Lady Caroline Cranbrook.
Felixstowe: Traders and residents join forces in battle to stop Tesco
BY RICHARD CORNWELL
Felixstowe editor, Felixstowe editor
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
12:00 PM
TRADERS and residents are today preparing for a long battle against supermarket giant Tesco – saying they are prepared to defend their town and their livelihoods.
A packed public meeting was told a massive superstore would mean the loss of independent shops, full-time jobs, while some communities had seen shopping centres become ghost towns.
Expert Lady Caroline Cranbrook, who has actively campaigned against edge-of-town Tesco stores in the region, said the proposed supermarket at Walton Green, Walton High Street, Felixstowe, was “in absolutely the wrong place, too big and has come at the wrong time”.
“It’s a greenfield site, which is contrary to national retail policy and contrary to Suffolk Coastal council’s policy,” she told the meeting at Trinity Methodist Church.
“It will certainly have a negative effect on the vitality and viability of the town centre.
“For a superstore to attract the number of customers it needs to be viable it will create big traffic problems, too, for that area.
“It’s too big and there is absolutely no justification for a store of that size, especially as half of its catchment area is the sea. There is no need for this ludicrous giant store.”
Lady Cranbrook said shopping habits were changing due to the internet and some analysts were saying that large stores could become white elephants.
She said even senior Tesco management had said recently that they needed to concentrate on town centre stores rather than building big new ones.
The Walton Green Partnership – comprising Tesco and landowners Trinity College, Cambridge – is planning to submit a planning application for the store, along with 200 homes, offices and community facilities, in the spring.
It is currently finalising its proposals, which will be unveiled at an exhibition soon. The partnership says most people who will use the store will be people who already travel to Tesco at Martlesham and does not expect a large impact on the town centre.
n What is your view on Tesco’s store proposal? Write to Your Letters, Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ispwich IP4 1AN, or you can e-mail starletters@archant.co.uk
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11 comments
we need the new homes for our kids and grand children so they donot have to move out off the area .We have bean waiting for the sea front to be bought up to date since the 80s its 2012snzzzzzzzz
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GRAHAM GORMER
Thursday, February 2, 2012
There's nothing wrong with a bit of healthy competition for the overpriced Spar and Co-op stores in this town. I for one will continue to shop via Tesco Online, delivery direct to your doorstep regardless if they built the new store across the road from me !!
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Dave Martin
Thursday, February 2, 2012
we do need a tescos in felixstowe.nine times out of 10 when you go to the small tescos in hamilton road you very rarely get the items that you want and are forced to go elsewhere.my family have been in felixstowe since 1959 and have seen quite a few changes over the years.these days unfortunately the town centre is looking quite shabby and as for the sea front its a right old shambles.bring felixstowe into the 21st century.a large tescos store would be a great start into bringing felixstowe back to be the great little town it used to be.
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Matron
Thursday, February 2, 2012
We do need a Tescos in Felixstowe, people need to get in the real world, its 2012 not 1912, supermarkets is the way foreward and I hope they are here very soon.
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Robert Manning
Thursday, February 2, 2012
We don't need Tesco's to make Felixstowe Town Centre become a ghost town, we have the Council's glorious "shared bungle" to do that! Shops have never closed so fast and the total lack of policing and parking control (anywhere in Felixstowe for that matter) makes it more like a chicane everyday. Incidentally where does it say cyclists and people in motorised wheelchairs can go either way... preferably at speed?
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Weary Traveller
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
If Tesco get in, you can kiss goodbye to all the remaining small retailers - simple as that. (That's if Tesco don't go bust)
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Sarky Sage
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Small minded, blinkered and petty, the people of Felixstowe should welcome change. As far as I can see any new buildingjobs can only enhance Felixstowe which is looking very deprived and without investment will look worse than it does now. Felixstowe should be happy that a huge company like Tesco is willing to invest in the future of an ordinary coastal town that has seen better days. Instead of concentrating on the negatives have a positive mind and remember, change is good.
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spike martin
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
We do not need a Tesco Superstore. We have got Solar, Morrison,s which is plenty. Also we need to to keep our local shops in Town. There is a Tesco at Martelsham and also at Copdock. By the way at the moment they are running at a loss.
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biggles the pilot
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
We need a Large Tesco's in Felixstowe. Need some price competition. The small traders have charged too much for too long. Thats what they are scarred about.. "PRICE DROP"
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Ipswich Man
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Felixstowe town centre is becoming like a ghost town already with Candlers shutting plus Magpie Books and others, Peacocks are in administration so what will happen to the town centre, will the Council reduce the extortinate rents? I very much doubt it. One also has to ask how Tesco's will get permission to build on a greenfield site, ones imagination could run wild and not for me to say. Tesco's make millions in profit every year whilst our hardworking shopkeepers struggle. Something has to give but i doubt anyone at SCDC will listen.
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FXT Canary
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Before getting too excited it would be sensible to understand the full proposals. Isn't this developement tied in with the redevelopment of the two high schools in the town? What about the proposal for a new Sainsbury's store in Hamilton Road? If this proposal for a new Tesco gets built isn't it going to compete with Morrisons and the Coop as well as the existing Tesco and proposed Sainsbury's rather than anyone else? Felixstowe is a town that has always paid more attention to what the shopkeepers want rather than listening to the residents.
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amsterdam81
Wednesday, February 1, 2012