 24, 2009 Updated: 8:13 AM October 14, 2020

Dear Ed, WE WERE told last year that the high-rise development in Roman Road was the only viable scheme to get a supermarket open again on the Bow Safeway site. The planners promised delivery’ of the supermarket when asked how certain it was that Tesco’s would actually take the store once built. That promise has been broken

Dear Ed,

WE WERE told last year that the high-rise development in Roman Road was the only viable scheme to get a supermarket open again on the Bow Safeway site ('Tories fear shadow of the supermarket', East London Advertiser, March 19).

The planners promised to ensure 'delivery' of the supermarket when asked how certain it was that Tesco's would actually take the store once built. That promise has been broken.

A report by Tower Hamlets council's planning department said the unspecified number of new residents (it's about 500-600) would not increase use of the local buses much because they would all shop at the new supermarket under their building.

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Without a proper legal commitment or a public undertaking by Tesco, there are any number of reasons why we could see the new store remain empty until the council caves in and allows any retail use instead.

Kate Gould