Tesco's new development and other vast supermarkets are being hotly debated in the press.
DAVID V GOLIATH:Can High Street Davids live with retail Goliath? published in 'The News' 24 OCTOBER 07
The battle to stop Tesco winning planning permission for a massive expansion of its Solent Road store has been compared to David versus Goliath.
Goliath is the supermarket giant, which wants to double the size of the store to make room for furniture, electrical goods and clothes.
Standing up against them are the Davids, the residents and shopkeepers who claim town centre trade will plummet because of the extra competition. Today we have asked the two sides to put forward their arguments, so readers can make up their own minds. There is an argument for having large anchor stores in town centres because other shops benefit from passing trade.
Arguments for Tesco:
Tesco argues that the expanded store will not only attract more people to the town, but also stop those who live there from going to other areas to shop. And Dr Michael Asteris, an economic expert at the University of Portsmouth, said: 'If this new Tesco was on a slip-road out of town then there is no doubt that it would harm the town centre.'But this store is next to the town centre, and you could argue that it will attract shoppers to it - much like the Marks and Spencer phenomenon. Stores do generate passing trade, and that is a fact.'It will inevitably have an affect on shops like newsagents, but usually people will park in the free parking and go out to buy individual items from town centre shops.'
Tesco argues that customers are voting with their feet, and trade in the town centre is down.
Consumers clearly want fresh produce at low prices with a large range that can't be found in the town centre shops. And there is also the fact that the new store, if it is given the go-ahead, will bring a further 300 jobs to the area.
And against;
But David Ince, chairman of the Havant Business Group, is not convinced. He said: 'It will be catastrophic for the town centre. 'We have a situation where the town centre is an established centre where people do their shopping, and that has been the case for many years.
'When plans first came up for Potash Terrace and Solent Road retail parks we protested about the fact that the town centre was going to be fragmented, and that is exactly what has now happened. 'The town centre is now isolated, and it faces a grim future. 'People are telling me that since the retail parks opened business is not going as well as it should be. 'Cars simply drive in on that side of the road and it is all free parking. 'They park there and then go shopping, and there is no incentive for people to cross over that busy road and shop here.'
Response to DAVID V GOLIATH
CHEAPNESS COMES AT A PRICE!
Your Article raised some interesting issues, but the comments of Dr. Asteris should be challenged. He discusses the perceived difference between a Tesco on a slip road and one next to the town centre. He says that it "could be argued" that a store next to the town will be good for the town viability.-this does not seem a very convincing argument, but what is certain is that the town centre store will attract more customers, traffic and congestion whilst at the same time historic town centre will die
The good Doctor concedes the expanded Tesco might have an impact on Newsagents, but it will have an impact on other more important service providers such as, Post Office, Pharmacies, and Banks as well. If these well established essential providers disappear surely small/independent shops will follow. Tesco argue that about 300 new jobs will be created in their new store, but how many established businesses with countless jobs and experience will disappear as a result?
It is often said that supermarket prices are cheaper than local shops. This may be true in some cases, particularly in the case of "loss leaders" but this does not take into account the real price of food and good's on our environment and our commitment to future generations to develop "local" markets and reduce freight miles.
In your "For and Against" piece Melanie Chiswell writes as though the proposed expansion at Havant is driven by customers, in reality the driving force is competition from Asda and Tesco's attempt to swallow up the opposition- whether big or small.
My role as the chair of the Emsworth Business Association is to voice the concerns of independent local trade and service providers. We are mainly concerned with Emsworth but the threat posed by Tesco will impact shops and services elsewhere in the Borough[Hayling Island, Leigh Park and of course Havant]. Emsworth has more than 100 shops, including two butchers, two greengrocers and a Delicatessen. In addition we boast two Pharmacies one of which has been providing health and guidance to many generations of families in the town. Services in Emsworth are first class and whilst some will say we are not threatened by an expanded Tesco the evidence suggests that any expansion on the scale proposed will have a negative effect on shops and threaten long term community cohesion.
We are reaching the tipping point in respect of the growth of supermarkets, further expansions will reduce choice and put town/village centres under serious threat. People enjoy shopping in towns and villages like Emsworth, they provide a relaxed alternative to the hustle of supermarkets and importantly promote "social interaction" which is missing in large impersonal supermarkets. The Borough of Havant has always celebrated being a disparate group of towns and villages, but with a real sense of local identity for our residents. Up to now and to its credit the Havant Borough Council has developed this geographic diversity into a strength. Our small shops and businesses add significantly to convenience, choice and community wellbeing all this will be put at unnecessary risk if this expansion is approved.
Brendan Gibb-Gray.