'Good things are worth waiting for' Tesco said when they promised a new supermarket on Lowfield Street. Dartford waited 12 years for the giant to make good on its word.
Shops were boarded up and small local businesses forced to leave. It was an ugly derelict eyesore on the town. Tesco changed their plans four times before demolition work began and for more than a decade shop owners were made to sell up so that they could clear the site. Business owners including butcher Ray Richardson who closed his family shop due to the prolonged pressure of a compulsory purchase after having a business there for over a century.
The council was blamed for selling out to Tesco and further sending the town into decline. The stress of fighting for livelihoods against the supermarket corporate giant was tough. Finally after causing such hurt, Tesco pulled out and all Dartford had to show was derelict land where successful local businesses used to be. This part of recent history is very bitter.
Jonathon Hawkes the labour leader from Dartford spoke of the issue:
"We all recognise that Tesco have let Dartford down badly. However, the failure of this project, which left the Lowfield Street site derelict for years, should prompt important questions and lessons for everyone who has been involved – including the Conservative Council. This simply cannot be allowed to happen again. It’s vital that what now comes next on Lowfield Street can become a development of true community value."
Gareth Johnson, local MP described Tesco's decision as 'appalling' adding '..."I personally will be glad to see the back of Tesco.'
The conservative council have put a different spin on it. This could be interpreted as 'it's not our fault' while laying responsibility at the feet of Tesco i.e. look at how well we managed other projects so this mess is not on us.
"In general, when Dartford Council owns or controls a site it has a record of making things happen. The Council has previously completed a major community stadium development at Princes Park, new council housing at Temple Hill and a major refurbishment of Fairfield – all now up and running. When land is in private hands, things get much more complicated. To say that progress on Lowfield Street has been disappointing is an understatement. A cross-party working group at the Council negotiated and dealt with Tesco for more than seven years before the company announced that Dartford was one of more than 100 schemes across the country to be scrapped."
The town motto 'May Dartford Prosper' may yet come to fruition. A new era of gentrification is here. What will this bring local people? Time will tell!
Facebook Dartford Living - Press Release from Jonathon Hawkes
garethjohnson.co.uk Tesco
Disover Dartford- Lowfield Street
At one point there was a big banner hanging off the council offices with "Tesco and Dartford council working together" and a picture of Kite in it so the council didn't help
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