Published: Thursday, 28th February, 2008 10:00
Traders in middle of ‘giant arm wrestle’
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UP to a third of town centre businesses would go bust within 18 months of Tesco relocating from Calder’s Lawn to Gateside East.
That warning has come from Haddington Traders’ Association chairman John Main, in the wake of last week’s traders’ emergency meeting, at which High Street shopkeepers vowed to stand united against the retail giant’s proposed move.
“There is a strength of feeling among the traders to see this through,” said Mr Main, one of more than 20 traders to attend the gathering.
“We are not prepared to sit back and be walked all over. That is basically what Tesco do. They are not interested in other businesses, no matter what they say. They are only interested in achieving their own goals.”
Last week’s meeting at Kesley’s Bookshop also resolved to consider engaging a consultant to prepare a detailed dossier for submission to East Lothian Council.
A traders’ delegation is to meet with senior planning officials and there are plans to enlist the support of local parliamentarians.
Last month, Tesco unveiled plans for up to 150 apartments and half-a-dozen small retail units on its existing town centre site.
The Courtyards development, which would be built in partnership with Taylor Wimpey, would include a 2,100 sq ft food store occupied by an anchor tenant – possibly Marks and Spencer – and parking for 120 cars.
The company hopes to open a new 50,000 sq ft superstore at Gateside East, on the town’s western edge, which it claims will create 200 additional jobs.
At the same time, Sainsbury’s lodged plans for a 35,000 sq ft superstore at Gateside West, while Miller Developments are keen on a retail park at Harperdean.
Much will depend on the outcome of a council review of local retail opportunities later this year.
“The fact that there are now three major retail companies competing for development space on the outskirts of the town means we risk getting caught in the middle of a giant arm wrestle,” said Mr Main.
“We don’t want to see the current Tesco store vanishing from the town centre. The best thing for the town would be for it to remain where it is – even if they were to take up the option of extending it.
“We want to provide the council with a detailed breakdown and assessment of the impact of Tesco’s developments, to give us some hard figures to support our case.
“It can be an expensive business recruiting a consultant, but we feel such a move would help our cause.
“In Portobello a couple of years ago, our counterparts did just that and they managed to win their battle against Tesco building a superstore.
“It was a different situation in that their case was based on preventing traffic congestion.
“Our campaign is focused on the impact this would have on local businesses.
“In the worst case scenario, we would probably lose about a third of our current town centre shops within 18 months.
“Tesco claims 200 new jobs will be created at Gateside East, but the reality is they would be displacing 200 jobs.
“We would probably lose more jobs than whatever new ones were created.”
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