Campaigning against Tesco's presence in the creative and cultural heart of Cambridge.
Tesco's 14th store in the Cambridge area is in Mill Road, Cambridge, one of Cambridge’s most cosmopolitan areas. The No Mill Road Tesco Campaign was set up to oppose these plans, and kept Mill Road Tesco-free for almost two years. Over 5,000 people signed our on-street petition and 1,000 objected to its planning applications. Tesco lost 3 planning applications, an alcohol license application and a public enquiry, leaving it with one of its smallest stores in the UK that it will have extreme difficulty in delivering to. The opening of the store brings the campaign into a second phase: ever-more active support for local traders, and making sure that any breach of planning condition or public safety results in Council action. Join our announcements mailing list to receive updates about the campaign.
NEWS JUST IN: Tesco have LOST their attempt to sell booze on Mill Road – an area which is now a Cumulative Impact Zone (which creates an assumption against the granting of new licenses).
More details and commentary on this will follow in due course.
Why are Tesco advertising half-price wine on Mill Road, an area with a known with an alcohol problem, when they were refused a license to sell alcohol?
In advance of the launch of the new Milly card scheme for Mill Road at the Winter Fair on Saturday 5th December, please display the Milly window poster in support of the scheme! This can be downloaded from our website.
You will be able to join the scheme at our stall outside Hilary’s Greengrocers at the Mill Road Winter Fair. The fee is £2 which will entitle you to all sorts of discounts and offers from participating local traders. A plastic card will be sent through the post with your unique member number.
More details on the new Milly Card website coming soon from the Mill Road Society …
Click on the poster to create a printable version.
As you may know, Tesco plan to appeal against the decision not to allow it to be an additional alcohol licensee on Mill Road, despite the statement on their website which says: “We do not apply for licences in areas with known disorder issues.” Mill Road is a Cumulative Impact Zone, which means that new license applications are normally refused, and Tesco should be no different – but they have appealed.
We understand that the hearing for this is likely to be in the new year, but we (and other objectors) have no further details as yet. We will send out an update to supporters when such details arrive.
This will mean that the 14th Tesco-owned store in Cambridge will have no opportunity for Christmas drink sales, reducing the profitability of its outlet on Mill Road further.
TESCO eventually won the fight to open a store in Mill Road, Cambridge.
But the supermarket giant has still to win over a large section of local residents, and appealing against the council’s refusal to allow the shop to sell alcohol will do it no favours.
If Tesco bosses really want to be part of the Mill Road community, they should listen to that community. Police could not make it clearer the street has a serious problem with alcohol abuse.
Tesco claims not to push for licences in such areas. It should take its own advice. It would go a long way towards convincing its opponents it is not just pursuing maximum profit at any price.
Cambridge Evening News: leader, 3rd October 2009
The appeal comes despite the troubled area being designated a “cumulative impact zone”, which creates a presumption against giving out new alcohol licenses.
Cambridgeshire police objected to the original application on the grounds it could add to disorder in the area.
But Tesco chiefs have appealed against the decision despite the statement on their website which says: “We do not apply for licences in areas with known disorder issues.”
Cambridge City Council’s licensing sub-committee’s decision on August 17 to reject the store’s booze application was greeted by loud applause from campaigners.
Ruth Deyermond, planning co-ordinator of the No Mill Road Tesco campaign, hailed the decision “a victory for common sense and the community”.
Tesco sought a licence to sell alcohol from 10am-10pm seven days a week.
But police opposed the application arguing further alcohol sales would exacerbate alcohol-related problems.
Insp Marcia Nichols said the area suffered a “disproportionate” level of alcohol-related trouble and was already a “hotspot for violence”.
But Tesco will attempt to persuade councillors to grant a licence in December.
A Tesco spokeswoman said: “We have submitted an appeal against the decision for the alcohol licence. Our Express store in Mill Road is extremely popular and customers have told us they would like the opportunity to purchase our full range of items and this includes beers, wines and spirits.
“As a company, we take our responsibilities regarding the sale of alcohol exceptionally seriously and we already have robust policies in place to ensure our staff sell alcohol legally.”
No Mill Road Tesco Campaign has vowed to fight the licence bid.
A spokeswoman said: “We will maintain the opposition we successfully put forward at the licensing committee last time.”
The case will now be heard at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court.
A council statement said: “We have been advised Tesco Stores Ltd have appealed the sub-committee’s decision and consequently the matter will be subject to a further hearing in the Magistrates’ Court.”
We have just received formal notification from the City Council that:
“Following the decision of the Licensing Sub-Committee on the 17th August 2009, we have been advised that Tesco Stores Ltd. have appealed the Sub-Committee’s decision and consequently the matter will be subject to a further hearing in the Magistrates Court. It is likely that persons who attended to speak on the 17th August may be asked to attend the Magistrates Court on a date to be set by them. We will keep you advised of developments.”
More news as we get it.
Last month, Tesco failed in their bid to obtain an alcohol license for their Mill Road store, which is in a Cumulative Impact Zone, which creates a rebuttable presumption against new alcohol licenses. This is despite the statement on their website that
“We do not apply for licences in areas with known disorder issues”
We have now heard that, as expected, Tesco plans to appeal.
We are finding out exactly what process will be followed, and will report any updates here. We will maintain the opposition we successfully put forward at the Licensing Committee last month.
An update on this and other matters will be published shortly.
On Saturday 12th September 12 noon to 2 pm, a celebration of local shops and independent traders will take place outside Hilary’s greengrocers on Mill Road. There will be a variety of activities, games, music, food samples provided by local shops and restaurants, and a BBQ as well as special offers. This event is open to all.
This event is organised by the No Mill Road Tesco Campaign as part of our support of local traders.
Days that Tesco have been kept out of Mill Road:
665
(Counted from first East Area Committee date)
Money kept in the community:
£4.6m
of lost turnover
