No to Asda say some Blackheath locals
A number of Blackheath resident have written to oppose a potential shop opening in Blackheath Village.
The company are seeking a premises license for the former Lloyds Bank site. Greenwich Council’s Licensing Committee are set to discuss the matter at a meeting next week.
Since Lloyds vacated the site Ole & Steen Bakery submitted plans to open. That was rejected by Greenwich Council but overturned on appeal in 2022.
However plans for an Asda Express then appeared. Whether Asda opens regardless of the decision remains to be seen. They’ve recently announced a screeching halt to their Express store opening program as sales plummet.
Another proposed Asda Express store in Greenwich is up in the air. Ole & Steen also announced they were cutting back on expansion plans.
In terms of the license its very much your standard affair for an urban store with times set as 7am to 11pm for alcohol sales.
Police are content with the plans, stating: “After the email discussion with Richard and the amendments to the timings for retail sales of alcohol and the added condition, the Police do not make any further representations”.
A total of 72 residents oppose along with the Blackheath Society. The council’s report notes that concern “principally revolve around concerns related to issues of public nuisance and crime and disorder; both existing and those that may occur or be exacerbated if the licence is granted.
Examples include issues of noise from patrons leaving other venues, such as The Railway public house opposite, who may use the premises late at night and cause noise disturbance, or from delivery vehicles (uber eats, Deliveroo, etc) operating late at night”.
A report before the Committee highlights the building’s history:
“The building in which the premises is to be situated, was formerly known as the Alexandra Hall, built in 1863.
“The building passed to Lloyd’s Bank in the 1920s and the present appearance of the banking hall dates from alteration and restoration work that took place in January 1970. Lloyds Bank ceased operating out of the site in 2020, and it has been disused since.”
Well, I’m not completely surprised. If future Asda outlets are anything like my local one in Belvedere, there’ll be a glut of dissatisfied shoppers before long, and I shouldn’t think the residents of Blackheath want a bunch of miserable ne’er-do-wells hanging round their upmarket area.
Few of the convenience stores offered by the big chains have anything to recommend them: almost all are unsightly and overpriced. Tesco seem to be the leaders here – if they’re unable to block out all natural light they insist on the white security grilles. What an inglorious end to Bennett Park
Why on earth was ole and steen rejected. Agree that Asda is a bit down market for blackheath.
I agree, yet another retail giant monopolising the high-street.
ASDA, go to Woolwich. There’s so many flats being built at the moment that surely you’ll be successful!
Wish I’d known about this application so I could have voiced my support. I find it very annoying that there’s no supermarket chain in Blackheath Village.
Soon there will be a Sainsbury’s as well.
A new Asda Store in Woolwich would do exceptionally well and have a good footfall.
Independent stores are nice but very expensive. I wonder if Blackheath Vlllage residents would prefer a waitrose or another Marks & Spencer Simply Food in Blackheath Village. We do need to a chan store supermarket in the area. So agree with Ed.
@Graham: ‘I wonder if Blackheath Vlllage residents would prefer a waitrose or another Marks & Spencer Simply Food in Blackheath Village.’ There is a big Waitrose supermarket in Greenwich and the M&S in Old Dover Road is only a few minutes’ away by car or bus. Asda is distinctly downmarket and not a good fit for the Village. Further, Blackheath Village has a reputation for rebuffing the chains.