Editing Tesco (section)

===Opposition to expansion===
Tesco's expansion has been criticised, and in some cases actively opposed;
* Plans for a large Tesco shop in [[St Albans]], [[Hertfordshire]], attracted widespread local opposition. This led to the formation of the "Stop St Albans Tesco Group". In June 2008, St Albans Council refused planning permission for the proposed new shop.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stalbansreview.co.uk/news/2371862.tesco_may_appeal/ |title=Tesco may appeal |work=St Albans Review |date=30 June 2008 |access-date=29 April 2009 |archive-date=1 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401090445/http://www.stalbansreview.co.uk/news/2371862.tesco_may_appeal/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* In April 2011, longstanding opposition to a Tesco Express shop in Cheltenham Road, [[Stokes Croft]], [[Bristol]], evolved into a violent clash between opponents and police. The recently opened shopfront was heavily damaged, and police reported the seizure of [[Molotov cocktail|petrol bombs]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-13167041 |title=Police hurt in violent anti-Tesco clashes in Bristol |work=BBC News |date=22 April 2011 |access-date=22 April 2011 |archive-date=22 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110422061019/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-13167041 |url-status=live }}</ref> Opponents have suggested that the shop would damage small shops and harm the character of the area.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-13169684 |title=Chaos in Bristol's 'cultural quarter' |first=Jane |last=Onyanga-Omara |work=BBC News |date=22 April 2011 |access-date=22 April 2011 |archive-date=26 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426003746/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-13169684 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* In March 2015 an arson attack gutted a new Tesco Express shop in [[Godalming]], [[Surrey]], two days before it was due to open. Tesco had purchased a public house and converted it into the new store, a change which did not require planning permission, thus denying the vigorous local opposition any formal means of preventing it. After continuing local opposition, including the local MP and borough council, Tesco abandoned its plans for the shop in January 2017.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/tesco-express-not-open-godalming-12652754 |title=Tesco Express will NOT open in Godalming almost two years after devastating arson halted plans |work=Surrey Live |date=24 February 2017 |access-date=9 March 2020 |archive-date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031015751/https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/tesco-express-not-open-godalming-12652754 |url-status=live }}</ref>