Does any other supermarket arouse 
such strong opposition from protest groups than Tesco?
Certainly not all communities welcome them, many prefer supporting local traders and retaining their unique identity when appropriate.
Tesco’s latests plans to open up in Mill Road, Cambridge has caused incredibly fierce oppositon, it is one of the city’s most popular areas after King’s College, enjoyed for its plethora of cafes, restaurants and diverse sole traders selling everything from the exotic to those everyday essential items, and they are well supported by its close community. It is a vibrant hub where town and gown live alongside each other. A Tesco store would simply not fit in with the character of Mill Road, is this something which planners can take into consideration? Especially as Cambridge already has several Tesco stores.
Protesters share the same views as these angry protesters in Manningtree, England’s smallest town. Most importantly, communities want to have their say if they feel a new Tesco store would be detrimental to their area.
One of the lead activists is Jim Jepps, who also writes a leading Green blog. I have given him a guest post because I used to live near Mill Road, I know how special the area is. And there is a great Sainsburys around the corner anyway. The fact is I do not want to see a Tesco on every street corner, I want choice, and I want to support local traders too, we should not drive them out of business. This is what Jim says:
Guest post by Jim Jepps:
It seems hardly credible that this time last month it was just rumours that Tesco hoped to move into the Wilco building on Mill Road (Cambridge). Since that day there has been an avalanche-like campaign in the local community to keep the Tescopoly at bay – if just for a while.
An amazing 240 turned up to the ad hoc launch meeting of the campaign and since then we’ve raised hundreds of pounds delivered thousands of full colour leaflets, and got over 4,000 signatures on the petition against a Mill Road Tesco. My spies inside the council tell me that they have recieved over 800 emails objecting to Tesco’s planning applications, and who knows how many paper responses. So many in fact that they have had to delay the decision not once but twice.
We’ve been on all the radio stations, both TV channels twice and the Cambridge Evening News has given us some excellent coverage (although they can’t spell my name which is a pain). The profile of the campaign (and therefore the bad PR for Tesco) has been phenomenal.
In essence there are four objections to a Mill Road Tesco:
- Mill Road is a unique area full of independent retailers and cultural pluralism. People come from miles around to Mill Road for this concentration of diversity. You can find Tesco anywhere.
- There are numerous supermarkets and mega chains in Cambridge already – including at least half a dozen Tescos. Whilst they might want to ensure that every pound that is spent on groceries (and DVDs, T-shirts, insurance, you name it) is spent in their stores the destruction of independent retailers is a severe problem for our towns, creating identikit streets where you’ve no idea what town, what county, what country your in. We don’t want this cultural death for our area.
link - The economic benefits of having locally based retailers means a sustainable community. Tesco and its smaller brothers and sisters don’t care if they tear out the heart of a community as long as they make their profit. We’re not for that at all. As Ellee said in Feb. “When Tesco says “every little helpsâ€?, who are they really helping – their shareholders and profits springs to mind.”
- The environmental problems associated with ‘just in time’ large scale production mean that not only will there be more deliveries, increasing congestion on an already overloaded arterial road – but also that these deliveries have come further. Whilst I’ve no wish to paint local retailers as living saints selling only the most ethically sound produce they are, overall, better for the environment and the local economy. But whilst we’re talking of ethics, please read this.
What has been so heart warming is the community response which has been so vocal. It’s difficult to tell you exactly how it feels to hear from your neighbours a dozen times a day how much they love their area. The community spirit, something we often see far too little of these days, that this campaign has brought out of the woodwork has been extremely touching.
For more info check out http://www.nomillroadtesco.org. It seems to me that this is what local democracy is all about – residents coming together and telling both government and corporations exactly what they expect of them.
While Tesco plans to open a store in Mill Road in the next few months, residents and traders have set up a protest group on Facebook called “Let’s turn Mill Road into Chains Free Zone”.
Update: 3 November. Tesco plans for Sheringham, Norfolk get cold shoulder – last major town in county without a TEsco.
If local people don’t want a Tesco, I suggest they don’t shop there when it opens. It will be gone within weeks, because – wicked capitalist organisation that it is – Tesco will not stay where it is not wanted.
If only the State were so obliging.
It is disappointing, Ellee, that so many English Tories are believers in free markets everywhere except their own backyard.
I was glad to leave Cambridge, where I lived and worked for a few years. It has such a high proportion of underemployed Statist busybodies (aka academics and their often even more sanctimonious spouses) that I spent too much of my working life as a lawyer filing planning objections to any project that might actually improve the lives of the ungowned without the marbled halls.
As a libertarian who sees no earthly reason why the state should dictate what people do on their own land, I found it an unpleasantly negative and destructive way to make a living. I found the Cromwellian-Marxist, bicycle-calved, holier-than-thou clients deeply disturbing too. I worry about them poisoning the mind of my beloved daughter, currently studying there. She tells me it is still every bit the KGB Staff College so lovingly depicted by its BBC graduates in “Cambridge Spies.”
Two reasons to restrict Tesco:
It is for a local community to decide how it wishes to develop – subject to various rational tests.
Regardless of how excellent they are, it is not for any one company to control the entire business environment. Consider the how the Internet is distorted by Google dominance. That’s where it *could* end up.
And a couple of comments on Green politics:
The Congestion argument “on the arterial road” does not fit with the implication that “people coming from miles around” is a good thing. Perhaps Tesco would REDUCE congestion by forcing the incomers to shop locally in their own area.
Ellee – how come my “spam eaten” count is overtaking yours after only 6 months? Grrrr.
And there’s the market…Boo for Tesco!
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I’m, feeling rather polemical today, so here goes: Tesco’s detractors are certainly vocal and well-organised _ meanwhile, its supporters, like me, usually just keep our mouths shut and keep shopping there! (Along with the rest of the country!) I love Tesco _ I think it is a great British success story. I remember when I was a kid what a dross reputation the company had: Shabby, dirty, old-fashioned stores and rubbish own brands_ Sainsburys was king. But Sainsburys got complacent, didn’t invest enough in their stores (perhaps the Sainsbury family were too distracted by their well-publicised involvement in Social Democrat and later Labour politics and took their eye off the ball?), meanwhile Tescos got better in every way. And people liked it. Good for them.
You only need to look at the emotive and biased language of the detractors to know where they are really coming from: “Tesco …. don’t care if they tear out the heart of a community as long as they make their profit…. who are they really helping – their shareholders and profits springs to mind.” Well what’s wrong with shareholders and profits? Nothing! Most people reading this blog are probably members of a pension fund which owns Tesco shares. Whilst many good people may have been gulled into supporting these campaigns, I think they are being conned by the ‘usual suspects’: the same old ragbag army of anti-capitalists who shriek ‘Don’t privatise our NHS!’ every time healthcare reform is mooted, the same people who try and hijack every campaign about anything to use as a stalking horse for their failed and discredited political agenda. Well, I suggest these political necrophiliacs stop trying to screw some life back into the rotting corpse of socialism and learn to trust people to make their own choices about what they do with their own money. We already have plenty of planning laws in this country: if Tesco’s proposed development makes it thru those, that should be enough. If people don’t want to shop there, they won’t and the store will close.
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Ellee, ignore David A. Tesco represents the ugly face of capitalism. As Conservatives we should support small businesses, local communities and the underdog generally. Tesco, apart from it being vulgar, is greedy. As a former Cambridge resident, I know just how special Mill Road is (note I am a member of the Mill Rd grp on Facebook). The little shops on Mill Road struggle as it is – with the city council’s draconian parking restrictions – Tesco would kill many of them off.
For a ‘big shop’ where there’s plenty of parking, go to Waitrose in Trumpington!
For me the question is absolutely that “It is for a local community to decide how it wishes to develop”. Personally I think it’s extremely important that ordinary people get a real say in what their communities look like – the rise of big government that never listens and local government without any power has been an extremely alienating experience for many.
But Tescos is a very well organised force with the kind of money and commitment that local people are often often unable to muster. I think David Allen and I must must disagree on the relative strengths of the most powerful retailer in the country vs one small community but I do believe we are going to win this one.
We might not have the financial muscle Tesco has but we do have around 9 out of 10 people in the community on our side. Anyone arguing that it’s just up to the market to sort it out is essentailly saying that we don’t have the right to a say over our own unique and well loved community.
Jim, let me take your argument to its extreme: you say “Anyone arguing that it’s just up to the market to sort it out is essentially saying that we don’t have the right to a say over our own unique and well loved community.” So far, so very warm and cuddly. But haven’t others tried to exercise those very same ‘community rights’ in the past to try and keep their neighbourhood/ country club/ swimming pool/ whatever ‘whites-only’ or ‘gentile-only’? and tried to intimidate others from being able to sell or rent their own property to who they choose _ or use legislation to achieve the same ends? I take it that Tesco have not compulsorily purchased the site they plan to develop? Someone sold it to them freely and they should be free to develop it as they wish subject to building regulations and other legislation. Do communities as such have rights anyway? Surely it is the individuals within communities that have the rights: in this case the right not to sell property to Tesco, the right not to shop there, the right to try and persuade others not to shop there So, you have a ‘right to a say’ but not a right to have your view enforced by the state against someone seeking to use their property in a perfectly lawful way to offer goods or services to others, which they are free to buy or not as they wish. If the community is as hostile to Tesco as you say, then the store will be a failure and it will close, and you will be able to say ‘I told you so’. If the store survives and thrives you will have been proved wrong.
Justin Hinchcliffe, why do you think “The little shops on Mill Road struggle as it is”?
Do they offer the range, the prices and the convenience available at Tescos?
Aren’t the capitalist small traders merely trying to protect their own profits and shareholders when they protest!?!
There may be other Tesco stores “near” but are they reachable if you don’t drive? That could be a factor. Tesco are not fools and surely would have done research as to whether this store was wanted.
Matt,
“Consider the how the Internet is distorted by Google dominance. That’s where it *could* end up.”
How do Google distort the internet?
I shop in Tesco too and admire their entrepreneurship, but I disagree that a Tesco store should necessarily be reachable. We will soon have more Tesco stores on our high streets than post offices. I would prefer to see post offices and sole traders encouraged to flourish in streets like Mill Road. Communities don’t always want the big boys on their doorsteps. Why can’t local people have a say on this?
Local people have had their say. Tesco’s market research must suggest they want the shop, otherwise it wouldn’t be building it. If the market research is wrong, all the vigorous anti-capitalists among your commenters will be happy as no wicked profits will be made and the shop will be closed pdq. As for “protecting” local shopkeepers, the question is “from what?”. Surely they need no protection against the unlikely chance of their customers (who so love them – see comments) deciding to shop at Tesco (which they all hate- see comments)?
I wonder what motivates the shopkeepers on this iconic road, by the way, if it’s not filthy profits?
Elle this is nimbyism gone mad. If local people do not like Tesco then avoid it. I suspect though it is just those that can afford to go to local stores (usually read more expensive and less convenient stores) that make these protests. Think about what you are asking planners to do . . . Tesco is not right for this town, fine but then who is? Sainsbury’s is OK apparently. Who decides . . I certainly do not want some jumped up local councilor or planning officer making calls on what shops are right for my town or high street. And I don’t want to be bullied by a vocal middle-class nimbyist pressure group. It’s Stalinist. I thought you were a Tory?
Excellent guest post. This is NOT nimbyism, as David Brain says, but local democracy at work.
But there is a silver lining…
Tesco used to be popular … then it lost its status some time in the 1980s because it was considered ‘naff’ and downmarket … then it won customers back.
How long until people realise that Every Little does Hurt and turn away in droves from this modern day Monster?
Tom’s comment
“I was glad to leave Cambridge, where I lived and worked for a few years. It has such a high proportion of underemployed Statist busybodies (aka academics and their often even more sanctimonious spouses) that I spent too much of my working life as a lawyer filing planning objections to any project that might actually improve the lives of the ungowned without the marbled halls.
As a libertarian who sees no earthly reason why the state should dictate what people do on their own land, I found it an unpleasantly negative and destructive way to make a living. I found the Cromwellian-Marxist, bicycle-calved, holier-than-thou clients deeply disturbing too. I worry about them poisoning the mind of my beloved daughter, currently studying there. She tells me it is still every bit the KGB Staff College so lovingly depicted by its BBC graduates in “Cambridge Spies.�
Couldn’t have put it better myself.
Far too many freeloaders in the UK. Perhaps the surge of immigration will get them off their pathetic arses.
Hi David Brain,
I’m sure the Lib Dem led Cambridge City Council (Planning Cttee) will give Tesco the thumbs up, unless there is very vocal opposition from ‘local’ businesses, ‘local’ people & ‘local’ Councillors. One can sometimes almost be delluded into thinking that democracy exists, the only thing is one can never be sure which ‘demos’ and which ‘cratos’.
A few disjointed answers;
“are they [other Tesco] reachable if you don’t drive” Yes. Ten minute walk. Four minute bike ride.
“Sainsbury’s is OK apparently” well there isn’t a sainsbury on Mill Road either. Mill Road is not completely chains free – but its getting close.
Quasar9 – I’m very hopeful that the libdem run council will reject these proposals as we now have the official support of the cllrs and the MP plus the Labour opposition cllrs also support the campaign (although their parliamentary candidate is uncharacteristically quiet on this one). There are no Tory councillors in Cambridge so I don’t know what the local Tory party’s position is on this.
The elected cllrs know which side their bread is buttered on, but unfortunately unelected council officials will also have a say in this
David – it’s interesting that you say that my arguments could be used as a justification for “whites only” and such like but I think that would only stand up if I felt this was the only important part of the argument.
One of the very important aspects to this campaign specifically is its welcoming of diversity and pluralism in the community. It is not a campaign to preserve some mythical little england but one that is attempting to defend this conjunction of the old and new communities. This is what makes Mill Road so special. In my opinion its important to take arguments in context.
I agree however that one important and difficult democratic question is that of the balance between the rights of minorities and the will of the majority. However, it is only with a very special kind of squint can we view Tesco as a victimised minority. In fact it is the Mill Road community that is the David to its Goliath, and as such I’m happy for the small community to be getting its way for once.
One commentator asks “Do they offer the range, the prices and the convenience available at Tescos?” The answer can be seen at the campaign website where we did a price comparision and discovered that contrary to popular opinion tesco *express* is actually more expensive than the shop in the local community and certainly does not have the range available in Mill Road (but then again where does?)
What Tesco have is financial muscle not available to local traders and the ability to absorb losses in order to drive out of business local competition. We don’t want to get to that stage.
A final note, not on the ethics this time: there is a question of the legal practicalities here. Even if most or all councillors on Cambridge City Council are personally against Tesco opening up in Mill Road, they may well still give planning permission. The reason is that, if the council turns down the application and Tescos appeals to the planning inspectorate at the department of the Environment (is it still called that?) it will cost a lot of money in legal costs _ for both sides. And if the council loses, as it is very likely to, it will probably have to pay the legal costs of both sides _ and Tesco will be sure to employ a fleet of very expensive lawyers. Therefore, if council officers advise councillors that Tesco would be likely to win on appeal, the councillors would be failing in their fiduciary duty to the council taxpayers of their area if they ran up legal costs pursuing a course of action which was bound to fail. Loathe as I am to defend a LibDem council, I often sorry for councils which get blamed by their voting public for agreeing to unpopular developments. The voters usually don’t understand that whether a scheme goes ahead is more to do with planning law than anything else, not down to a simple matter of the majority opinion of councillors.
TIm>How do Google distort the internet?
A huge question.
I’ve replied at some length here:
http://www.poliblogs.co.uk/blog/2007/10/does-google-have-too-much-power-for-our-comfort/
Matt
[…] On a comment over at Ellee Seymour’s blog, Tim Almond asked me: “Consider the how the Internet is distorted by Google dominance. That’s where it *could* end up.â€? […]
[…] On a comment over at Ellee Seymour’s blog, Tim Almond asked me: […]
[…] On a comment over at Ellee Seymour’s blog, Tim Almond asked me: “Consider the how the Internet is distorted by Google dominance. That’s where it *could* end up.â€? […]
[…] On a comment over at Ellee Seymour’s blog, Tim Almond asked me: “Consider the how the Internet is distorted by Google dominance. That’s where it *could* end up.â€? […]
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