News from Wolverhampton that within 3 months of a new Tesco opening, three thriving local businesses were forced to close. The Express and Star reports that the florist, pub and off licence lost thousands of pounds of revenue, and that a local newsagent is likely to close as well. Their income, which would have been spent locally by local business owners, will now shift to Tesco, leave the area and so further damage other local retailers and service providers.
This is more piece of evidence that Tesco does NOT 'help to boost business for local traders', as claimed on their propaganda site www.tescostalbans.co.uk. It also points out a flaw in Tesco's own survey of local businesses - even if a small number think that Tesco would be a good thing, is this worth destroying the livelihood and health of others?
Research shows that on average over 250 jobs are lost when each supermarket opens (including the jobs created at the supermarket) - these are all people like Keith Basudev and his son Christopher, the newsagents in Wolverhampton.
We'd also like to take this opportunity to thank the small local businesses, florists, newsagents and hairdressers among them, who are actively supporting the Stop Tesco! campaign.
Thursday, 31 May 2007
Wednesday, 30 May 2007
The Rain Falls on The Market Part 2
We're not having much luck with the weather while collecting signatures at the moment. Perhaps the lack of summer weather is the reason why no planning application has turned up from Tesco despite its assertion that it would submit one 'in the spring'!
Anyway, we spent 5 hours at the St Albans City Market today, and were joined by Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidate Sandy Walkington (pictured with Val before the heavens opened).
The good news is that we're definitely well over 4,500 signatures now - we'll provide an up-to-date figure after we've collated all sources tomorrow evening. Please keep sending in petition forms!
Monday, 28 May 2007
More Ways to Help Stop Tesco
A couple of urgent pleas for help this week - 2 good ways to show Tesco how you feel!
1) We're in need of more people to help collect signatures on Wednesday at the market. We're aware that most people will be working, but if you can help for just 30 minutes (perhaps popping out early for lunch or helping set up at 8.30 in the morning before work) please let us know. The good news is that the weather forecast for Wednesday is good - so the market will be full of the people who've been hibernating over the weekend. Please click here to volunteer - or call the Stop Tesco hotline - 07758 589 499.
UPDATE (Tue pm): We've got all times covered - so please do turn up at any time from 8.30am to 2pm and help if you can - we'll be the ones wearing the red and white T-shirts!
2) We've launched our own retail survey! Please click here to give us your views on shopping in St Albans.
1) We're in need of more people to help collect signatures on Wednesday at the market. We're aware that most people will be working, but if you can help for just 30 minutes (perhaps popping out early for lunch or helping set up at 8.30 in the morning before work) please let us know. The good news is that the weather forecast for Wednesday is good - so the market will be full of the people who've been hibernating over the weekend. Please click here to volunteer - or call the Stop Tesco hotline - 07758 589 499.
UPDATE (Tue pm): We've got all times covered - so please do turn up at any time from 8.30am to 2pm and help if you can - we'll be the ones wearing the red and white T-shirts!
2) We've launched our own retail survey! Please click here to give us your views on shopping in St Albans.
Clogging Up Streets While Building Happens
One negative aspect of the Tesco development we've not really highlighted to date is the building stage. Unlike a staggered housing development, a superstore will have to be built all at once. This story in the York Press shows what can happen when building is happening, and, as the paper reports,
'A quiet residential street in York has been turned into a "car park for vans", due to work on a new Tesco store in the city.'
One local reader also pointed out that it wasn't possible to ask Tesco for help, as,
'A quiet residential street in York has been turned into a "car park for vans", due to work on a new Tesco store in the city.'
One local reader also pointed out that it wasn't possible to ask Tesco for help, as,
"There are posters up urging people to contact Tesco 24 hours a day on the number below if you have a problem. However, there is no phone number printed - just a blank space".
Let's hope this isn't what, say, Inkerman Road
looks like in the future.
(Photograph is web-linked from the York Press site)
Friday, 25 May 2007
Tesco Denys 'Strong-Arm Tactics'
Tesco has been annoying another MP, this time in Essex. Our old friend Michael Kissman, according to the East Anglia Daily Times, has been advising a local council in Manningtree, Essex, to wait for an application from the company before it votes on whether or not it wants another supermarket in the area, prompting an angry response from local MP Bernard Jenkin.
We'd definitely advise the council to vote soon if it doesn't want to die of boredom. As we've pointed out before, Tesco is frustrating local people by NOT making a formal application in St Albans - it's now 7-and-a-half years (!) since it bought the Eversheds site.
Mr Kissman also told the paper,
“We're committed to consulting local communities before we apply to build any new stores and this is what we are already committed to doing in Manningtree and the surrounding area. We're delighted that Manningtree Town Council and other local people are now willing to participate in a full consultation process. From speaking to local people, it is apparent that many of them can actually see the benefits a store would bring".
We hope that local people note the contrast between Tescos's 'commitment to consultation' and the immediate (and patronising) claim that 'many' can 'actually' see some benefits of a store - what if the consultation shows 90% of local people against, as in St Albans? We hope Manningtree gets more 'consultation' that we have seen, and that we hear from Mr Kissman in St Albans soon!
We'd definitely advise the council to vote soon if it doesn't want to die of boredom. As we've pointed out before, Tesco is frustrating local people by NOT making a formal application in St Albans - it's now 7-and-a-half years (!) since it bought the Eversheds site.
Mr Kissman also told the paper,
“We're committed to consulting local communities before we apply to build any new stores and this is what we are already committed to doing in Manningtree and the surrounding area. We're delighted that Manningtree Town Council and other local people are now willing to participate in a full consultation process. From speaking to local people, it is apparent that many of them can actually see the benefits a store would bring".
We hope that local people note the contrast between Tescos's 'commitment to consultation' and the immediate (and patronising) claim that 'many' can 'actually' see some benefits of a store - what if the consultation shows 90% of local people against, as in St Albans? We hope Manningtree gets more 'consultation' that we have seen, and that we hear from Mr Kissman in St Albans soon!
Thursday, 24 May 2007
Retail Survey Alert
While updating the blog, just received a call from NEMS Market Research who are doing a 'local retail survey'. While none of the questions directly related to Tesco, some of the questions are interesting - they asked where I shop for a range of goods including food and if there were any problems with the local provision. Looking at the company's website, they do list Tesco as a client!
If you get a call please let us know!
If you get a call please let us know!
Chamber of Commerce's Unexpected Letter
The St Albans Review and Observer this week carries a somewhat bizarre letter from Sandra Oldfield of the St Albans Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber contains a number of active supporters of Stop Tesco, and we'd heard that on average members were against the Tesco development. You can see here for example that a debate the Chamber held with the elusive Michael Kissman of Tesco present produced a range of views, with the tenants of the Maltings development for example being '60:40 against' the development.
Despite this and with no apparent evidence, the letter from the Chamber suddenly accuses 'interest groups' opposed to Tesco of 'blatantly closing all communication with Tesco's management' and suggests they talk to the supermarket giant to 'improve areas of concern'.
Assuming that Stop Tesco is one of these 'groups' there are couple of problems with this.
Firstly, local residents would love to talk to Tesco but they've not been communicating at all with us - we've had one mailshot (with at least one glaring error), a couple of hours of a roadshow and three comments in the local press in FIVE months! (And we know Tesco's hired lobbyists have talked to local politicians - but that doesn't help us much).
We've sent Tesco lots of letters and emails in reply. We would really like Mr Kissman and his colleagues to attend a public meeting where local people could tell them their concerns about the project.
Secondly, we don't want to 'improve areas of concern' - we want to use the Eversheds site for housing, a school or other community uses. There are enough examples on this website of situations where Tesco has expanded a small store in both size and range of services for us to be very wary of any negotiation. (Another one is here today, from the Oxford Mail!).
Thirdly, Ms Oldfield says, incredibly, that 'almost all of the feedback from local business has been positive'. Our own survey of local businesses shows that, of the over 200 we've interviewed, more than 80% are opposed to the development*. The minutes of the Chamber's own debate showed many businesspeople concerned about different aspects of the development and 60% of the shops in the Maltings centre opposed for a start! A number of local businesses are actively collecting signatures for our petition - does she think they are in favour?
We'll be writing back to the Review and Observer this week - can we also urge any members of the Chamber of Commerce who support our campaign to make their views known to Ms Oldfield. On average, each new supermarket causes the loss of 276 local retail jobs - how can the Chamber of Commerce want this?
*the survey will be completed in a couple of weeks and then we'll post the findings in full here, not just highly selective interpretations - such as Tesco's numerically-challenged claim that,
'there's a half-and-half split between those who support our proposals and those who don't'
The Chamber contains a number of active supporters of Stop Tesco, and we'd heard that on average members were against the Tesco development. You can see here for example that a debate the Chamber held with the elusive Michael Kissman of Tesco present produced a range of views, with the tenants of the Maltings development for example being '60:40 against' the development.
Despite this and with no apparent evidence, the letter from the Chamber suddenly accuses 'interest groups' opposed to Tesco of 'blatantly closing all communication with Tesco's management' and suggests they talk to the supermarket giant to 'improve areas of concern'.
Assuming that Stop Tesco is one of these 'groups' there are couple of problems with this.
Firstly, local residents would love to talk to Tesco but they've not been communicating at all with us - we've had one mailshot (with at least one glaring error), a couple of hours of a roadshow and three comments in the local press in FIVE months! (And we know Tesco's hired lobbyists have talked to local politicians - but that doesn't help us much).
We've sent Tesco lots of letters and emails in reply. We would really like Mr Kissman and his colleagues to attend a public meeting where local people could tell them their concerns about the project.
Secondly, we don't want to 'improve areas of concern' - we want to use the Eversheds site for housing, a school or other community uses. There are enough examples on this website of situations where Tesco has expanded a small store in both size and range of services for us to be very wary of any negotiation. (Another one is here today, from the Oxford Mail!).
Thirdly, Ms Oldfield says, incredibly, that 'almost all of the feedback from local business has been positive'. Our own survey of local businesses shows that, of the over 200 we've interviewed, more than 80% are opposed to the development*. The minutes of the Chamber's own debate showed many businesspeople concerned about different aspects of the development and 60% of the shops in the Maltings centre opposed for a start! A number of local businesses are actively collecting signatures for our petition - does she think they are in favour?
We'll be writing back to the Review and Observer this week - can we also urge any members of the Chamber of Commerce who support our campaign to make their views known to Ms Oldfield. On average, each new supermarket causes the loss of 276 local retail jobs - how can the Chamber of Commerce want this?
*the survey will be completed in a couple of weeks and then we'll post the findings in full here, not just highly selective interpretations - such as Tesco's numerically-challenged claim that,
'there's a half-and-half split between those who support our proposals and those who don't'
Tuesday, 22 May 2007
Is Tesco Going to Move Soon?
This is Hertfordshire reports on the possibility of new planning laws that might reduce the influence of local people on developments such as Tesco. Both MP Anne Main and Lib Dem prospective MP Sandy Walkington tell the site of their opposition to such a new law.
The article also cryptically suggest that Tesco might be about to make its long-waited planning application. 'Bring it on', we say - 'we're ready to fight you on London Road, on Alma Road and street-by-street across St Albans!'
And finally, the article gives an update on our petition - thanks!
The article also cryptically suggest that Tesco might be about to make its long-waited planning application. 'Bring it on', we say - 'we're ready to fight you on London Road, on Alma Road and street-by-street across St Albans!'
And finally, the article gives an update on our petition - thanks!
Whistleblower, BBC1, 9pm, Tonight
If you're around tonight (22nd May) and are a bit squeamish, you might not want to watch this programme. According to The Guardian, it accuses Tesco and Sainsburys of,
"...putting public health at risk after secret filming revealed members of staff deliberately extending sell-by and use-by dates on fresh food - and of selling food unfit for human consumption to unsuspecting customers."
What I find interesting about the article is the sheer combativeness of the Tesco spokesperson!
UPDATE: For those who can't watch, the BBC has a summary here!
If anyone would like to post a review of the programme, please click on the comment button or email tescocampaign@yahoo.co.uk!
"...putting public health at risk after secret filming revealed members of staff deliberately extending sell-by and use-by dates on fresh food - and of selling food unfit for human consumption to unsuspecting customers."
What I find interesting about the article is the sheer combativeness of the Tesco spokesperson!
UPDATE: For those who can't watch, the BBC has a summary here!
If anyone would like to post a review of the programme, please click on the comment button or email tescocampaign@yahoo.co.uk!
Monday, 21 May 2007
Ghosts Beat Tesco
Councillors in Abingdon, Oxfordshire have voted to stop Tesco expanding their non-food lines, according to the Oxford Mail. An interesting part of the story is that,
"traders from the town wore ghost outfits to lobby councillors - the chamber of commerce warning Abingdon would become a 'ghost town' if Tesco got the go-ahead."
According to Wikipedia, Abingdon has an historic market, if not quite as old as St Albans, so we completely understand traders' concerns! Go, Ghosts!
"traders from the town wore ghost outfits to lobby councillors - the chamber of commerce warning Abingdon would become a 'ghost town' if Tesco got the go-ahead."
According to Wikipedia, Abingdon has an historic market, if not quite as old as St Albans, so we completely understand traders' concerns! Go, Ghosts!
Friday, 18 May 2007
Tesco and the Unions
A couple of stories today about Tesco's attitude to unions. In the US, the Las Vegas Business Press reports that Tesco is planning to set up a non-unionised workforce. The paper quotes the Financial Times as saying,
'[Tesco is] advertising for human resources executives who would work to thwart union organizing and maintain "a union-free status".'
Meanwhile, in Scotland, the company is being accused in the Edinburgh Evening News of trying to break a strike by delivery drivers by paying other drivers £500 to drive through picket lines. The paper reports Tony Trench, Edinburgh regional officer for the T&G as saying,
"We think that this is an appalling way to do business - throwing large sums of money to get people to strike-break instead of sitting down and negotiating with us in an orderly fashion. We are humbly grateful to these guys who have turned down such large sums of money to support their comrades."
With actions like this, do we really want Tesco to employ more people in St Albans?
UPDATE: The Scotsman reports that many drivers are facing the sack as a result of the delivery dispute! From the comments at the end of the article, Tesco is not popular in Scotland at the moment!
'[Tesco is] advertising for human resources executives who would work to thwart union organizing and maintain "a union-free status".'
Meanwhile, in Scotland, the company is being accused in the Edinburgh Evening News of trying to break a strike by delivery drivers by paying other drivers £500 to drive through picket lines. The paper reports Tony Trench, Edinburgh regional officer for the T&G as saying,
"We think that this is an appalling way to do business - throwing large sums of money to get people to strike-break instead of sitting down and negotiating with us in an orderly fashion. We are humbly grateful to these guys who have turned down such large sums of money to support their comrades."
With actions like this, do we really want Tesco to employ more people in St Albans?
UPDATE: The Scotsman reports that many drivers are facing the sack as a result of the delivery dispute! From the comments at the end of the article, Tesco is not popular in Scotland at the moment!
Thursday, 17 May 2007
Controversial Letter Generates A Big Response...
Last week (10th May) a brave soul called Robin James wrote to the Herts Advertiser arguing in favour of both the Tesco development and the proposed Park Street Rail Freight Interchange. His (or her?) letter, titled 'Always Moaning' argued that the two projects would bring employment to the area without unacceptable additional amounts of traffic. Robin also argued that London Road, the site of the Tesco proposal, needed a makeover and a 24-hour petrol station.
Not surprisingly, the letter generated a big response from local people rebutting these arguments. Extracts from letters from Simon Hepburn, Ian Langford, B.Wilkinson, Bill Hammond and David Redcastle are given below. Find all the letters here.
"Robin James thinks he/she knows what St Albans residents want better than they do themselves. Robin James does not even live in St Albans.
"I don't think there is anything wrong with the people of St Albans. They are entirely right to protest when they believe they are being offered a pig in a poke or can see when the supposed benefits offered by a developer are either entirely illusory or are far outweighed by negative impacts which the developers prefer to gloss over.
"The Herts Advertiser editorial on April 19 pointed out that due to high house prices 'St Albans supermarkets cannot find staff for checkouts at certain times'.
"Superstores such as Tesco actually reduce the number of retail jobs in an area. A study by the British Retail Planning Forum found by 276 jobs per superstore.
"A Tesco superstore would be hard put to find enough staff - they would probably have to drive in from Luton or north London. What do desperately need...to provide affordable homes for young people, is housing.
"Given its position and the current housing shortage in the city, I believe this site would be far better used for residential use, including a percentage of affordable housing.
"I wonder if [Robin James] can think who might be responsible for [London Road] needing a drastic makeover. Could it be a certain company called Tesco which owns a number of buildings down there and has allowed them to become derelict.
"The Tesco proposal does not include any petrol station - let alone a 24-hour one - so in fact there is a loss of amenity to the local community from this scheme.
"Very few buses currently use London Road. There is no suggestion in Tesco's plans that it would create a bus stop in the development. Whether bus companies would really want to divert their buses along an already busy road through a supermarket car park is also doubtful.
"A couple of short filter lanes on London Road will not be able to magic away the peak 500 cars per hour plus delivery lorries visiting the site.
"This isn't moaning, it's about protecting this area of St Albans from a significant development in an inappropriate place.
"It recently suited Tesco to argue to the Competition Commission that local shopping should be defined as within 30 minutes drive... The Tesco Extra in Hatfield is easily within a 30 minute drive of everywhere in central St Albans under normal traffic conditions... Ergo, we don't need a Tesco in St Albans." (phew..)
Thanks to you all!
Not surprisingly, the letter generated a big response from local people rebutting these arguments. Extracts from letters from Simon Hepburn, Ian Langford, B.Wilkinson, Bill Hammond and David Redcastle are given below. Find all the letters here.
"Robin James thinks he/she knows what St Albans residents want better than they do themselves. Robin James does not even live in St Albans.
"I don't think there is anything wrong with the people of St Albans. They are entirely right to protest when they believe they are being offered a pig in a poke or can see when the supposed benefits offered by a developer are either entirely illusory or are far outweighed by negative impacts which the developers prefer to gloss over.
"The Herts Advertiser editorial on April 19 pointed out that due to high house prices 'St Albans supermarkets cannot find staff for checkouts at certain times'.
"Superstores such as Tesco actually reduce the number of retail jobs in an area. A study by the British Retail Planning Forum found by 276 jobs per superstore.
"A Tesco superstore would be hard put to find enough staff - they would probably have to drive in from Luton or north London. What do desperately need...to provide affordable homes for young people, is housing.
"Given its position and the current housing shortage in the city, I believe this site would be far better used for residential use, including a percentage of affordable housing.
"I wonder if [Robin James] can think who might be responsible for [London Road] needing a drastic makeover. Could it be a certain company called Tesco which owns a number of buildings down there and has allowed them to become derelict.
"The Tesco proposal does not include any petrol station - let alone a 24-hour one - so in fact there is a loss of amenity to the local community from this scheme.
"Very few buses currently use London Road. There is no suggestion in Tesco's plans that it would create a bus stop in the development. Whether bus companies would really want to divert their buses along an already busy road through a supermarket car park is also doubtful.
"A couple of short filter lanes on London Road will not be able to magic away the peak 500 cars per hour plus delivery lorries visiting the site.
"This isn't moaning, it's about protecting this area of St Albans from a significant development in an inappropriate place.
"It recently suited Tesco to argue to the Competition Commission that local shopping should be defined as within 30 minutes drive... The Tesco Extra in Hatfield is easily within a 30 minute drive of everywhere in central St Albans under normal traffic conditions... Ergo, we don't need a Tesco in St Albans." (phew..)
Thanks to you all!
Wednesday, 16 May 2007
Victory for Small Traders?
According to the Norwich Evening News today, it looks like Tesco might be prevented from building a pharmacy as an extension to an existing store because of the potential damage to existing shops.
Local pharmacist Dee Whyatt told the paper,
“We have been battling with Tesco for two and a half years and spent about £20,000 on solicitors trying to stop them from having a pharmacy. We see ourselves as running community pharmacies - we employ local people and recently spent £120,000 refitting the Eaton Pharmacy, ploughing money back into the local community.
“We offer free delivery to people's homes and I can't see Tesco ever doing that. It will be fantastic if the council does turn their application down because they seem to be able to railroad to get their own way so often.”
Tesco (and, to be fair, other supermarkets) often employ this tactic - starting off with a smaller store and then expanding it later - they start selling food, but then introduce electrical goods, financial services, dry cleaning, travel agencies, pharmacies, and so on.
Small businesses in St Albans need to be beware. Most oppose Tesco, but some claim that there might be some benefits from a giant new supermarket - perhaps they need to check that Tesco isn't planning to expand and directly compete with them in the near future!
Local pharmacist Dee Whyatt told the paper,
“We have been battling with Tesco for two and a half years and spent about £20,000 on solicitors trying to stop them from having a pharmacy. We see ourselves as running community pharmacies - we employ local people and recently spent £120,000 refitting the Eaton Pharmacy, ploughing money back into the local community.
“We offer free delivery to people's homes and I can't see Tesco ever doing that. It will be fantastic if the council does turn their application down because they seem to be able to railroad to get their own way so often.”
Tesco (and, to be fair, other supermarkets) often employ this tactic - starting off with a smaller store and then expanding it later - they start selling food, but then introduce electrical goods, financial services, dry cleaning, travel agencies, pharmacies, and so on.
Small businesses in St Albans need to be beware. Most oppose Tesco, but some claim that there might be some benefits from a giant new supermarket - perhaps they need to check that Tesco isn't planning to expand and directly compete with them in the near future!
Tuesday, 15 May 2007
And the Latest Number Is...
We've dried out the petition forms from Sunday and added these signatures to those sent to us by local businesses and residents over the past week, and those entered on the online petition. In total we now have...
4, 340 signatures
Thanks again to you all. Our target is now 5,000 - please could you send any forms you have to Stop Tesco at the address on the bottom of the petition form. We will be collecting at more places over the next couple of weeks - please keep looking here to find out more.
4, 340 signatures
Thanks again to you all. Our target is now 5,000 - please could you send any forms you have to Stop Tesco at the address on the bottom of the petition form. We will be collecting at more places over the next couple of weeks - please keep looking here to find out more.
Monday, 14 May 2007
Scottish Strike is On
As mentioned before in this blog, 150 drivers working for Tesco in Scotland are planning a 3-day strike from 24th May. According to the Daily Record, the problem stems from Tesco's plan to merge two distribution depots, and at the same time, derecognise the TGWU union.
What we find more interesting is that the Record also reports that,
"No one from Tesco was available for comment",
which is a problem that we're having in St Albans as well. If anyone can find a Tesco spokesperson, please let us know where they are, or just ask them to comment on our 4,000+ name petition!
What we find more interesting is that the Record also reports that,
"No one from Tesco was available for comment",
which is a problem that we're having in St Albans as well. If anyone can find a Tesco spokesperson, please let us know where they are, or just ask them to comment on our 4,000+ name petition!
Sunday, 13 May 2007
The Rain Falls on The Market
A great morning collecting signatures at the St Albans Farmers Market, despite the weather! We were joined by local MP Anne Main (left with Chris and Ian) who lent her support and helped us gather hundreds of signatures (the actual number will be posted here later, once we've dried them out and counted them).Special thanks are due to the market organisers who let us take the last market stall - given the amount of rain that fell, we'd have been washed away in the open.
Working for a morning at the market also made us appreciate the hard work of the stallholders who make the market (right) such an important part of St Albans. Markets are becoming rarer around the country thanks to the increased number of supermarkets - we hope this will not happen here in St Albans.
Wednesday, 9 May 2007
Uncertainty Damages Market Confidence
Local resident Chris Adkins writes in the St Albans & Harpenden Review of the need to support the 1,000-year old markets in St Albans. He points out that recent traffic chaos, rent rises, increased car parking charges and the closure of central toilets all threaten the markets.
Added to this, he writes,
"In contributing to trader confidence, it is impossible to ignore the threat from Tesco. A Government report (ISBN 0117534781) says 'our research shows that even the potential threat from an out-of-centre foodstore can adversely affect retailer confidence'."
And of course Tesco is increasing the uncertainty by refusing to go ahead and actually submit plans for the Eversheds site, or to sell the land to committed developers. It is now approaching five months since it began 'consulting' local people - five months of uncertainty for traders and five months during which the site has fallen further into disrepair.
Stop Tesco will be at the Sunday Farmers' Market this weekend - please support us there.
Added to this, he writes,
"In contributing to trader confidence, it is impossible to ignore the threat from Tesco. A Government report (ISBN 0117534781) says 'our research shows that even the potential threat from an out-of-centre foodstore can adversely affect retailer confidence'."
And of course Tesco is increasing the uncertainty by refusing to go ahead and actually submit plans for the Eversheds site, or to sell the land to committed developers. It is now approaching five months since it began 'consulting' local people - five months of uncertainty for traders and five months during which the site has fallen further into disrepair.
Stop Tesco will be at the Sunday Farmers' Market this weekend - please support us there.
Tuesday, 8 May 2007
Every Little...Hurts the Environment
Tesco is making a lot of its environmental credentials in promoting the London Road store - they rate a page of their own, 'A Greener Future', on the company's tescostalbans.co.uk site. However, you may be more skeptical about how green the company is once you read this article in the Telegraph today. In order to save paying VAT on CDs and DVDs Tesco is packaging them in London and sending them to UK addresses via Switzerland - clocking up a 1,400 mile journey releasing a lot of greenhouse gases and other pollution in the process!
This sort of practice also provides another example of how Tesco makes the playing field less level for smaller firms - the UK's small and dwindling number of independent record shops don't have the scale, the resources, or frankly the nerve to do this sort of activity. MP Jim Dowd, who is chairman of the All-Party parliamentary group for small shops, told the Telegraph,
This sort of practice also provides another example of how Tesco makes the playing field less level for smaller firms - the UK's small and dwindling number of independent record shops don't have the scale, the resources, or frankly the nerve to do this sort of activity. MP Jim Dowd, who is chairman of the All-Party parliamentary group for small shops, told the Telegraph,
"Small retailers just don't have a chance. This is not in the public interest and it is not fair competition. If Tesco thought it was cheaper to ship CDs to Tanzania and back I'm pretty sure it would."
If you would like to ask Tesco about this policy, you can use the tescostalbans site itself! Please send us a copy of any reply you get!Monday, 7 May 2007
Stop the Pigeon
A fun Bank Holiday Story from the Sunday Herald - but a warning perhaps of what happens when supermarkets get too big!
"Tesco's new cavernous Extra store at Glasgow's Silverburn shopping centre is not just attracting record numbers of shoppers. The local pigeon population too has taken to perusing its aisles for 'every little bit' it can find.
"Tesco's new cavernous Extra store at Glasgow's Silverburn shopping centre is not just attracting record numbers of shoppers. The local pigeon population too has taken to perusing its aisles for 'every little bit' it can find.
"The Diary was astonished to be joined at the croissant counter by one of the said doos complete with mandatory limp. On reporting the matter to the baker, the Diary was told that the birds usually find their way out again. At the checkout, however, we asked what would happen if they refused to leave what must have been the avian equivalent of Xanadu. 'If they don't go we call in the man with the gun.'"
Sunday, 6 May 2007
Supplier Difficulties
Interesting article in the Sunday Telegraph today. The article looks at two aspects of Tesco's power - the fact that the Competition Commission is having to subpoena information from Tesco suppliers, and the impact Tesco is having on the Irish retail market.
The Competition Commission is acting on concern that supermarkets are using their power over suppliers to distort the market, but has found it difficult to investigate relationships between Tesco and its suppliers. A spokesman for the Commission said,
"This is not something we do lightly. But it gets to a point when you believe that there is relevant information that you haven't been able to get."
Meanwhile in Ireland, local trade associations and competitions are concerned about Tesco's use of the planning appeal process. A spokeswoman for trade organisation RG Data, told the Sunday Telegraph,
"All our objections to Tesco are based on planning decisions alone. We do not make spurious objections. Tesco is a company that is three or four times the size of the entire Irish retail market, and it is amazing that it is attacking a small retail organisation."
The Competition Commission is acting on concern that supermarkets are using their power over suppliers to distort the market, but has found it difficult to investigate relationships between Tesco and its suppliers. A spokesman for the Commission said,
"This is not something we do lightly. But it gets to a point when you believe that there is relevant information that you haven't been able to get."
Meanwhile in Ireland, local trade associations and competitions are concerned about Tesco's use of the planning appeal process. A spokeswoman for trade organisation RG Data, told the Sunday Telegraph,
"All our objections to Tesco are based on planning decisions alone. We do not make spurious objections. Tesco is a company that is three or four times the size of the entire Irish retail market, and it is amazing that it is attacking a small retail organisation."
Friday, 4 May 2007
'Preposterous Plan'
London Colney resident Shona Davies sets out her views on the Tesco proposal in a letter in the St Albans Observer, copied to her MP Anne Main. She writes of her 'horror' and 'fury' on hearing of the Tesco development, as well as pointing out the negative impact of the proposed development on traffic and the surfeit of supermarkets already in St Albans. Her letter ends,
"I have signed up with the volunteer group Stop Tesco and will be doing everything in my power to make sure these plans do not go ahead".
Many thanks for your support!
Thanks also to Eric Roberts of the St Albans Civic Society for mentioning the negative impact of the Tesco development on local shops in his 'Civic Pride' column.
"I have signed up with the volunteer group Stop Tesco and will be doing everything in my power to make sure these plans do not go ahead".
Many thanks for your support!
Thanks also to Eric Roberts of the St Albans Civic Society for mentioning the negative impact of the Tesco development on local shops in his 'Civic Pride' column.
Thursday, 3 May 2007
More Coverage and More Anti-Tesco Letters
The Herts Advertiser covers our weekend petition gathering today here and prints the photo on the left of more people in Stop Tesco T-shirts (thanks Mike, Liz and Jane)! As well as reporting the success of our campaign, the article also points out a number of alternative uses for the Eversheds site that have been suggested by blog readers - if you have a diferent idea, please use the link on the right to let us know.Further on in the paper there's a letter from James Craigen - he writes,
"...I was relieved when the road works on St Peter's Street and Chequer Street were completed. Imagine my dismay, though, when I realised that Holywell Hill, St Peter's Street and many other roads were still horrendously congested...
"The nightmare scenario now is if Tesco is given permission to build its supermarket on London Road and we have even more traffic to contend with".
As Cllr Chris White told the political meeting a couple of weeks ago, traffic is a major concern for the County Council, but this may not be a good enough reason in itself to refuse planning permission. We therefore urge anyone who will be affected by the increased traffic on the main roads and the side roads that will become 'rat runs' to make their objection clear by signing our petition, writing to Tesco or contacting their elected representatives.
Thanks also to Anna L Horton and Bill Harper for mentioning their opposition to Tescos in other letters about retailers in the City.
Wednesday, 2 May 2007
Analysis of Petition - it is Local People Against Tesco
We've had a quick look through the petition forms we've had in so far. One of the most important findings is that where those signing left a postcode, 92% were from St Albans, with 32% (around 1,200 people) living in the AL1 postcode that surrounds the proposed Tesco site. So we're definitely representing local people in the battle against Tesco.
Tuesday, 1 May 2007
Will Tesco Listen?
Many thanks to the St Albans Review for this article covering our petition gathering on Saturday.
Notable by its absence from the article is any response from Tesco to the petition. We hope the company will take the views of local people as expressed in the petition seriously.
However, Tesco doesn't have a good record in this area. In Inverness, the company has just appealed against a local council ruling that found against its proposed FOURTH superstore in the town.
The Inverness Courier reports Steve Rodger, Holm Community Council chairman, as saying,
Notable by its absence from the article is any response from Tesco to the petition. We hope the company will take the views of local people as expressed in the petition seriously.
However, Tesco doesn't have a good record in this area. In Inverness, the company has just appealed against a local council ruling that found against its proposed FOURTH superstore in the town.
The Inverness Courier reports Steve Rodger, Holm Community Council chairman, as saying,
“I think it’s shameful. It is a disgrace that Tesco have not listened to what the community have said and at no point have they come to the community and asked what they want".
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