Parking’s a damp squib

TESCO S plan to give Christmas shoppers extra parking has lost its sparkle – because it could be a flood risk. The giant supermarket wanted to build a raised deck to give shoppers 46 extra parking spaces over the festive season at its store in Angel Drove

TESCO'S plan to give Christmas shoppers extra parking has lost its sparkle - because it could be a flood risk.

The giant supermarket wanted to build a raised deck to give shoppers 46 extra parking spaces over the festive season at its store in Angel Drove, Ely.

But when the Environment Agency flagged up the fact that the site was in a high risk flood area Tesco realised it couldn't get planning permission in time for Christmas.

The agency asked for a flood risk assessment which would have delayed the application and a final decision would not be made until late December.

"Christmas is an extremely popular time at the store and we were hoping to give our customers extra parking as early as possible," said Tesco corporate affairs manager, James Wiggan.

"But we have pulled the planning application because the extra parking would not have been in time for Christmas."

Tesco's planning application was lodged with East Cambridgeshire District Council in November and it was hoping for a quick decision to allow the deck to be installed.

Drivers would have gone up a ramp to the new deck which had been used successfully in Tesco stores across the country.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: "The application covered an area of high flood risk but came without a flood risk assessment.