How to Oppose Expansion of a Tesco Store

Posted on October 23rd, 2005 filed in Local, Politics

Posted to the Ethical Network bulletin board this afternoon…

Help needed - Speakers - How to Oppose Expansion of a Tesco Store

No 2 Tesco Aberdare

Type: Discussions
Posted: 23/10/2005 15:59

* We need help *

Tesco Plc would like to expand their existing store in Aberdare, part of the Cynon Valley, which is 20 miles north of Cardiff.

Their current out-of-town supermarket was built around ten years ago. This original store development was subject to intense criticism at the highest level, involving Parliamentary questions, investigation by the National Audit Office etc.

If Tesco expand it will kill off the remaining shops in Aberdare town, which is at the heart of the Cynon Valley. It is inevitable that the further expansion of Tesco will also close shops in remote outlying communities in the Valley, thus depriving people in some of the poorest wards in Wales of basic local food/shopping choices.

As an illustration of just how corrupt the whole process is in this part of the world : The only local newspaper (owned by Trinity Mirror) published a news story a couple of weeks ago announcing Tesco’s desire to expand in Aberdare, and there was an Editorial welcoming “new jobs”. Contact was made with the local Planning Department of Rhondda Cynon Taff Council and they have confirmed they have not received a planning application from Tesco, and have no Retail Impact Assessment or any assessment of the impact of any expansion. In fact, Tesco are doing what they usually do, which is bullying and bulldozing through the planning application.

* We need help *

I have read recently that Tesco Aberdare have halted their free bus service and stopped trading 24 hours. It has been suggested that this is their usual tactic in ’softening up’ the locals for a planning request.

Is there any one willing to come to speak to a public meeting to launch a campaign opposing the new development ?

Any help or recommendations appreciated.





5 Responses to “How to Oppose Expansion of a Tesco Store”

  1. Rhys Says:
    October 26th, 2005 at 12:46 pm

    Tesco’s domination of the food market concerns me very much and their desire to expand is quite frightening.

    In Bangor an already large out of town Tesco store (more or less on the A55 expressway), only built around 7 years ago is going to be demolished and re-built again, only double the size.

    In Carmarthen Tesco have just recieved permission to build a new and larger store on the edge of town, to replace a store in the town centre.
    There was quite a lot of opposition to this store.

    A store is also planned for Rhuthun.
    This blog (http://rhuthun.blogspot.com/) covers the sitation in Rhuthun and compares it to the experiences of Holywell and Abergele.

    Have you seen the http://www.tescopoly.org/ site.

  2. aberdare Says:
    October 26th, 2005 at 4:45 pm

    Thanks for the Rhuthun link.

    I’ve seen the Tescopoly site. I like the fact that it is produced by a coalition of groups working together. I believe that the Supermarket corporation juggernaut will only be stopped by working together.

  3. Maldwyn Says:
    December 16th, 2005 at 12:50 am

    Below is an article of the impact of “big” business taken from http://www.mybusines.co.uk, so support the small local independent stores in your locality.

    Supermarkets battle for neighbourhood dominance
    12/12/2005

    Small shop owners are crying foul, as new figures show Tesco is set to become the UK’s largest convenience store chain and another supermarket giant readies to follow in its footsteps.

    A report out today by Verdict Research reveals that Tesco has increased its market share in the ‘neighbourhood shops’ sector to 5.4%, pulling nearly even with current market leader Spar.

    Tesco’s move into the high street market, in response to tightened planning rules for out-of-town supermarkets, has netted quick success. The company has increased its sales in the market from £200m to £2.4bn this year, according to the report.

    Determined to not fall too far behind, Tesco’s competitor Asda has announced its foray into the neighbourhood shop sector. The chain, which is owned by the US discount retailer Wal-Mart, will open its first high-street store in Northampton next year.

    The move was roundly criticised by the nation’s convenience store owners who pointed to the closure of 2,000 independent stores last year as evidence of the need for a supermarket regulating body.

    At the very least, said the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), the Office of Fair Trading’s (OFT) Competition Commission should investigate shop owners’ concerns.

    “Our evidence has shown that good retailers are struggling to compete as a result of below-cost selling, price flexing and the acceleration of convenience store acquisition by the major multiple retailers,” said Shane Brennan, ACS spokesman.

    The OFT has said it will decide in April whether to investigate the matter. OFT chief executive John Fingleton claims his agency is not in the business of protecting companies that fail to compete; it is in the business of protecting competition.

    “We agree that it is not the OFT’s role to protect failing businesses; this is about ensure there is a future for good local businesses that customers want and communities need,” Brennan added.

    Meanwhile, car and bicycle component retailer Halfords has been accused of “bullying” suppliers by issuing new, strict terms.

    The company has told firms that beginning next year it will not pay its invoices until 120 days after their issue date. It currently pays after 90 days, which was raised from 30 in 2003. It is also demanding a 5% cut in prices across all products it purchases.

    One Halfords supplier told the Forum of Private Business (FPB) that “unlike in the food sector where there is a code of practice policing the relationship between suppliers and supermarkets, in our sector suppliers are unprotected and vulnerable. Halfords is abusing its total market dominance, as the only retail giant in the sector, and is wringing the money out of its suppliers.

    “These new payment terms will endanger businesses and will cause job losses. The government must help small businesses and stop these new payment terms being imposed on us without any negotiation. Furthermore, there needs to be a code of practice in our sector protecting us from this appalling abuse of dominance.”

  4. The Last Bristolian Says:
    December 28th, 2005 at 6:49 pm

    As a visitor to Bangor immediately after Christmas I was shocked at how quiet the high street was, considering it was the first day of the sales, the Tesco ,and the relocation Next to a shed near to it has REALLY damaged the centre of the town. In a couple of years the High street will be largely charity shops and take-aways, and feel “not very nice”. What price cheap food eh…

  5. aberdare Says:
    November 28th, 2006 at 6:52 pm

    See latest news on Tesco’s domination of Aberdare here

    http://www.aberdareblog.co.uk/2006/11/26/games-newspapers-play/

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