Tesco's and the constant maths test

[DominicJ]

No! That's just the point. Even Bacardi dares not take on Tesco.

Or maybe it protests rather more than it really cares?
Judging that the money it makes from Tesco is worth the hassle you describe?

[biffvernon]

Or maybe it protests rather more than it really cares?

No! Bacardi has not protested at all. Others have reported.

[JohnB]

Farm shop takes on Tesco!

A spokesman for Tesco said: "It is good to have healthy competition in the area. Clearly the winners here will be the customers."

[kenneal - lagger]

I've written to my MP asking that a law be bought in to stop any retailer having more than 15% of the market. Why not do so yourselves.

We have a Monopoly and Mergers commission who should be looking at the catastrophic effect the very small number of major supermarkets is having on the food supply industry in this country. The supermarkets rely on the government, and ultimately us, to top up the wages of their staff and their suppliers staff and the EU, and ultimately us, to top up the wages of the farmers who produce the food in the first place.

Supermarkets rely on us to provide final distribution transport for their products and to save them the cost of a lot of small shops. They rely on cheap fuel to centralise their distribution hubs. They rely on the government paying for the cost of distribution highways as do most retail businesses. They despoil the landscape with their huge distribution depots.

Supermarkets in this country are increasingly sourcing food from abroad as farmers in this country find that producing food for supermarkets is uneconomic, The number of UK dairy and pig farmers is dropping every year. In a time of plenty that might be alright but in the present economic climate it is a recipe for disaster.

[biffvernon]

Dear all,
Happy new year ! And welcome to the tenth Tescopoly Local Campaign Bulletin.

Campaign successes
To celebrate the new year we thought we'd start on a positive note and give you some examples of some recent successful campaigns against new supermarket developments.

Honiton, Devon - January 2009
On the 11th January 2009, an article in thisisexeter.co.uk reported that the Planning Inspectorate had dismissed Tesco's appeal ruling that a new, larger store in Ottery Moor Lane to replace the existing one in Battishorne Way would destroy town centre shops. Parking and loss of industrial land for employment were also grounds for dismissing the appeal. To view the appeal decision please go to <<http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/news/litt ... ticle.html>>

Congleton, Cheshire - January 2009 Tesco submitted plans to extend its store in Congleton by adding a mezzanine floor. Plans were first submitted in May 2008 then withdrawn and re-submitted in November. But in January 2009 the planning committee refused the application. The planning officer's report said: "It is considered that the Tesco proposal could deter investment in the town centre, which would be contrary to the overall spatial planning strategy for the area. "It is also considered that the proposal could potentially divert much greater levels of trade from the town centre than suggested by the applicants in their assessment."

Great Harwood, Lancs - December 2008
On 5th December an article in the Blackburn Citizen reported that Government Inspector, Philip Ware, has refused Tesco permission to open a new store in Great Harwood. He concluded there was no longer a need for the store in the town after a £32million Tesco store off Eagle Street, Accrington, was approved following a seperate planning enquiry. The town was promised a cash investment which had been incorporated into Tesco's planning application and Hyndburn Council had previously wanted to approve the application but the Government Office in Manchester ordered the 4-day public inquiry in July.

Frinton, Essex - December 2008
In 2008 Tesco and Exmax New Homes submitted plans to build 13 flats and a Tesco Express store in Frinton. Tendring District Council planning committee met on the 10th December and unanimously rejected the application. Officers at Tendring District Council had recommended the plan should be refused as they said it was contrary to planning policy and have concerns about access to the site. For more information please the campaign case study

No Mill Road, Cambridge - November 2008
Cambridge City Council rejected Tesco's application for an extension and installation of refrigeration equipment but Tesco appealed against the refusal of planning permission. At the start of October a four-day hearing was held. The Planning Inspector dismissed both of Tesco's appeals concluding that the servicing options for the store would "pose unacceptable risks to highway safety". For more information please see an article in the Cambridge News, 12th November 2008 and for a history of the campaign please see the campaign case study

Traders have had their business rates slashed after complaining their profits were being hit by derelict land blighting their neighbourhood.
In Hanley, Staffordshire traders successfully campaigned to have their business rates slashed by 25 % after complaining their profits were being hit by derelict land cleared for a new Tesco store and link road was blighting their neighbourhood. <<http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/ne ... ticle.html>>

Campaigners in Holmbush, Sussex also achieved a 20% rate reduction after carrying out a trade impact survey and generating 100 rateable value appeals from local businesses. For more information please see the campaign case study page

New Supermarket Watchdog and Supermarket Code of Practice
The Tescopoly Alliance is continuing to work with Andrew George MP and a wide-range of organisations to push the Government and Competition Comission to impose a new strong supermarket code of practice and new independent watchdog. The Competition Commission is currently drafting undertakings for the Ombudsman and will ask the supermarkets to voluntarily sign up to the new Ombudsman. If they don't agree to sign up the matter will be referred to Government. So despite the CC's recommendations, it is not a done deal and indications from Government have not been very encouraging so it is vital we continue to put pressure on MPs and Government to take action.

Our new Tescopoly campaign postcards are addressed to Peter Mandelson, Secretary of State for Business asking him to implement the CC's recommendations and establish a supermarket watchdog. Postcards are free but contributions towards postage costs are always welcome. Please email info@tescopoly.org

New planning policy guidance (PPS6) to support town centres and local shops
As we mentioned in the last bulletin the Government revealed new plans for town centre planning policy and held a public consulation which closed at the beginning of October. Alliance members Friends of the Earth convened a meeting with government representatives, planning bodies and NGOs on 28th October, to make the case for a stronger policy for town centres that retains the need test and includes a presumption against out of town development and a tougher test for diversity to ensure that policy delivers a real choice of where to shop.

In an article in the Times on 11th January Tesco is quoted as calling for " tax incentives and fast-track planning permission for green stores. The supermarket giant wants the government to cut business rates for environmentally friendly stores and speed them through the planning system. Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Tesco's corporate-affairs director, said: "Green stores should be given a fast track not a slow track through the planning system."

This is worrying and means work to strengthen PPS6 planning guidance and policy is more vital and urgent than ever.

Tesco appeal over competition test
Tesco have launched an appeal against the 'Competition Test', which the Competition Commission planned to implement to remedy the saturation in certain local areas of Tesco stores. The test would mean that Tesco could not enter into any new area where it already has 60% of market share. The Competition Appeals Tribunal's decision on Tesco's appeal is expected in February.

NEW local campaign sub-site
We are currently developing a new campaign sub-site specifically for campaigners. The aim is to make the information on how to launch a campaign to oppose a new supermarket development clear and accessible. As many of you know starting a campaign and absorbing all the information on planning can be quite an overwhelming experience so our aim is to create a site that takes new campaigners through the process step by step

A number of local campaigners are working with us to design and develop this new site. If you'd like more information or to become involved then please email us at info@tescopoly.org
The aim of these short email bulletins is to share best practice, campaign updates and highlight any policy developments at the national level. If you do not wish to receive these emails then please let us know.
Very best wishes,
The Tescopoly Team