News

Tesco vandals call for library

By Caroline Cook
February 01, 2012

Vandals have been spraying graffiti on signs outside a new supermarket in Twyford with messages calling for a new library instead.

Graffiti reading ‘Where is our library?’ has been scrawled on the boards outside the former Amins building in London Road which is being transformed into a Tesco Express store.

'Tesco scuppered our library plan'

Twyford parish clerk Lucy Moffat told members at a meeting of the parish council on Tuesday, January 24, that she had been informed of the graffiti by neighbourhood police officers.

She said: “I was contacted by PCSO Nicola Shepherd and she said there was vandalism on the board outside Tesco Express asking where the library is.

“She didn’t think it was youths that were doing that and she was asking if we knew of anyone who felt so strongly. She was concerned there was someone expressing themselves in that way rather than through appropriate channels.”

Villagers fear Tesco Express chaos

Mrs Moffat said Tesco had been painting over the boards but the graffiti was reappearing almost on a daily basis.

Last November it was announced that the supermarket giant would be opening a 3,000 square foot store at the site which would create between 20 and 30 jobs.

Tesco Express plan for Twyford

But campaigners who have been fighting for a new library in the village for more than a decade expressed their disappointment after their hopes that the building would become a new library were dashed.

Simon Petar, regional corporate affairs manager for Tesco, said he would look into the graffiti issue at the site. He said: “We find with our Express stores that because they are well lit when they open they do not attract much anti-social-behaviour.

“We have secured approval for the elevations on the site and the signage is recommended for approval.”

Last year concerns were also raised about the traffic impact of the shop with fears that proposals for a cash machine facing on to London Road would lead to people parking illegally while they used the machine.

Tesco has since withdrawn the application for the cash machine after consulting with groups in the village.

Mr Petar said: “The ATM will no longer be there. We have withdrawn that following meetings with various local community stake holders.

“So we are working with the local community and looking forward to that.”

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Most recent user comments 7 of 7

The problem with an upstairs library is that you would need a lift for DDA compliance. I doubt much (or any) of the office space in Twyford has this and the cost of retro-fitting one would be immense.

Christian99
03/02/2012 at 08:35

I may be wrong but why would the office space above Tesco or in general office space in twyford not be suitable? Rent it's cheaper on upper floors and is there a need for a library to be on ground level?

DDDDD
02/02/2012 at 18:40

Personally, I'd like both a new library and the Tescos. Perhaps find a new site, or rebuild the current Portakabin properly (although the plot is probably too small).

I know some people would rather not sully the place with such a thing as a Tescos, but not everyone in Twyford is an oligarch who can afford Waitrose prices, or is around during the day for the few hours it opens.

Perhaps the competition from Tescos will result in the Booze Bargain counterfeit store's plot becoming available. Alternativley, maybe slot it in beside Loddon Hall, where it could get passing traffic from the Junior school when it kicks out.

Christian99
02/02/2012 at 16:30

If nothing has been done for 10yrs who can blame them. This is what happens when the right channels do not work

exactly... They dont listen so this happens.. And as for doing it daily.. I can see the funny side of that lol