[MK Chris]

Forgive the rant.

Where I live in Newport Pagnell, Aston Martin used to have a big production place. They've now moved it to Warwickshire (although they still have part of the facilities in Newport Pagnell, none of the production now takes place here) and the premises on one side of the road - the site of oldest coachmakers' in the world according to the local paper - has been bought by Tesco.

It's absolutely amazing to see the coming together of a community in order to resist such a thing; there have been petitions, meetings, Facebook groups, posters in pretty much every window in town - business or residential - and, notably, a week ago last Saturday, the town staged a mock funeral with a hearse (presumably donated for free use for the morning) provided by the local funeral directors to signify the 'death of the High Street' - the theme (what with the Aston Martin connection) being "license to kill another High Street"; during the parade, participants dressed as grim reapers (or 'grim retailers') carrying Tesco carrier bags and shopping trolleys and some shops boarded up their windows for the morning and put signs up saying "closing down" and "everything must go", it really was a spectacle (if you're interested, the campaign website is [url="http://www.notesco.org.uk/"]here[/url].)

I, for one, hope they don't manage to build here.. I love this town so much, I was born here and it has so much character and friendliness and sense of community. There are two Tesco stores (one Extra store) within five miles of here and three within seven or eight miles, we don't need one on the doorstep. The argument that it would create jobs holds no water when you consider the lost jobs from businesses closing. I just wonder how much public opinion actually matters in situations like this.

Some photos:




















Anyway, I know this is pretty much a local thing and most of you won't be bothered about this particular instance, but I have a feeling it's not isolated. Tesco are taking over all over the place; one of the stores nearby, in a town called Wolverton, pretty much killed off the community and character of that town too.

[Yudster]

Tesco have been refused permission to build in several different places in my area after local protest, so I think your local campaign has a very good chance of success. The general trend with supermarket planning is against this kind of development at the moment, especially Tesco's apparent plan to take over the entire country. I have nothing against supermarkets, they are excellent in the right context, but thankfully planning authorities these days seem to be wising up to the idea that you can have far too much of a good thing.

[Zoot]

I loved the 3rd photo form the bottom, where the guy must have seen his mate dress up as the Grim reaper, didn't quite get the reason behind it and got himself a dracula outfit to wear.

Tomorrow we have the grand opening of our new outlet centre in Gloucester. The council have always been eager to take advantage of our historic docks (most inland docks in britain don't ya know...), and they did have a small 'specialist' shopping centre there that lasted about 5 years before they locked it up, and this one spans the river from the docks to the cinema about a mile away. Right next to the site they are also building a Sainsburys which will also be opening tomorrow. This means we will have 1 Asda, 2 Morrisons, 6 Tesco's, 4 Tesco extras, 4 Sainsburys and 2 Waitrose in a 12 mile radius

[Yudster]

Ok, maybe Gloucestershire hasn't quite wised up yet..........!

[catherine]

They want to build a big tesco near me and people are saying no because the traffic is bad enough already.

It would be a shame for Newport Pagnell because it is a lovely high street, I haven't seen that bargain pound shop before though..?

[MK Chris]

It's further down, opposite the butcher's and next to the bakery. We walked past it but it would have been shut, so the big sign above the shop would have been folded away.

[S4B]

Tesco have been refused permission to build around here too. Everyone is getting fed up with them opening every 4 or 5 miles and killing off everyone else's business. It's a bit like the plan MacDonalds had which was to ensure no matter where you were you were no more that (I think) 5 miles from one of their revolting fast food places.

[Nicola_Red]

The mock funeral looks in terrible taste to me! I think seeing that would have spooked me out.

[S4B]

I think that is the general plan Nic to be honest.

[MK Chris]

The mock funeral looks in terrible taste to me!

Really? Why?

[Boboff]

Ummm, why does opening a Tesco close other shops?

I don't understand really. Tesco want to offer choice and value, and make money by buying in bulk and having a decent logistics system, and well trained staff. That is good for you, the consumer, isn't it?

Shops sell things to make money, if the crappy eight till late closes, then maybe it should have thought about keeping the right amount of stock and throwing away those cabages before they rot. After all who say if this crap shop shuts it will always be closed, it might open up as a specialist retailer I don't know, selling Ping Pong Bats, which would be nice.

People who arbitrarily object to change for changes sake are numpties.

We have to drive 15 miles to a Tesco, or ten miles to a Morrisons. Tesco have just got permission to build in Callington, only 5 miles, a town with a Co-op and lots of other little spars etc, but no garage. Tesco are putting in a garage as well. It went through planning, the consulation Tesco did with the community before applying showed it had a 96% approval from residents who came to see what it was all about.

Personally if there is a retail space available, I would rather Tesco have it, than pretty much anyone else.

Tavistock had a large Supermarket built about 8 years ago, the usual worries about the Somerfield in the High St closing were muted, but now the high street is still trading well, the market is popular, Morrisons is busy, and get this next door where a McDonalds was up until 3 years ago, they have just given planning for a Lidl's! Great stuff, these different outlets can serve different populations, the trick of the retailer is to know who your customer is and give them what they want.

Having a Tesco in Newport Pagnell will ultimately save the High Street. We often go for a walk around Launceston, Liskeard, Tavistock, then do a shop at Tesco/Lidl/Morrisons on the way home. Attracting people from further away who use the Tesco and then have a "leisure" shop along the high st can give positive rewards to a town.

[MK Chris]

But Boboff, if I really need a Tesco I can travel not very far to get to one. And the staff may be trained, but they are rarely helpful, I find the local shops are more helpful if you need a hand with anything. I understand the need for supermarkets, but I don't see a need for them in Newport Pagnell when there are three Tescos (two Extra stores) so close. Not to mention a Sainsbury, a Morrisons, an Asda and a Waitrose.

Opening a Tesco will drive the other shops out of business and kill off the character and community in the town, I don't think they would be going out of business because of stock levels or rotting cabbages - it will be because they can't compete. I am not adverse to change if it's good change, but I just can't see that this is.

[Yudster]

I like supermarkets, they keep prices competitive and offer a lot of choice. But when you have the two Sainsburys, three Tescos, one Asda, one Co-Op, one Aldi and soon to be open one Waitrose all within 8 miles of each other I really don't believe that any of the supermarket chains could demonstrate a need for another one in the same area.

[Nicola_Red]

The mock funeral looks in terrible taste to me!

Really? Why?

cos I think using the death of a human being as an analogy to a few shops closing is tasteless.

[MK Chris]

I used to think you had quite a liberal attitude, whereas you seem to be demonstrating the opposite these last few days.

I really don't think mocking up a funeral is that bad a thing; it's not like they're making fun of a specific dead person - and even if they were, comedians do that all the time.

[Boboff]

Well I live in one of the statistically most rural parishes in the country (Calstock) which clouds my judgment on this matter.(Something like 46% of the population are defined as "rural" That is not living in a village or a town.)

However, I really do not see that opening up another Tesco will kill the high street. I just don't see it happening. I can see shops that at the moment struggle to make a living, and the initial "interest" drawing people away, may kill them off, but for those with sound business' the 15% dip in take for the first 6 months should be able to be taken. They will get it back. People only have "x" amount to spend, if a community has £10 million of retail spend a week, and there are ten supermarkets and 100 little shops it will be shared around that many, if there were 11 supermarkets and 95 little shops, can you see that really it is not going to make that much of a difference. Tesco Extra competes with Spar, big Tesco's compete with other Supermarkets.

I take your point on staff Toph, you would buy someone flowers from tesco for looking after the dog, you would go to the florists to get Cat some Roses (Trust me sure fire way to get her knickers off!)

I remember living in town and growing up and there were 4 butchers within 1 mile. They all closed in the late seventies and early eighties, everyone was moaning about it. You go back now and allot of the shops are open still, but doing something different, internet cafe, game shops, hairdrssers, tanning salons, Taylors (why I don't know) but like the demise of the Video rental shop or the Doll hospitals, societies needs change, and with it so does the appetite for the type of shops needed. Fundamentally good businesses survive, weak ones close, our society depends on competition to grow and improve. Stifle it at your peril.

*And there end the Party Political Broadcast on behalf of the owner of the means of production. (Well three very nice flats that used to be a Butchers Shop!)

[catherine]

I take your point on staff Toph, you would buy someone flowers from tesco for looking after the dog, you would go to the florists to get Cat some Roses (Trust me sure fire way to get her knickers off!)

I wish. He got me roses from tesco, hmph.

[MK Chris]

I knew you were going to say that. In my defence, I didn't know I was going to see you until 10pm and Tesco was the only place open.

[catherine]

What about for our one month anniversary?

[MK Chris]

Stop picking on me or I'll tell your mum.

[Bonanzoid]

Take it to PMs or something!

[catherine]

We're only joking. I don't expect anything off Chris so anything is a nice surprise.

[MK Chris]

Haha that makes me sound so shit.

[Yudster]

Yes, I've never heard a better backhanded compliment!

[DannyBoy]

reminds me so much of wal-Mart in this documentary http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0473107/