Our Retail Survey Results Are In - 83% of 196 Local Retailers Don't Want Tesco

Back on 22nd March, an article appeared in the Herts Advertiser in which Tesco stated that it had carried out a survey of local businesses and that a significant majority were in favour of having a Tesco superstore built on the old Eversheds site on London Road.

We here at Stop Tesco were not entirely convinced, so we carried out our own survey of retailers in St Albans. We went out and about and visited 196 retailers. We went up and down London Road and Victoria Street, Alma Road and Lattimore Road, and the Maltings Shopping Centre. We also spoke to all of the market stall holders at the Saturday Market and the Farmers’ Market.

And guess what? We were correct in our assumption. We asked 196 businesses “Are you in favour of the proposed Tesco Superstore on the Eversheds site?” and they told us “NO” in no uncertain terms. 83% of the retailers who took part in our survey do NOT want a Tesco store on London Road.

Our retailers fell into many different categories. Those falling into the “Other” category including toy shops, shoe repair, finance and insurance advice, stationers, newsagents, luggage, mobile phones, dry cleaning, pet food and fabric retailers.

We also did not find one single business that said that they had been part of Tesco’s “survey”.

Over to you, Mr Kissman!