This section is a summary of the key questions asked at the public meeting.

Why is it going to take so long to complete the construction of the store?

The development team’s top priority is safety. If we can reduce the timelines for the completion of the project we will, in fact we are already investigation ways of doing so. But this will only happen with the agreement of Network Rail and if it absolutely safe to do so.

Why has it taken two years to get to this point?

Immediately after the collapse, we had to restore the railway line to full use as quickly as possible. Once this was done, we began to investigate what had happened before deciding to proceed with a new development team of Costain and Scott Wilson.

Both partners needed to familiarise themselves thoroughly with the development and then explore a range of options to determine the most robust design and construction process.

This whole process has taken much longer than any of us would have hoped. We apologise for the frustration caused by the delay but believe that safety must remain the key priority and due consideration must therefore be given to all decisions in this regard.

Why haven’t you communicated with us until now?

While we have communicated with the Gerrards Cross community when there has been information to share with them, we do appreciate that the delay and lack of regular communications have added to the frustration and concerns of local people. Now that a decision has been made, we have a lot more news to communicate which is why we have created this website and organised the recent public meeting. We will also continue to listen to residents’ concerns, maintain regular contact with the local councils, send letters to residents’ homes and post notices at the construction site.

Is IBAA safe?

The IBAA stored at our Gerrards Cross site poses no risk to public health or to the environment. This is not only our view but that of the Environment Agency and was reiterated in a letter to local MP Dominic Grieve which can be accessed through the following link: http://www.gerrardscross.gov.uk/parish/news06_2007.htm.

Tesco also commissioned an independent inquiry by Dr. Bernard Acton, an expert in his field, who also concluded that the use of IBAA at Gerrards Cross has always been and continues to be both safe and lawful.

Isn’t the store too big for Gerrards Cross?

The size of the planned store was explored at length during the original planning application. In line with our own research, it was agreed that there is sufficient demand for a supermarket of this size. The store we are building is much smaller than other Tesco stores local residents may be familiar with, for example Amersham, Loudwater or Slough.

The store will focus on food shopping, with only a limited and basic household range. Its scale is appropriate for the location and its offer will help keep people shopping in the village.

Why don’t you just go away?

We understand that some in the community question the need for this store. Yet many local people also support it. We remain convinced that the store will bring significant benefits to the area, providing access to a wide range of groceries for residents, including those, such as the elderly and disabled, who find it difficult to travel further to do their weekly shopping.

What are you going to do to about traffic?

During our application for permission to construct the store, we commissioned a comprehensive modelling of traffic in the area. We then devised a scheme which it was agreed would manage traffic effectively. Measures include a new road for access to the store and the widening of Packhorse Road.

It is very much in our interests to ensure that customers have easy road access to the store. Causing traffic problems would be bad for the town and bad for Tesco, and is therefore something our plans take into account.

Will rail travel be disrupted?

There will be no disruption to rail travel during construction.

How do you intend to move materials on and off the site?

In the interest of reducing the construction traffic in Gerrards Cross it is our intention to import fill material by rail to the site using the existing siding. However doing this requires planning permission for what is called a Haul Route. At this time the Buckinghamshire County Council is considering our latest application to import fill material by rail. Material leaving the site, concrete imported for the reinforced concrete arch and all other building materials will be brought in by road.

What will you do to manage the disruption that construction will cause?

Costain and Scott Wilson understand fully the importance of minimising disruption and ensuring that the site is well maintained during construction. Dust and noise monitors are already in place to take base readings before construction recommences. Costain will schedule lorry movements appropriately to minimise traffic disruption and will be covering lorries and cleaning their wheels as they leave the site.

Most importantly we will remain in contact with local people and the local councils to ensure our plans are working.

Do the tunnel designs account for the potential High Speed rail link that is proposed to pass through Gerrards Cross parallel to the Chiltern Line?

Yes, the tunnel has been designed in order that is capable of carrying four electrified lines.

How will the store be accessed by car?

The construction of the store will lead to the development of a single use access road to the store from Packhorse Road.

Will the road and pavements over the railway bridge be changed to accommodate the greater vehicle/pedestrian traffic that is expected?

Yes, the roads and pavements surrounding the store will be altered to improve the junction and pedestrian access.

How will the new store affect the environment?

The approved design was worked up with the setting very much in mind and we have worked to create a store that is sensitive to its environment, including an attractive public realm.

In all our work, Tesco is constantly striving to ensure that our stores have the highest green credentials. Tesco is committed to reducing carbon emissions in all existing stores and distribution centres worldwide by at least 50% by 2020, as well as ensuring that all new stores built between now and 2020 will emit, on average, at least 50% less carbon than an equivalent store built in 2006.

In May 2006, we established a £100 million Sustainable Technology Fund for investment in sustainable environmental technology such as wind turbines, solar panels, combined heat and power and gasification to turn food waste into power.

Will the store be an “eco-store”?

In Gerrards Cross our plans have already been finalised so we will not at the moment be proposing technology such as wind turbines. However I can assure you we will want the store to meet and stretch Green targets and as such it will be full of features to reduce our energy and carbon use – for example timed lights and energy saving light bulbs.

How is the development team addressing the issue of site clearance and maintenance?

The development team has cleared away the vegetation around the site in order to fix the new fence in place. Now that this has been completed, we will also look into further improving the situation. During construction, we will be working to ensure that the site is well-maintained and keeps disruption to the community at an absolute minimum.

Which organisations will be responsible for third party monitoring regarding the safety and robustness of the plans?

There are number of third party checkers who will be reviewing the project as it progresses. For Tesco this will be Atkins Rail and for Network Rail it will be Mott MacDonald. Chiltern Railways will also have some engineers reviewing the plans.