CEN article: “Anti-Tesco group celebrates milestone”
[Obviously we disagree with the suggestion made by an opponent in this article that NMRT is ‘killing business in the street’, a claim unsupported by any evidence; in fact new businesses have opened since the campaign against Tesco setting up on Mill Road began!
Note also that, as we explained to the CEN’s reporter at the time, the cheque for £3,352,000 represents what would have been the store’s turnover in this period, not its profit.]
A DAY of celebration was held by campaigners trying to stop Tesco from opening a shop in Cambridge’s Mill Road.
It is now 500 days since the store launched its bid to open a new branch in the former Wilco premises in the street, famous for its independent retailers.
To celebrate the delay, campaigners from the Say No to Mill Road Tesco group held a party outside the premises.
A giant cheque for more than £3 million was on show – the group’s estimate of what Tesco would have made at the store had it opened on time and the amount spent in existing shops instead.
The party took place as some traders hit back at the campaign for putting businesses and residents off from going to the street.
Joyce Charles, one of the petition organisers, who owns Rollers hair salon, said: “These protesters are killing business in the street and putting people off setting up shop here.”
The site has Class A1 retail planning permission and consent for signs and a cash machine. Despite not being allowed to build an external refrigeration unit, Tesco insists it plans to open a store, creating more than 20 jobs.
