the No Mill Road Tesco Campaign

Thanks to everyone who attended tonight’s meeting.

As well as a lot of information about actions being taken with respect to the current legal situation, it was agreed that a public event will be taking place at the weekend – stay tuned for more information.

We have received notification of an event which may of interest to some of our supporters.

“Join us on Saturday 1st August for the ShopLess Choir’s first outing, arriving at the Mill Road proposed Tesco site for 1pm. Wear pink!”

There will be a meeting at 7.45pm on Monday 3 August at St Philip’s Church, Mill Road, to discuss the current situation: what Tesco are doing, what the Council are doing, and what we can and should do. We hope that some of the local and County councillors will also be there. We are at another crucial stage in the long and continuing fight to keep Tesco off Mill Road.

Please circulate the flyer:

We have received notification of the Premises Licence hearing, which is to be held on Monday 17th August 2009, at 10am, at the Guildhall. It is a public meeting.

Objectors must notify the Assistant Licensing Officer <licensing@cambridge.gov.uk> by 7th August if you wish to attend or speak, “to amplify any points you have made in your written representation”.

Please contact us if you plan to speak.

Here is a video and some photos from Monday’s event.

Reverend Billy has also blogged about us!

Our neighborhoods, “commons” places like stoops and parks and streets and libraries, are disappearing into the corporatized world of big boxes and chain stores. But if we “back away from the product” – even a little bit, well then we Put The Odd Back In God! […] We like independent shops where you know the person behind the counter or at least –you like them enough to share a story.We ask that local activists who are defending themselves against supermalls, nuke plants, gentrification – call us and we’ll come and put on our “Fabulous Worship!”

Rather more succinctly, Google describes them as “Advocacy group led by comic preacher. Opposes chain stores and malls that hurt neighborhoods”.

See a trailer from his recent film, and have a look at a video on his website.

Whatever you think of his message, it’s pretty certain to be interesting!

[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.

Cambridge Evening News, 23rd March 2009.

People from across the community came to enjoy a pleasant afternoon outside the Wilco site.

Thanks to Rob for these pictures. The photo of the drawing was done by Claire Cooper of the farmers market.

[Show as slideshow]

Do come on Saturday if you are free!

A film crew from ITN’s Tonight will be coming along also.

Volunteers are also needed – please get in touch if you can help staff the stall.

Dear supporters,

We are holding a public meeting this Wednesday, 11th March, starting at 8.00. It will be held in Ross Street Community Centre.

The purpose of the meeting is to update everyone about Tesco’s latest moves, and to discuss what our next steps should be.

We are obviously continuing to work within the planning system, not to mention reminding councillors and Council officers that a Planning Inspector confirmed the councillors’ own judgement that Tesco cannot deliver safely to the Wilco site.

We also want to organise another public event, however, especially as the counter on our website shows we have so far kept Tesco away from Mill Road for nearly 500 days!

We would love to see anyone at the meeting who is interested in finding out what is happening, and who would like to help organise an event in the near future.