the No Mill Road Tesco Campaign

We have created a set of fact sheets – a set of 6 A4 posters containing key facts.

Please print off our new poster – as seen on the recent March for Mill Road – for your window!

Many thanks to Rob for these.

Unlike Tesco, we have been busy engaging and talking with traders about the effects that Tesco would have on Mill Road.

If you can help us with this, please do get in touch.

The Keep Chorlton Interesting group reports that the Planning Committee in their area voted to refuse the application to build a Tesco Express at 84 Manchester Road, Chorlton, Manchester. They voted unanimously against the planning department’s recommendation for approval. Sadly, Tesco have lodged a “non-determination” appeal, so their fight is not over yet.

However, congratulations to them from us in Cambridge!

Earlier in November, they issued a statement of support for our own Campaign in Cambridge:

The Keep Chorlton Interesting group has been campaigning since March against the application to build a Tesco Express in Chorlton, Manchester and is a coalition of local people, councillors and independent retail businesses. Last Thursday we won an important step forward in the campaign against the Tesco application.

The Council Planning Department’s recommendation was to approve the application. But following our campaign the planning committee Councillors voted unanimously for a “Minded to Refuse” motion. We still have a lot of work to do – but this was an important victory.

We take heart from Finchley where the Council’s decision to refuse a Tesco Express was upheld by the Planning Inspectorate. We can – and will – win – so can your campaign.

They also had done a shopping basket comparison, which, like our own comparison, found that a Tesco Express in their area was more expensive than local independent shops.

The Manchester Evening News also had a story of interest:

Continue reading ‘Keeping Chorlton Interesting – campaigning works!’ »

Volunteers from the No Mill Road Tesco campaign chatted with Cambridge Residents about the campaign at this year’s Mill Road Winter Fair. A number of volunteers braved the chilling winds to hold a stall at the old Wilco site.

Visitors to the stall included hundreds of people local to Mill Road and from all over Cambridge, David Howarth MP and even a troupe of Morris dancers and some of the characters from Star Wars! Volunteers answered questions about the campaign and helped visitors to the stall make funky ‘No Tesco’ badges. The No Mill Road Tesco petition grew by hundreds of signatures too. Visitors also brainstormed lots of ideas for possible alternative uses for the site instead of a Tesco store (see photos below).

Many of the visitors to the stall were supportive of the campaign’s aim to stop a Tesco store on Mill Road. The stall was also great opportunity to also engage with people who felt that a Tesco on Mill Road may be a useful thing. Many of these people felt that a Tesco Express meant cheaper goods – our shopping basket comparison helped to convince them otherwise!

Adults and children alike also took part in a fun quiz, which involved visiting six local shops (Limoncello, Balvs, Al Amin, Cho Mee Supermarket, Interflora and Kailash) to find out answers to questions about products sold there (products which one couldn’t find in a Tesco store!)

The prize draw will take place on Thursday 6th December 2007.

By Laura Jean Morris

Cambridge Crier, 14th December 2007

TESCO has been left red-faced this week after claiming it knew nothing of a 5,000-signature petition against its plans to open a Mill Road store.

A letter from the supermarket giant sent to a campaigner fighting plans for the controversial Tesco Express outlet, also said it would be opening its doors on January 25.

The letter was sent by a customer services executive on behalf of Tesco’s chief executive, Sir Terry Leahy.

However, no official opening date for the store, on the former Wilco site, has been set. Tesco has permission to revamp the existing site but is still in the process of applying for planning permission to extend it. It also wants to put up new signage and install a cash machine.

Sonia Cooter, from the campaign group No To Mill Road Tesco, said: “I was absolutely gobsmacked when I read the letter.

“At best it is incompetence and at worst arrogance and a total disregard to planning policy.”

The campaigners have been fighting against the branch opening, organising the 5,000-strong petition which was presented to Cambridge City Council, as well as a march in November which attracted more than 600 people.

A decision regarding the store’s extension is set to be made by the council in the new year.

The letter, sent in response to a complaint by one of the campaigners to Sir Terry Leahy, said “We will be opening a Tesco Express store in Mill Road, Cambridge on 25th January, 2008.

“We have no knowledge, as yet, of a petition having been made, nor of so many objections having been lodged, as planning permission has already been granted for this store.

“In addition, if people have taken the trouble to march in protest against such a small Tesco store opening, then clearly they feel very strongly about this issue, and this is something that we need to look into.”

A spokesman for Tesco, working on the local development of the store, conceded the letter was sent in error.

The spokesman said: “Unfortunately, the people who deal with this project on a day-to-day basis were not contacted.

“Some of the information that was included in this response from our customer service department is incorrect.

“As a company we receive a vast amount of correspondence and on occasion some letters do not get passed to the relevant person. We apologise that this response was sent out and would like to take this opportunity clarify some of the inaccurate information.

“We do not have an opening date for the store as the application has not yet gone to committee.

“We are aware there are elements of local opposition and we have met with their representatives. As a company we are always committed to meeting with the public.”

Ms Cooter said: “I am obviously pleased that Tesco has clarified the situation as regards the incorrect information in the letter.

“However, our fight does not end here. We do not want this store.”

The Cambridge Evening News has today revealed that Mill Road is at number three in the rankings of 195 accident blackspots in Cambridgeshire. Sixty per cent of the accidents involved cyclists.

There have been 86 injury accidents on either side of the bridge in the last three years.

Continue reading ‘CEN article: Mill Road at number three in the rankings of 195 accident blackspots in Cambridgeshire’ »

TESCO’S announced this week that a controversial new store would be opening in Cambridge’s Mill Road next month but the city council has yet to approve or reject the scheme.

A letter sent from the retail giant to a campaigner also claimed it was unaware of a 5,000-signature petition against the store.

The letter was sent by a customer services executive on behalf of Tesco’s chief executive, Sir Terry Leahy.

No opening date for the store has been set. The firm has permission to revamp the former Wilco site but is still applying for permission to extend it.

Sonia Cooter, of campaign group No To Mill Road Tesco, said: I was gobsmacked when I read the letter. At best it is incompetence and at worst arrogance, and a total disregard to local planning policy.

A Tesco spokesman said the letter was sent in error, adding: Unfortunately, the people who deal with this project on a day-to-day basis were not contacted.

Many residents say the arrival of a Tesco shop will damage the character of Mill Road and hit existing traders.

Cambridge Evening News, 14th December 2007

On 7th December, Mr John Cooter wrote to Tesco concerning the proposed new store. Tesco have sent back a response, which we have seen. We have written back to Tesco.

Dear Ms Duke,

We understand that you wrote to Mr John Cooter on 7 December, in response to his letter to you about the proposed opening of a Tesco Express on Mill Road. We were so surprised by some of the claims made in your letter that we thought it was important to respond.

Continue reading ‘Tesco’s response to a letter about the proposed new Tesco store on Mill Road’ »

We have published a new resource – some frequently asked questions to help clear up any misconceptions about Tesco.