Hundreds say no to Tesco

Published 24 Dec 2009 08:30 6 Comments

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CAMPAIGNERS protesting against proposals to move Tesco supermarket from Haddington's town centre gathered hundreds of signatures on Saturday.

Stuart Ritchie, Liberal Democrat Westminster candidate for East Lothian, and South of Scotland MSP Jim Hume set up a stall at Haddington Farmers' Market to encourage residents to put their names to a petition, opposing Tesco's plans to move from its current Newtonport location and set up a new superstore at Gateside East on the outskirts of Haddington.

If approved, the current supermarket will be replaced with a retail development that planners say will ensure the retention of adequate car parking at the site.

"I've just completed a survey of 1,000 households in Haddington and have so far received about 440 responses from residents," Mr Hume told the Courier.

"The overwhelming view is that Tesco should remain loyal to the town centre and I could count on one hand the number of people who supported the proposals."

It was the third time that Mr Hume has canvassed the public for their opinion at the farmers' market, and he said that hundreds of fresh signatures were added to the growing petition at the weekend.

"People fear that a larger out-of-town store could remove business and footfall away from the centre which would have knock on effects for the high street traders," he explained.

"There are also implications for people who find it convenient to shop in the centre - not everyone has a car and elderly folk and those with mobility difficulties like the fact that they can get to the store easily.

"The petition and results of my survey will be handed in to council officials in the New Year but, until then, the plan is to keep momentum on this campaign."

Though Tesco's is one of three proposals that aim to erect new supermarkets in the Haddington area - Sainsbury's and Miller Developments hope to establish new retail centres at Gateside West and Harperdean respectively - the supermarket giant has received the harshest criticism due to its plans to vacate its current town centre location.

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Super Gran
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Dec 25, 19:36
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It is high time that Tesco realises that 'NO' means 'NO'. Which part of 'NO' do they not understand? Haddington is unique as a Market Town, something which is becoming more and more rare with the 'out-of-town developments springing up all over the country destroying the heart of country life.

It is also time that the large and highly profitable companies find out that they DO NOT rule the world nor do they rule people's established lives. We like Haddington as it is and we would like it remain so.

Please do not be fooled or bamboozled by offers of 'We will build some much-needed affordable housing at Calder's Lawn and scale down the size of the store' - affordable to whom? Not to the rank and file folk of the Haddington area who want to live where they grew up. No, these homes will be for commuters who find that EH41 is the most 'Des Res' Postcode in Scotland - this is why house prices are hiking up in East Lothian well beyond what ordinary folk can afford. We are not fools and we should be very wary of companies 'bearing gifts' and 'dangling carrots' before the Planning Department in an effort to persuade them to pass the Planning Applications with a 'nod and a wink' Those days are over - the Councillors work on our behalf, we the people of East Lothian DO NOT want this. Councillors, please be aware that we elected you to the Local Council to represent our interests as Constituents of the County. As your Constituents we are asking you NOT to grant Planning Permission for this out of town development. If Sainsbury's and Miller Developments want to do this, why does Tesco think it needs to do so too? It is time for some healthy competition, so I say 'Keep the 'T' in Town - make Tesco stay where it is - please! If Planning permission for the Tesco Development is granted and the store moves out of town I, for one, will not be shopping there. I prefer to shop locally thank you!

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Chris Walker
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Dec 26, 15:45
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The fact that 440 households out of 1000 responded to Jim Hume's survey hardly indicates an 'overwhelming view' that Tesco should remain in the town centre. It would however indicate that 560 households are not particularly bothered either way as they felt no great urgency to respond.

For many families in Haddington, The town centre store is crowded, and unable to stock the wide range of goods many consumers wish - hence the reason myself and my immediate neighbours made the journey to Asda at the Jewel for our weekly shopping.

'Super Gran' uses the term 'We' a lot, as if she is representative of the entire population of Haddington. Neither myself or anyone I know in Haddington was given the opportunity to participate in this 'survey', so where this majority of people opposing the Gateside development comes from, I'm not too sure?

Stuart Ritchie and Jim Hume's stall at the Farmer's Market again targets people already shopping in the town centre, and fails to take into account the views of the many Haddington families who shop outwith Haddington due to the lack of choice at the existing Tesco store.

Perhaps Stuart Ritchie, Jim Hume and 'Super Gran' would prefer to base their 'findings' on such a small, restrictive sample, as a proper survey across the entire population of this town may yield a different result.

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Richard Brown
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Jan 5, 00:42
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I remember when Tesco first made an application to start trading in the town centre. All the business owners complained and tried to stop Tesco from coming to Haddington as they claimed that the town centre would become a ghost town. Its funny that has not happened. If the business owners continue to offer products which the supermarkets do not sell then the people of Haddington will continue to support them. As is often the case the councillors and/or MP,s never listen to the majority and by doing a mock survey demonstrates this practice very effectively. Let Tesco move to the edge of town, maybe then we could get some parking spaces in the centre without the usual traffic snarl ups.

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Julia Foreman
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Jan 5, 14:06
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I think there are several issues here. The free town centre parking provided at the Tesco store encourages people to stay and spend their money in the town. If the site is redeveloped then that free parking could be jeopardised. Also, I have a friend in Haddington who does a lot of voluntary community work with elderly and disabled adults in the area. The people he works with all live independently, but the lifeline of having Tesco in the town means they get out and meet people and they don't have to worry about a long trip out of town. They can hop on a bus to get their messages; they feel a part of the community rather than being isolated. Whatever Jim Hume MSP, or indeed any other MP/MSP/councillor, can do to publicise this issue can only be a good thing.

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graham bolton
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Jan 13, 11:49
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I STAYED IN HADDINGTON AS A CHILD, AND ITS A GREAT PLACE,AND MOSTLY FAMILY BUISNESSES,I NOW STAY IN THE SCOTTISH BORDERS, WHERE TESCOS AND ASDA HAVE BEEN BUILT NEXT DOOR TO EACH OTHER, 200 YARDS APART,

I CAN HONESTLY TELL YOU, IF YOU LET TESCO BUILD IN HADDINGTON YOUR TOWN WILL END UP A GHOST TOWN,

HERE IN GALASHIELS FAMILY BUISNESSES HAVE BEEN FORCED TO CLOSE AS TESCO WORLD HAS TAKEN OVER, NO ONE SHOPS IN HAWICK ANYMORE AS NO SHOP ARE IN THE HIGH STREET,MOST OF THEM HAVE CLOSED,

STAND YOUR GROUND WITH THEM, SAY NO?

BUT THEY THEY WILL BUILD MARK MY WORD, THEY ALWAYS WIN,,,IF HADDINGTON IS STILL THE SAME A CLOSE NITT PLACE, MARCH AGAINST THEM OR HADDINGTON WILL BE NO MORE A FAMILY SHOP AREA,YOU CANT COMPETE AGAINST TESCO, (BEST OF LUCK) YOU WILL NEED IT,

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exiled Haddingtonian
Unregistered User
Mar 23, 10:57
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Tescos, they never give it a rest.....!

Years ago they built the Tesco where it sits just now. The council in their wisdom changed parking facilities for the whole towm and put on time restrictions on parking to accomidate them and the influx of people coming into Haddington to go to Tescos. The High Street back then and still now is a GHOST TOWN because of them. Charity shops and a new hairdoo is one of the few ammenities shops offer on the two main streets. There are only a miniscule of family run shops left let alone one to buy a loaf of bread.

So Tescos now want to leave, and leave all the mess that THEY MADE .....! Why don't they just leave town altogether, along with their poorly bred chickens that don't meet the proper RSPCA standards. They pay staff just above the minimum wage and take huge profits in bonuses for the board, then boast thet everyone in Britain spends £8 a week in their shops.

So sling yer Hook TESCO and don't come back. You won't get any money fi ME.......!

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