Archive for October 2007

CEN article: News readers vote ‘no’ to plan for Tesco store – 74% against Tesco

NEWS readers are opposing Tesco’s plan to open a new store in Cambridge.

On the same day campaigners handed in a protest petition, the News hosted an online poll. Readers were asked yesterday “Do you think opening a newTesco store on Mill Road is a good idea?” to which 74 per cent replied “no”. A total of about 1,400 votes were cast.

Supporters of the No Mill Road Tesco group met at the Guildhall in Cambridge armed with a petition of more than 2,250 signatures. The petition was handed in to Cambridge City Council’s planning team.

Continue reading ‘CEN article: News readers vote ‘no’ to plan for Tesco store – 74% against Tesco’ »

TV coverage of petition

The hand-in of our petition generated news coverage on BBC and ITV.

Click on each image to play the video.

BBC Look East, 12th October 2007:

ITV Anglia Tonight, 12th October 2007:

Press release: campaigners to hand in a petition of over 2250 signatures

Press release – 11/10/07 – For immediate release

No Mill Road Tesco campaigners to hand in a petition of over 2250 signatures to city planners

On Friday 12th October, a huge petition signed by concerned residents, workers and shoppers from the Mill Road area will be submitted to the Planning Department at the Cambridge City Council. This submission by the No Mill Road Tesco campaign coincides with the deadline for objections to the planning applications Tesco have filed. Tesco have leased the old Wilco site and are waiting for planning permission before converting the site into a Tesco store. The message from local residents to the city planners is clear – ‘Please help us ensure Tesco stays away from Mill Road’.

In just three weeks since the start of the campaign, the petition has collected in excess of 2250 signatures, and more a coming in every day. Local councillors, traders, community and faith groups and residents are backing the No Mill Road Tesco campaign. Hundreds people have signed up to receive campaign updates by email.

Sonia Cooter from the No Mill Road Tesco campaign said ‘The size of this petition shows how strongly local people feel about Tesco. People who live, shop and work in this area have built up relationships with local traders and appreciate the diversity of goods and services available. Tesco is the exact opposite of everything we love about this area. When we already have so many Tesco stores in and around Cambridge, opening yet another store on Mill Road is crazy. There are also a range of planning issues such as lorries having to unload from the pavement, waste disposal problems, inability to access their proposed rear parking area, traffic generation, and lack of cycle parking.’

‘I hope this petition sends a clear message to decision makers that local people don’t want the supermarket giant here and to Tesco themselves, that they are simply not welcome’.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY – handing in the petition at 12:30, Guildhall, Market Square

More information about the campaign can be found
at www.nomillroadtesco.org .

Details about Tesco’s planning applications and some objections can be found on our website.

This includes the results of a shopping basket comparison which found goods from a Tesco Express store to be MORE expensive than goods from Mill Road shops (including the existing Co-op store).

Deadline for objections extended to Friday 19th October

We have received confirmation that the deadline for objections to the planning applications has been extended by the City Council by one week, seemingly due to technical difficulties with their planning database and the postal strikes.

However, please write as soon as possible. The deadline is now Friday 19th October 2007.

Tesco store stopped in Ireland – campaigning works!

Today’s Guardian includes a story entitled ‘Ballycastle traders foil retail giant’s cause‘ about Tesco abandoning their plans to build an out-of-town store on the edge of Ballycastle after a local campaign.

The Belfast Telegraph also covers the same issue, in its article, ‘People power forces Tesco rethink on superstore plans‘.

CEN article: Protesters break into song to keep Tesco out

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/city/2007/10/08/c8bd94b6-c0fd-4c7d-b1f3-1afd5bdbd79e.lpf

CAMPAIGNERS sang in the street to stop Tesco opening a new Cambridge store.
Supporters of the “No Mill Road Tesco” campaign gathered at the proposed site for a mass busking session on Saturday.

As reported in the News, there has been a backlash to Tesco’s plans to move onto the former Wilco site in Mill Road. Campaigners want to maintain Mill Road’s mix of independent stores. Continue reading ‘CEN article: Protesters break into song to keep Tesco out’ »

Grounds for objection to the Planning Application

We have now researched and published grounds for objection to the Planning Application.

Please write an objection AS SOON AS POSSIBLE – the deadline is THIS COMING FRIDAY, 19th October 2007.

Shopping basket comparison

Don’t assume that Tesco is cheaper than local shops. Check out our Shopping basket comparison.

Telegraph article: ‘Shop local’ mentions the Campaign

Our Campaign to stop Tesco coming to Mill Road is mentioned in an article in Saturday’s Telegraph, entitled: ‘Shop Local‘.

Press release: The No Mill Road Tesco campaign gathers pace

The No Mill Road Tesco Campaign are holding a community music event this Saturday on the site of the proposed supermarket outlet. Local residents will gather at the old Wilco site to show their support for the diverse local businesses at risk if the proposed development goes ahead.

At 11am, singers led by the Good Vibrations Community Choir will sing songs about community and friendship from a number of different world traditions. They will be supported by an open-mic acoustic session arranged by local musicians. Campaigners will also be chatting to the public about their concerns over the proposed store. A mass leafleting of the local area is planned in the next phase of a campaign, which after only a week, has attracted regional and national media attention as well as vast local support.

Local Campaigner Richard Rippin said “I’ve been amazed at the pace of local activity aimed at stopping this proposal. The presence of the biggest supermarket chain is seen as likely to wreck the unique character of the Mill Rd neighbourhood, centered as it is on the amazing diversity of its local shops. Tesco may be the biggest and most powerful of all the supermarkets, but I don’t think they know quite what they are taking on here. The City Council has received huge numbers of objections to Tesco’s planning applications and £1000 has already been raised to support the campaign. The campaigners are also looking at alternative uses for the site, building links with other community groups lobbying local politicians and planning further events to publicise their cause.”

Concerned people who live and work and shop in the area are invited to contact the Planning department at the Cambridge City Council to voice their views. Email angela.briggs@cambridge.gov.uk or Tel: 01223 457173

www.nomillroadtesco.org

ENDS

Information for editors: For further details contact us.

For interviews on Saturday morning, please ask for Simon Sedgwick-Jell.

PHOTO Opportunity: 11am on Saturday – people will be gathered in front of the proposed Tesco site (163 Mill road) for the community music event.