CEN article: High Court bid to stop Tesco
[NB: NMRT is not, and has never been associated with any attacks on staff and we deplore the suggestion here that this could be the case.]
raymond.brown@cambridge-news.co.uk
ANTI-Tesco campaigners are heading to the High Court today in a last-ditch attempt to stop the supermarket giant opening in Cambridge’s Mill Road.
The Express store is due to open on Wednesday but No Mill Road Tesco has refused to admit defeat.
Campaigners are heading to London’s High Court to try to force Cambridge City Council to take action over Tesco’s plans to deliver to the store, which protesters have branded illegal and “dangerous”.
If the case against Cambridge City Council to force it to stop Tesco making deliveries goes ahead, there could also be a judicial review later this week.
The campaigners were out in force again on Saturday.
Campaign spokeswoman Ruth Deyermond vowed that the fight would continue.
She said: “This is a matter that is now before the High Court, and we are very interested to see their judgement of Tesco and the council’s actions.”
There has been furious opposition to the shop with more than 5,000 people signing a petition against it, but some residents are in favour, saying Tesco will bring cheaper prices.
Tesco chiefs say work is now almost finished on the new store which opens at 8am on Wednesday followed by the official launch at 10.30am.
Then store staff will celebrate by making a £500 donation to Arthur Rank Hospice.
Store manager Terry Barker is looking forward to working with his new team. The store will create 20 jobs.
He said: “We are delighted that we can create stable jobs for local people in this time of uncertainty. We look forward to playing an active role in the local community.”
The new store will open from 6am until 11pm seven days a week. It will also have a free cash machine although it will not sell alcohol after Cambridge City Council threw out a licence application last week following objections from the public and police.
Security guards will also patrol the stores in an “unusual step” by Tesco bosses who fear attacks on staff and customers from protesters.
It will also make deliveries to the back of the store after a U-turn on onstreet deliveries following warnings the move would be “dangerous”.
