Tesco has to go back to the drawing board’
By Steph Johnson
Last updated 05:14, Friday, 31 October 2008
NORTH Allerdale Development Trust has asked supermarket giant Tesco to go back to the drawing board with its plans for a Wigton store.
Plans: Consultation manager Fiona Robertson and Tesco corporate affairs consultant for Cumbria Tony Brunskill, with some of the leaflets on display for the public A two-day exhibition in the market hall unveiled the draft blueprint for the supermarket, which NADT says is not right for the conservation area.
NADT programme manager Duncan Spilsbury is aware the designs are only in the early stages but he wants Tesco to be aware of the problems as soon as possible.
Mr Spilsbury told The Cumberland News: “We don’t feel the design of the building suits the environment its going to be in.”
NADT also wants the pedestrian access links to other shops in the town centre to be improved.
However, Mr Spilsbury was impressed with the way the exhibition was organised and said it gave people ample opportunity for feedback.
He says NADT will be working closely with Tesco to get the best outcome for Wigton.
Tesco spokesman Tony Brunskill confirmed the designs were not final.
“Obviously we are in the hands of planners. The designs were computer generated images of one of our eco stores which use sustainable and renewable materials, they are very environmentally friendly.
“But of course we want to work with the town council, NADT and Allerdale Council in order to achieve the design they want.”
Mr Brunskill says pedestrian access is an important aspect of the plans.
He added: “We are very keen to make sure there’s a flow of shoppers from our store into the rest of the town which is why it is centrally located.”
Wigton Local Business Forum will be liaising with Tesco during the consultation period. Member Don Graham says the group was preparing to discuss its views with the supermarket. We’re formulating our ideas and putting them together so when we meet with Tesco we have a clear response to their proposals.”
The planning application for what would be a medium- sized Tesco is expected to be put to Allerdale Council before Christmas. If approved the store would have 300 car parking spaces, a café and recycling centre. It would employ 270 full and part time staff, bringing an estimated £2m worth of wages to the Wigton economy.
Mr Brunskill said: “Tesco are keen to be part of the community they serve and by increasing employment in the area and therefore the flow of money into it we hope to be part of the regeneration of this ancient market town.”
Tesco is the last thing Wigton needs right now
Last updated 18:40, Friday, 31 October 2008
Wigton is a small market town with a distinctive old-world character struggling to maintain the vibrancy of its existing shopping centre.
Over the last 10 years several long-standing businesses offering white goods, good quality shoes, and furnishings have disappeared as owners retired or leases came to an end. These much-needed businesses have not been replaced by comparable outlets and in some cases shops are still empty months or even years later.
What Wigton does have is a good selection of quality food retail outlets offering competitive prices: several bread and cake shops, a greengrocers, a range of excellent butchers who also provide eggs and quality fish – as well as the existing supermarket. The last thing the town needs is another food retailer.
As for the arguments that the new superstore will provide 270 new jobs, will meet the needs of 50 per cent of local people who shop for their food out-of-town, and will source local produce, these only muddy the waters.
Perhaps it is inconvenient to mention jobs will be lost in other sectors as businesses collapse elsewhere, that 50 per cent of us already do all our food shopping in Wigton, and the ‘local’ produce referred to seems to be limited to seven suppliers, none of them apparently Wigton-based.
And other inconvenient questions remain.
1. Where and how is the traditional Wigton Friday market currently on this site to be accommodated?
2. How does the provision of 321 car parking spaces in this out-of-the-way location increase footflow through the centre of the town?
3. How can the provision of yet another food retailer increase the sales of existing food retailers?
Let’s not pretend this proposal has anything to do with regenerating Wigton: this is simply to provide Hopes with the means of funding a move to an out-of-town auction mart and Tesco with the opportunity to expand their empire.
It is bad news for Wigton.
JUDITH M JOHNSTONE
Westward
Wigton
Over the last 10 years several long-standing businesses offering white goods, good quality shoes, and furnishings have disappeared as owners retired or leases came to an end. These much-needed businesses have not been replaced by comparable outlets and in some cases shops are still empty months or even years later
Not really, but restricting people's choices is not really a good thing either. That's why these things are so difficult, unless you just take a single-issue approach to such things.Nemesis said:You may think that a good thing of course.
Nemesis said:Wigton population: around 5,200 (that's including I think the wider rural area).
Lichfield: 28,000
I think this is to be mainly a food store, and I suspect it will really not do Wigton's other shops much good.
Nemesis said:Then of course there is the Sainsbury's going up in Penrith ... alongoside the Morrison's, Co-op and Aldi.
But Penrith is not Wigton, I could say that there is also a giant Asda, Tesco's, Waitrose, Morrisons and Sainsburys in Tamworth, but Tamworth is not Lichfield.
I'm not sure where all the extra food shopping is going to come from in the area. I think there's only so much anyone can buy. There is, but it is about keeping local shoppers in Wigton rather than they travel out like Frank tends to do.
Do you think David is wrong about Hadleigh and Tesco too?
I was talking about Wigton, as you provided information about that. I'd have to look at Hadleigh, but in my vast experience of being a small shopkeper, I would always welcome a superstore as an opportunity.