TESCO Lower Clapton Road proposals deferred

7 October 2010

This evening we (councillors and community working together) managed to put back Tesco’s plans to dominate Lower Clapton by getting their lorry loading proposals deferred for more discussion at a later planning committee.

 •

“We have played Tescopoly and it looks like we’ve thrown some winning dice with the deferment of any planning committee decision on their using mega ton lorries to deliver into the street of Lower Clapton Road.

‘There were unresolved issues that needed clarification such as possible impact on road safety and affect on public transport issues.

‘There are a number of other outstanding issues we want to see answered including their proposal to park their lorries in a conservation area without bothering with any consultation of the Conservation area committee or the council’s conservation officer.

‘There has been no consultation with us as elected representatives or local residents by this supermarket giant which plans to walk into the area with an Express shop when it is planning to build a gigantic ‘Tesco Extra’ minutes away in Morning Lane.

Aren’t they taking enough of our hard-earned cash already?

‘We are still saying no to this move and we urge all local residents to do the same.

Take a look at the blog which has been set up: 

    
http://www.noclaptontesco.org/

     

PHOTO: 6th October demonstration Lower Clapton Road

    

     

Contact Ian Rathbone on 07890 654 068 for more info.
    
‘We are all for variety in the local economy but the community’s kind, working with the community, helping to create community, not substituting for it with the Tesco monopoly variety.

‘As we have said before - please, Tesco – do us and yourself a favour. You make £3bn profit every year already – go somewhere else.

Haven’t you got enough stores already in Hackney?’

 
Cllrs Ian Rathbone, Linda Kelly, Deniz Oguzkanli (Leabridge Ward)


by Ian Rathbone

=========================================

comments

Response from David White:

Hi Rose, I do have some sympathy with your point of view, however you may not be aware the issue is not simply the higher prices for all but a few loss leaders these smaller stores charge (to cover overheads given relatively low shelf space) and the predatory pricing of those loss leaders, it is also the disruption to the bus route as giant TESCO refrigeration trucks and vans pull up outside. Their drivers regularly flout the rules in getting as close to the store as possible. There is a bus stop right outside the location in question too.

see http://www.noclaptontesco.org/ 

for recent photographic evidence.

The other issue is that (I hope) we all want to support our (good) local shops and it is symptomatic of the loss of our local shops and high streets (incl local post offices) and should surely be resisted.

It's not a matter of NIMBY as much as SOHS (save our high streets)

Take a look at

http://www.smarterhighstreet.org.uk/

and
(9th Oct 2010 article)

http://www.fpb.org/news/1873

•

There are good reasons for shopping locally:

Shopping locally retains communities

People don’t like losing shops and services in local high streets, but don’t always equate this to how they spend their money. Shops will only survive if customers spend locally – so if you want a vibrant town centre, where people can socialise as well as shop, shop locally.

Shopping locally retains distinctiveness

Clone town Clapton - no thanks! Many town centres and high streets look the same with franchises and multinationals. Independent shops create distinctive shopping experiences and stock different products. Independent shops keep traditional local products alive too. They can also be more innovative - organic products were first developed by independent traders.

Shopping locally creates jobs

Shops in our local high street create local employment and self-employment. These people in turn spend in the local economy.  Evidence shows that for every £10 spent in an independent shop £25 is generated for the local economy compared to £14 spent in multinationals.

Shopping locally helps the environment

Local shops, often stock a high percentage of locally sourced goods and products, and long car & bus journeys aren’t required to get to them.

Shopping locally saves services

Private, voluntary and public sector services cluster around shops. The loss of the high street often corresponds to a reduction in these services. As shops disappear, so do hairdressers, vets, dentists, post offices, etc.

Local shops are needed

Most people can get to their local shops easily and this is especially important for elderly, vulnerable and young people and those without transport. Keeping your shops open by buying locally helps the whole community.

Local shops sell a wide range of great products at affordable prices

Many people get out of the habit of shopping locally & are then surprised by the range of products available and find prices (of no-essentials especially) are often cheaper than the big supermarket.

Shopping locally saves money

Out of town shops have done a good job of convincing us all that sole traders are expensive, but the evidence just isn’t there to back this up. If you add in travel, parking costs, fees to transport larger items home and your time, the overall cost is often much higher.

The survival of the local High Street is down to us all.