Tesco want to build a superstore at Felixstowe.
Felixstowe: Business park better than a Tesco at Walton Green
BY RICHARD CORNWELL, Felixstowe editor
Friday, February 3, 2012
12:00 PM
LAND which has been earmarked for a Tesco superstore should be used for an enterprise park which could create more than twice as many jobs, according to traders.
"If Tesco are allowed to build here it takes away an opportunity for the future."
Shopkeepers say the town centre is struggling at the moment – and the last thing businesses need is competition from a new 30,000 sq ft out-of-town supermarket.
Consultants identified the Walton Green site in Walton High Street as a possible location for an enterprise park as an alternative to the port-related industry on which the town relies for employment.
Rachel Cronin, from Felixstowe Chamber of Trade, said it was estimated a business park could create 600 to 900 jobs – significantly more than the 300 predicted at Tesco.
“These could be quality businesses that stop the town relying so much on the port but also enable people educated in this town an opportunity to stay in this town and make it a vibrant place in the future,” she said.
“Because of the economic situation, an enterprise park might not be an opportunity at this time, but if Tesco are allowed to build here it takes away an opportunity for the future.”
The Walton Green Partnership – landowners Trinity College, Cambridge, and Tesco – believe a new store would be mainly used by people who currently travel to Tesco Martlesham.
“A new food store in Walton would not stop people visiting the shops in Felixstowe. It would stock mainly food products and would not compete directly with most of the existing businesses in Felixstowe and Walton,” said the partnership.
“A new food store in Walton would encourage local residents to do their shopping closer to home, which in turn creates opportunities for local businesses to capture spin-off trade.”
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5 comments
It's interesting that 'The Partnership' don't think it will be detrimental to the town centre and would be mainly used by their own customers who currently use the Martlesham store! A Tesco store in competition with a Tesco store without affecting the town - Halleluja and not even chasing the SainsburyMorrisonASDA trade . You have to love a superstore with a moral concience!
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Phil Griffiths
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Surely the big difference is Tesco develop it and they occupy it. With a business park a speculative developer must put all the money in, in the hope that businesses then occupy it. In this economic environment, bank finance for construction projects is virtually unobtainable unless pre-sales are at a high level - which isn't going to be possible with a business park - so the idea is good put its completely unrealistic. 300 guaranteed jobs is a lot better in my view than 600-900 potential ones.
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Sam
Saturday, February 4, 2012
NIMBY's rule, especially in Felixstowe! When will it sink in, the Town is dying and has as much appeal as a dead frog these days. We need a few megastores to try and draw something back into the town. How will an Enterprise Park draw people back and anyway we already have empty units el;sewhere. Fill those first. I have ceased shopping in Felixstowe because of the reducing choice, appalling Shared Space scheme and general malaise. Tesco would draw me back. Many others I've spoken to agree and all say Hamilton Road is decaying, but lets try and live in a bygone age. Sad.
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Weary Traveller
Friday, February 3, 2012
A business park could generate 900 jobs...yeah, only if you get the businesses into the town to fill this potential business park to start with. With the geographical position, rubbish roadtrain links, limited existing industry, ridiculous local pricing in the form of location taxes and not to mention, I’m sure most, if not all of any potential business applicants would be shunned and protested by the moaning half of Felixstowe's population with their already apparent "not in my back yard approach". Has this proposal actually been thought out by a independent group? So a business park COULD create 900 jobs (but is unlikely) where as a Tesco WOULD create 300 jobs ...and as a point of note, Evening star, its a little hypocritical of you...banging on about how Waitrose in Ipswich is such a good thing but a Tesco in Felixstowe is a bad thing, double standards or what?
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Lanky
Friday, February 3, 2012
Past experience in this county and elsewhere shows that any undertakings by Tesco about what they will or will not sell in their stores if they obtain permission to open them are entirely valueless. They will do precisely what they want when it suits them, and the only way to avoid this is to "prevent" i.e. stop them in their tracks rather than attempt to "cure" i.e. expect them to stick to their word.
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T Doff
Friday, February 3, 2012