Not long ago the Poynton Against Tesco campaign celebrated a victory over Tesco when their planning application was rejected by the council.But now a very similar proposal by Waitrose has been accepted, perhaps due to less vigorous opposition by residents. We know that Tesco are appealing the original decision, and now that the Waitrose development is going ahead perhaps they will be more successful next time. After all if there is to be one large supermarket in Poynton, why not two?
I think if campaigning is to continue it needs to shift its focus. I was never very happy about being anti-Tesco in the first place because I don't naturally like being anti-anything. I'd much rather be pro-something. So now I'm going to be pro-local shops. I won't say "I'll never set foot inside Waitrose or Tesco", if they do get built. But I'm going to go all out to give Poynton's local shops as much support as I can.
8 comments:
You'll need to get a huge campaign going to support the local shops, otherwise they'll vanish, as they have everywhere else when the supermarket comes. In Reading, I read with amazement on the blog Green Reading, the parade of shops has been adversely affected by a new Tesco superstore, so Tesco has helpfully put in an application to open a Tesco Metro in the parade. I agree that it's best not to be anti things, but sometimes it's very hard ...
Good luck
Joanna
There's a similar debate going on in Wimborne, Dorset (up the road from us). Some people seem to be for Waitrose simply because they are Waitrose and not Tesco/Sainsburys/Asda etc, while others point out that it doesn't matter: local shops may well die and the cricket pitch will be no more. At present there are no supermarkets though, and many drive to Poole for their groceries instead of spending locally. It's all mad.
Did you know that the monopolies commission has just ruled against any single supermarket having exclusive rights to one area?
They are attempting to ensure that every community has access to at least two big stores.
I have a strong suspicion that, in the light of this ruling, it will in future be impossible to say that Waitrose may open in Poynton, but Tesco can't.
You may have to accept Tesco after all!
Lindsey
It's a shame, but I don't think you can do much about it now. The trouble is, of course, that the supermarkets can buy things in cheaper and therefore sell them cheaper - and the consumer hasn't got much choice if he wants to save money. To my shame I've been using the local Asda that opened just before Christmas, instead of using the local shops. Asda's cheaper, and they stock more of a variety. They also have a cafe and toilets, which my local shops don't have. Already a local corner shop has closed, but I don't know if this is a direct result of a supermarket opening. He may have been ready to retire anyway. He was always very expensive, but at least he was there, and he sold quite a variety of stuff. I suspect though, that his main clientele were children from the local junior school, who would call in to by sweets morning, noon and night.
Fran
I wouldn't have opposed a Waitrose application, because their prices are so much higher than other supermarkets. Tesco, on the other hand, do sell stuff mega-cheap, so they would be a bigger threat to local shops than the more exclusive Waitrose. But, as Lindsey says, Waitrose acceptance may be the lever Tesco need to fight their cause again.
I think the planning permission for Waitrose will make it much easier for Tesco to get permission too, but not for the reasons that Anonymous mentions.
AIUI, the monopolies commission ruled that Supermarkets were not allowed to buy land, add a covenant restricting their competitors and then sell it.
Tesco story: When I was in Somerset I used Tescos for many, many years ~ first s used the small Street 1 & then after his arrest, a friend did her shopping in the Langport monstrosity & I blagged a lift from her (I don't drive), but would buy fruit & veg from a village stall & meat from a butcher in a village 3 miles away (walking there & back). Later Tescos would deliver to me at home. I had a Tescos savings account, firstly for my knitting money to go towards art stuff, then to save for my Vardo & Gypsy Cob (s had no access to or awareness of that money ~ he was very good at spending anything I'd got: savings, compensation, student grant... So I was a good Tescos customer.
Then I escaped to Ireland & a friend that took me shopping took me to Tescos. I hate wearing shoes, can't really afford them & have had serious injuries to my feet that makes shoe-wearing a little more awkward, so I go barefoot whenever & wherever possible. Tescos let me do my shopping, took my money & then threw me out because I had bare feet, threatening me with security. Tescos say that that is not general policy, but the store can more or less do what they like. After over 12 years as a happy Tescos customer I no longer use their stores. Anyone too poor to buy shoes, who can't wear them for health, religious or cultural reasons is banned from Tesco Ireland. Umm, how long is it since many of the Irish were barefoot? I've met several who remember those days...
My supermarket of choice ~ a local concern (O'Connors) is quite likely to close, but nobody really knows what's going on there ~ the people who rent small shops in the complex don't know if they can stay or not & rumours abound of back tax owed, so the complex is to be sold off, but Mr. O'Connor himself, told me that the Drapery section is being refurbished: this as he is selling the shop fittings, losing staff & the staff themselves have no idea what's happening...
I also prefer to be pro good stuff rather than anti bad stuff.We buy from our local shops wherever possible and then go to the supermarket if there's anything left to get. It's much nicer and you get better stuff I think.
Post a Comment