The Walton Green site at Felixstowe, where it is proposed to build 200 homes, a Tesco superstore, offices and community facilities.
Felixstowe: Public meeting called as Tesco protest campaign launched
BY RICHARD CORNWELL, Felixstowe editor
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
3:00 PM
FELIXSTOWE: Protesters are today stepping up their campaign against controversial proposals for a multi-million pound new Tesco superstore amid fears that it could force the closure of many shops.
Lady Cranbrook will be speaking at a meeting next week to officially launch a campaign against a Tesco superstore for Felixstowe.Town centre residents and traders, and residents and shopkeepers in Walton, are joining forces to voice their concerns over the Walton Green project.
A public meeting is to be held next week to discuss the plans and expert Lady Cranbrook has been invited to speak at the event.
Mary Wyatt, of the Felixstowe Town Centre Residents Association, said: There are many issues which need to be looked at but there is great concern over the impact a big Tesco will have on both Walton High Street and the shops in the town centre.
Yes, Tesco will bring jobs, but if other shops then close we will not make big job gains and our town centre will never be the same.
"There is great concern over the impact a big Tesco will have on both Walton High Street and the shops in the town centre."
In recent weeks eight shops have closed or announced they are shutting, and a question marks hangs over the future of two others.
Mrs Wyatt said many people did not believe Felixstowe needed yet another supermarket the town already has a large Morrisons, Co-op, Lidl, Iceland, Tesco and a food hall in Marks and Spencer and were worried about the threat it posed.
Felixstowe Chamber of Trade has voiced serious concerns about building a new Tesco in Walton High Street and claims it will destroy jobs and force shops to close.
There is a real prospect that those businesses will close at the expense of jobs within the town and the chamber is therefore concerned that there will be no new jobs overall and a change in the nature of the jobs which are available from full-time work to part-time work, said chamber chairman Andrew Rowdon.
Expert Lady Cranbrook, who has carried out extensive research and campaign work in relation to Tesco and the impact of edge-of-town superstores on town centres, will speak at the event at Trinity Methodist Church, Hamilton Road, on Tuesday January 31 at 7.30pm.
Mrs Wyatt and Mr Rowdon will also be speaking.
The Walton Green Partnership held an exhibition to explain its proposals before Christmas and says it is now analysing the 700-plus comments it received and using the feedback to put together detailed proposals for the site.
These plans which will include around 200 homes, offices and community facilities as well as Tesco will be unveiled at another exhibition with planning permission then sought in the spring. The partnership says most people who will use the store will be people who already travel out of town to Tesco at Martlesham.
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8 comments
We don't need another large supermaket in town. We already have enough with Morrisons Lidas and solar and a tesco in town. There are better things that land could be used for. We already have two large tescos in driving distant and traffic is already bad enough on the high road with out more cause by a unnecessary supermarket.
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Jacqueline Norlem
Thursday, January 26, 2012
bring it on just bean down the town it is dead only shop beasy TESCOS The coop more workers than shopers .and far to dear at1500hrs
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GRAHAM GORMER
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Did think tescos sold fish & chips, takeaway food, expensive furniture and made funeral arrangements! The only threat is to the 2 coops with in 100 meters of each other. I can live with out those. bring it on please
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MARTYN GREGORY
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Reggie - not another what? Tesco? Meeting? Club Card?
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Norfolk Born
Thursday, January 26, 2012
It looks like a case of N.I.M.B.Y. - the only losers will be the Tesco store at Martlesham- and all the Felixstowe area Tesco shoppers will save their petrol.
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Victor Meldrew
Thursday, January 26, 2012
oh no not another ONE
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Reggie
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Does the fact that shops are closing already in both Walton and Felixstowe tell these complainers nothing? These towns are now DULL and have little to draw people. Perhaps a major superstore might just make people consider shopping locally again rather than deserting elsewhere.The only thing I use now in both towns is the Post Office. This Superstore might just make me consider shopping locally again... as long as the traffic is handled properly.
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Weary Traveller
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Let she who is without a Tesco Club Card cast the first stone,
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Origami Penguin
Wednesday, January 25, 2012