Tesco's are working in partnership with Chase Tenbury LLP and developers Bilmor Land Limited to submit a planning application for a store on the Old Cattle Market site.
The 20,000 sq foot store will also have 94 car parking spaces and create 180 Jobs.
The store would be predominantly for food retailing and would have an in-store bakery and fish, deli and hot chicken counters.
Richard Burt, Liberal Democrat West Worcestershire candidate, has called a public meeting at 7pm in the Tenbury Community Centre on Wednesday 5th May.
As at noon on 4th May MHDC still haven't received the planning application. A Tesco spokesman said that he expected the plans to be delivered sometime this week. (w/c 3/5/10)
Posts
160 comments:
keep tesco out of tenbury, wot the hell are they playing at.
There coming to close everything down ,thats what they always do
total nonsense
Typical bigoted NIBY Tenbury response.
This is an excellent opportunity to remove the carbuncle from the high street.
Only big money from a big supermarket will do the job properly.
Realistically how many shops will this effect. 4 or 5 and it might get some of the others to up their game and bring more shoppers into town.
tenbury need to change it is better there on the former cattle market and having it put in burford where the trade would be suck out like a vacumn
Bravo, I agree; let us hope they include an internal post office. I have never met such a miserable,
unhelpful counter in all my life!
Hmmmm could add much needed choice to the town and creating jobs is always good, but is it worth the threat to local businesses let alone the loss of some decent town parking.
I shall have to make an effort to attend the session on Wednesday to see what is said, at presnt I could be considered a fence sitter on this one.
94 Car Parking spaces is probably more than the ad-hoc parking available there at the moment.
decent parking!
I think this will affect only one or two businesses, it is a brilliant idea, bringing in much needed jobs to the area...
Tesco tried before and failed nothing changed so they will fail again .Keep Tenbury as Tenbury i say keep the supermarket junkies out
Excellent idea. Bring all those shoppers who shop in Leominster, Ludlow and Bromyard back into Tenbury.
Tenbury needs to expand or die - just look at how Ludlow is expanding and moving forward.
More jobs and that eyesore is to go!
...and at least the supermarket is to be in town where people can continue their shop in the town. If it was out of town, that would be a big mistake.
I really don't get the people that think this will be a good idea. a Tesco would most likely destroy all the quality independent shops such as the fishmonger the Food Hall, the Clockhouse, Swifts and the vegetable shop as well as Bowketts.
Such shops have fresher, higher quality LOCAL produce but it is generally priced higher than supermarkets as they just don't have the buying power of a bloated multinational corporation.
I agree that the old cattle market looks bad, but I seriously think there are better things to replace it than Tesco, which will just suck the individuality out of the town.
I don't think it will effect Swifts and the vegetable shop (Others yes) but by bringing far more people into town it may save the 50? other shops that aren't in competition with Tesco.
It will effect EVERY SHOP in Tenbury, supermarkets, newsagents, chemist, cafes, fruit veg shops fish mongers, butchers, card shops pet shop ,you name it they will kill it.It wont be called Teme street more like Tesco street,KEEP THEM OUT .
Yes it will effect EVERY SHOP in Tenbury, it will bring more people into Town. A 20,000 sq foot store wont carry all their range. The people who shop at Tesco's in Kiddi & Ludlow might stay in Tenbury and use the other shops. They don't now. I bet the places like the pet shop don't make much money on the lines Tesco stocks.
20,000 square foot is more than double the size of all the retail shops in Tenbury put together .If they do come please dont moan there are no other shops to visit
Some simple maths - facts, not opinions.
Last year Tesco made a profit of £3.4 billion. That's after deducting losses in the US, and after all their donations to local communities.
They had UK floorspace of 30,877,000 square feet.
That's a profit of £110 per square foot.
The store in Tenbury is to be 20,000 square foot.
So Tenbury should generate £2.2 million profit a year.
Like all companies, that profit will go to the shareholders - ie it will leave Tenbury.
So, that takes £2.2 million a year out of the area - and makes all those reliant on a local income that much poorer.
Not a problem for those with income from national sources. Very much a problem for those with income from the local economy.
Those are the facts.
For evidence of the effect of supermarkets creating poverty, look at Bromyard (and that was a relatively benign Co-Op), or Leominster pre and post Safeway/Morrisons.
And for the realities about Tesco, go to websites like Tescopoly or Tesco Truths.
Go look - then speak.
The sales area is to be 15,000 square feet. About 60ft x 250ft.
Bowketts sell Pet products, but we still have a Pet Shop, they sell sweets, but we still have a sweet shop, they sell bread but we still have a bakers, etc etc. The only difference will be the basic lines will be cheaper.
Ludlow Tesco is about 30,000sq ft
Well said the ACCOUNTANT
Don't be fooled - don't let Tenbury become another soulless high steet.Tesco will commit as little as possible to the local economy. Community life will disappear with everyone rushing round the supermarket instead of enjoying the company of local business people.
I HEARD TODAY THAT THE SPAR SHOP IS GOING TO BE DEMOLISED ,HOW BAD IS THAT ,NO MORE YUMMY BACON AND SAUSAGR BURGERS
You only have to look at Ludlow, once Tesco came all the independent shops closed. NOT!
Ludlow has gone from strength to strength SINCE Tesco came.
Perhaps if the Malvern Hills planners and the environment agency hadn't put so many obstacles in the way Will Chase would have developed the original market idea.
Ludlow is a lot different than tenbury wells. How many different shopping streets does Ludlow have compared to tenbury. Tenbury has one street.
Ludlow is full of charity shops anyway.
I don't subscribe to the idea that Tesco will take money out of the town. Look at the situation now, Bowkett's will undoubtedly loose out the most but where does its profit go now. In to the hands of the Bowkett family. Very little of this money finds its way back in to the local economy. Lets face it they have hardly been philanthropic over recent years when they must have made a lot of money. Yes I know that they sponsor a few clubs and the schools but these are not generous donations. When Bowketts had there 100 year celebration they were proud to state that they turned over £5m per year! The Accountant must realise that this equates to £1-1.25 million net. Does this money enter the local economy? I am sorry to say it doesn't. It lines the pockets of the Bowkett family and I have to say that the latest generation doesn't deserve it. Money is returned to the local economy from the employees of companies and the net difference if Tesco opens will be significant - a huge boost to the local workforce.
Tenbury suffered terribly during recent floods and there is a real opportunity to rejuvenate the town. Tescos will in this case do exactly the same as it did in Ludlow. If you ask the butchers in Ludlow they will admit that they were very apprehensive at the thought of Tesco opening there but they now admit that it has helped their businesses signifiacntly.
In the current economic climate and with current planning guidelines be under no illusions that Tescos is coming to Tenbury. So workers - enjoy the extra opportunities and career prospects. Business owners who are not in direct competition - look forward to new opportunites aswell. Bowketts - lets see if you have the talent to raise your game?? I don't think so.
Bowketts claim to be Nisa Supermarket of the Year. What's the criteria? Most profitable per square foot! They have gone from being to a good local store to a store that grabs at profit the same way as the big stores. They even send out spies to other shops to see what they are selling and then buy in those lines to compete directly. They have had it all there own way for years. Dont let them hold Tenbury to ransom any longer.
At least some of Tescos profits end up in our pension funds.
Some very interesting blogs. I must say that I feel rather ambivalent about the whole thing but, on the whole, I think that if Tesco were to come it would increase prosperity - something Tenbury desperately needs. The planners (if they agree the application) are almost certain to impose conditions by way of a Section 106 agreement. That means that in return for planning consent, Tesco will have to make a contribution to the general well-being of the town. Why not urge the planners to make repair and restoration of the bridge a condition of planning consent?
When the Cattle Market featured on the Tenbury Blog at the end of November last year, I mentioned the possibility of a sweetner to develop the site in the form of a new bridge across from this side of the river.
Now the Swan Garage has been sold could this bring the possibility a step closer and perhaps all be part of a master plan?
Can Section 106 money be ring fenced or does it go into a central (district/county) fund? Also does it go to the planning authority (MHDC) or the County (who are responsible for the Bridge.) I also wondered if the original Environment agency requirement to have an additional footbridge as a means of escape from the site was still in force and if that expenditure would be in lieu of 106 money? Hopefully the plans, when they finally come up on the MHDC website will reveal more.
Section 106 (S106) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 allows a local planning authority (LPA) to enter into a legally-binding agreement or planning obligation with a landowner in association with the granting of planning permission. The obligation is termed a Section 106 Agreement.
These agreements are a way of delivering or addressing matters that are necessary to make a development acceptable in planning terms. They are increasingly used to support the provision of services and infrastructure, such as highways, recreational facilities, education, health and affordable housing.
The scope of such agreements is laid out in the government’s Circular 05/2005. Matters agreed as part of a S106 must be:
relevant to planning necessary to make the proposed development acceptable in planning terms
directly related to the proposed development fairly and reasonably related in scale and kind to the proposed development reasonable in all other respects.
A council’s approach to securing benefits through the S106 process should be grounded in evidence-based policy.
The existing bridge could be made more traffic friendly by having a pavement on one side only. A new vehicular bridge would be very visually detrimental though I suppose a new smaller- profile pedestrian bridge would be less intrusive and would relieve pedestrian pressure on the existing bridge.
Generally speaking, Section 106 monies are made in the form of cash (though it may, for example, in the case of a new housing estate, be ring-fenced for new classrooms needed as a consequence of increased population). The money would be paid to the local planning authority but it would be up to Tenbury (as represented by the Town Council???) to bid for it. The Town Council should be making waves about this NOW! If the “escape bridge” is an essential part of the plan (for health & safety reasons) it surely can’t be regarded as a bonus for Tenbury (i.e. it would not be provided were it not for the site development). 106 money should be bonus or extra money. I can’t see any reason why, if it was the will of the Tenbury people, bonus money held by MHDC could not be used for the bridge, It would require a bit of joined-up government so I might be being unduly optimistic! On the other hand, I doubt very much whether there will be a MHDC in a few years time – a unitary authority is surely on the cards!
you think the customers at tesco will still use tenbury how many of us go to the supermarket in ludlow or leominster and then go up the town!they will park the car do there shopping and go home. and for the jobs ok we need jobs in tenbury but how many from tenbury will get a job there !
If I go to the supermarket in Ludlow or Kiddiminster then I use the other shops there. I don't drive back to Tenbury, repark and then do my other shopping here. As for jobs, if people in Tenbury are suitable, why wouldn't Tesco hire them. If there aren't enough then they will hire from other places. The management will be shipped in and out like any major corporation.
Fair play to you Tenbury folk you must have a huge budget for your grocery shopping .Have Tesco done there sums right?
You must have plenty of time on you hands WR15 to swan around town centre shops ,most people have far busier lifestyles than you. Iagree with the person saying they will just park up do there shopping and go.Do you really think a Tesco store would attract more visitors into the town don't make me laugh.
Even the large Tesco's don't stock everything and the proposed one is only half the size of Ludlow's so if they don't stock what you want you will have to shop elsewhere.
More of a duck waddle than a swan glide.
I'm confused. People shop in Tenbury now. The majority of the shops will NOT be in competition with Tesco's. Why would a Tenbury Tesco stop the existing people to continue shopping in Tenbury?
If anyone who now travels say to Ludlow Tesco to shop, needs a non-Tesco product, why wouldn't they get that in a Tenbury shop?
Shame on all of you that want tesco in the town,what about the people who think that much of their buisness"s that time after time they worked their butts off cleaning up after the floods,only to close their shops because of a buisness with plenty of money.MONEY IS NOT EVERYTHING.
What about the MAJORITY of businesses that will be better of? Money is not everything, but rents and wages have to be paid.
tenbury traders look at yourselves you all get together and try and block anything that come to tenbury
we were told ten years ago that if a tesco came we would be a town of charity shops and gift shops
what are we now
tenbury is a dying town
it needs a breathe of fresh air
WR15 How can you say the majority of shops wont be in competition?.The jewellers,and shoe shop wont be ,but everybody else will be including cafes , takeaways and gift shops .Tesco are very clever with there applications there are always "hidden add ons"
why was it refused before ?
See how the town of Sheringhan have won the battle against Tesco.Google tescno.blogspot.com
When you drive in to Tenbury, what do think?
The bridge is an eyesore because all the collective might of the council and local businesses cannot rustle up a coat of paint. Tenbury has a lot going for it and really should make more use of its assets. Old buildings and an interesting history. But above all it has the river which could make the town a mecca for tourists. River walks, picnics etc but sadly Tenbury has not made use of its assets.
When you drive in to Tenbury you think 'its a bit of a dump' and really it should not have been allowed to happen. The auction site should have been developed years ago and when Tesco opens, which it surely will, whether you want it or not collectively Tenbury will only have its self to blame.
I personally think that a Tesco's in Tenbury would be a good thing. Tenbury needs more jobs and a reason for people to come here. We are a small town in the back of beyond with a lousy public transportation system. If you want to get anywhere you have to drive. People are very resistant to change in Tenbury, even if its for the better and likely to boost economy. We are a small town mainly populated with elderly and middle aged people. The current shops reflect this. We need more young blood. The knock on effects for local buisnesses would not be that great. Bowketts would continue to survuve as a quality butchery. The grocery side wouldn't survive, though. Swifts, the greengrocers etc probably would.
"Iam sorry to say it doesn't. It lines the pockets of the Bowkett family and I have to say that the latest generation doesn't deserve it."
Is this really the place for attacks on the Bowkett family?
As for Bowketts not doing anything for the local econmy, it emplys local people and pays them, and brings visitors into Tenbury to do their shopping.
If this store is built, we will quickly be deprived of choice .As the first wave of customers peel off and the income of the independent stores decline,the quality and range of their produce falls driving more people into Tescos arms .From that point on the collapse becomes unstoppable.
The question that must be asked is why should people who dont live in Tenbury be making this decision?
Copied from previous blog comment entry by Milender.
Refs for 1999/2000 refusal are
99/00917CON & 99/00918/OUT.
Reasons given.
1.Demolition of the Market Office building would erode the quality of the Conservation Area.
2.Massing and design of the proposed store not sympathetic to Conservation Area.
3.Siting of proposed store not integrated in 'Primary Retail frontage' of town centre. Servicing arrangements and vehicle access impedes pedestrian access.
4.Site in teme floodplain - development will lead to loss of flood plain and restrict water flow.
5.No archeological survry carried out. Valuable evidence lost if development goes ahead.
This is just a precis. MHDC will have the full document. also refer to ' Issues and concerns relating to the proposed supermarket on the Temnbury wells Cattle Market site Sepetember 1999'
MHDC shoud have a copy of this, I helped to write it.
Despite all the warm words from certain local councillors about how their proposal for the cattle Market site is so wonderful, all the issues in the 2000 MHDC rejection of the supermarket proposal must be addressed and all the misgivings in that document and the' Issues and concerns ' document are still completely relevant.
Tenbury Wells Conservation Area
Appraisal and Management Strategy document says...
The Cattle Market is situated in
a prominent position off Teme
Street and adjacent to the
riverside. This area contains two
significant historic buildings,
including the grade II listed
Temeside House, both of which
are currently vacant. The space
is currently in use as car
parking, but opportunities
should be sought to reinstate
the continuous streetscape and
regenerate the setting of the
listed building. The site is
bordered by No’s 54 and 56
Teme Street which currently
detract from the conservation
area. Opportunities to replace
these structures should be
taken as they arise. Any
development within this area will
be subject to Policy EP18 of the
Malvern Hills District Local Plan.
The previous planning application appears to have included demolishing listed buildings. The planners also had issues with access. The Conservation area report indicated that the "Spar" block should go and any future development should be at the front of the site, with parking behind. We will have to wait to MHDC to put up the Tesco plans, but if they have already ticked all these boxes, then it could be a slam dunk. The Sheringham ruling is interesting, but may not apply here.
"The question that must be asked is why should people who dont live in Tenbury be making this decision?"
If one thing is clear, some people living in Tenbury are FOR and some AGAINST, whilst others are ambivalent (and probably already shop out of town anyway).
The ANTI's are likely to be more vocal, but the "System" will favour the FORs.
Democracy will prevail not mob rule, like it or not.
I forgot to mention the previous applications were not subject to 106?
Will that mean they will demolish Spar and Pizza Di
Still only speculation until the plans are revealed. The Bookmakers is still being advertised as a going concern (although I must admit I thought it closed ages ago?)
"As for Bowketts not doing anything for the local econmy, it emplys local people and pays them, and brings visitors into Tenbury to do their shopping." Please read the original post carefully, the point was that the profit that 'The Accountant' suggested would leave Tenbury if Tescos opened does not enter the local economy anyway as it goes to the shareholders of Bowketts.
"Money is returned to the local economy from the employees of companies and the net difference if Tesco opens will be significant - a huge boost to the local workforce." I accept that the employment of staff by Bowketts has over the years has contributed to the local economy. But there is a commercial reason for this and a commercial reason alone.
"Is this really the place for attacks on the Bowkett family?"-It is not an attack on the Bowkett family as a whole it is merely an oppinion on the latest generation who seem to hold its employees and Tenbury citizens in contept - posted anonymously on a forum because of a genuine fear of reprisal against the author.
"I forgot to mention the previous applications were not subject to 106?"
Well, why would they - they were not approved!
As an aside, it's interesting to note that this issue has produced just about the busiest blog ever! What does that tell us?
A message for the moderator: is your “Anonymous” contributor always the same “Anonymous”? Have you thought of not allowing the use of this pseudonym? By doing so, it is difficult to know how many different people are actually contributing to this otherwise excellent blog.
My understanding may be incorrect but MHDC seem to flag whether an application is subject to S106 when the application is entered onto their system.
I can block anonymous but then all contributors would have to register with Google. By clicking on the sitemeter logo on the bottom right of blog you can get an idea of how many individual people are looking at the blog and contributing. (77 Visitors so far today) By checking the IP number you get some idea of how many are repeats (although most ISPs recycle the numbers over time) I don't publish abusive entries which is why there is sometimes a delay in your comment appearing. In the event of very serious abuse it would be possible to trace the entry back to an individual ISP account (via the Police).
I think that this blog, although only representing a narrow cross section of the community (those who know about it) does give the opportunity to voice comments which it might be difficult to do because of other commercial relationships at for instance a public meeting.
Keep the blog going - limited (in some ways it might be) but I think it's brilliant!
A facebook group lobbying for Tesco called "Fight for Tesco in Tenbury Wells" has been created.
Despite only being hours old it already has 87 members.
on the other hand 8 people have left anti Tesco sentiments on the Worcester News website.
Up to 91 already!
Bring jobs into Tenbury ? Remember when WR15 quoted on average 276 jobs are lost when a supermarket is open 276-180 =96 people more are unemployed ,thats a boost to Tenbury i think not
JUST BEEN ON THE FACEBOOK SITE ,INTERESTING TO SEE THE APPLICATION WENT IN ON APRIL 31ST!!.HOPE THE PLANNERS DONT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE
"Keep the blog going - limited (in some ways it might be) but I think it's brilliant!" . . . .
Hey, that's from me, not "Sarah". Who is Sarah?
Why don't these people who keep saying that Tesco kills local communities say first if they have family connections to the businesses in Tenbury. Perhaps people should take a look at; http://www.tescoplc.com/plc/corporate_responsibility_09/community/
and see some of the help that Tesco gives to communities.
Click on the blue link above to read.
I have no family ties to any businesses in Tenbury or the surrounding areas as I moved to the area about 7 years ago from a village in Warwickshire. I now am very proud to call this area our home. The village I originated from had the large multinational corporations move in on a local Town and it KILLED our village. Where you once were able to walk down the street and know 90% of people this gradually got less and less due to people driving to the likes of Tesco, going round as quickly as possible, then going home. So the wealth of local shops and businesses could not compete and eventually died. This not only had, as has already been pointed out, effect on money going out of the area, but relationships and sense of community was lost. This in turn WILL affect the crime rates in Tenbury as we go from our self policing society to the anonymous society that many small towns and villages have seen all over the country. I am not against progress, but when it is to the detriment of the place where we now live, love and call home, WE WILL FIGHT IT ALL THE WAY. We shop locally, all of our needs are met by the local shops and traders, we know most on a first name basis and will do what ever we can to prevent Tescos or any other big multinational organisation that exploits people for profit from becoming a deleterious effect on our home. Please give your support on Wed.
Not sure we need Tesco, W Chase made national headlines by moving his 'high brand crisps' out of Tesco stores (they were not directly supplied by him, but by a third party) and got lots of mainstream publicity by doing so.
Why is he now getting together with a company that he has previously shown a distaste for?
Think we know the answer
On the other side of the coin ASDA, SAINSBURYS AND TESCO currently deliver groceries to homes in the WR15 postcode on a daily basis and all the stores in town haven't gone pop.
We do need to do something with the old cattle market site just not sure we actually need a Tesco on there.
Would people have differing views if it was Waitrose or Sainsburys perhaps?
Richard, I'm confused by your comments. If Tesco's were proposing a large out of town store, I could understand people deserting the Town, by driving there, doing all their shopping and then driving home, which is of course what a lot of Tenbury residents already do. As Tesco's are proposing a small (by their standards) store in the Town Centre, I cannot see how your concerns ring true. Some people will still choose to drive to a large store and do a one stop shop, but others, especially with the massive increase in fuel costs, may decide to use the local store and then supplement this with items bought at other shops.
You sound like a typical incomer. Plenty of disposable income so you don't mind paying higher prices and have time to shop all along the high street. Many locals are trapped in low paying jobs and will welcome the chance of reducing their shopping bills.
I am not sure that Mr Chase is as anti-Tesco as sometimes reported. This is from an article in the Independant in March 2008.
"Tesco created Tyrrells in the first place," he explains. "If it was not for them, I would not have had the money or ingenuity to keep my farm alive."
This is because the supermarket group helped Chase get back on his feet after his first farming business went bankrupt in 1992.
"I started again in 1993. Tesco was looking for pretty potatoes, but this side of the country it was all farmers in smocks, with Hereford cattle or hops. We knew we could grow potatoes and we did – they had beautiful white skins and Tesco was prepared to pay high prices. We built up a great business on the back of this.
Click on the blue link above to visit another Facebook discussion group.
Richard said (pejoratively) that Tesco “exploits people for profit”. In what sense do they do that, but Bowkett’s (or any other Tenbury shop) don’t?
Link to Tesco Community
Join and help Keep Tesco out of Tenbury Wells. We do not need Tesco in Tenbury, we have plenty of other LOCAL shops to shop at
'Typical incomer'. Nice of you to stereotype me, actually I am very concerned about the damage of having a large multinational company such as Tescos move into our area, pity you are not as concerned!
But lets have a sensible debate. Are you aware of what Tesco, et al have done to farmers in the UK? Much of our milk is now imported due to the driving down of price that Tesco have done.
Tesco (sorry to keep using them as an example but this applies to most multinationals) are well known for having a massive purchasing power that they can request a delivery at the drop of a hat. So for example if they want peas in store they can get them, whether the peas have been sprayed with pesticides within the last hour or not. Not my idea of 'healthy eating'.
Lets talk about the exploitation of cotton growers that use harmful pesticides and herbicides on their crops to increase yeald to the detriment of local communities that are suffering from associated health problems, Tesco use these cottons in their clothing. Allowing large companies like Tesco to dictate the food and other consummables market is damaging to the macro as well as local environments. If you are indifferent about having a Tesco in Tenbury, then at least you should oppose it on moral grounds.
To answer the point about people travelling to Tesco and then going home: Most people will always choose the simplist path, therefore if they can get everything they want from a single store, they will. Tesco, will increase its range of products over time in an endeavour to maximise profits by monopolising your shopping choices. Over time all of our independent shopkeepers will go out of business as they will not be able to compete with Tesco's purchasing power. Not a future I want for Tenbury, who else agrees?
The strangely named Keep Tesco Out Of Tesco facebook group has posted the following statement.
"Tesco will not help Tenbury Wells. All of its money will just go into the back pockets of the CEO's Managing Directors and Chairman etc. None of this money will go towards Tenbury's economy."
Wrong, it will pay 180 staff locally, so that money stay's in Town. They pay shareholders, many local residents have pensions from funds that benefit from Tesco's profits. The profits at Bowketts etc stay in the family.
Tesco kills towns and villages. This has happened all over the country. All of your favourite shops on the Tenbury main street will have to close due to people shopping at Tesco and not needing to go to the other smaller LOCAL shops.
Not all the shops will close. This is a small Tesco. It will not carry enough lines to wipe out all the shops in Town. Are you saying all the loyal shoppers at specialist shops, will desert their favorite retailers and flock to Tesco? For instance you can buy your paper at Bowketts, Co-Op & Spar now so why would Tesco selling papers suddenly wipe out the Paper Shop.
Why does Tenbury need another supermarket. We already have Bowketts and Spar and then the Co-Operative. Along as this there is The Food Hall, Swifts, and plenty more local shops.
The local shops are fine if you have plenty of money and time. If you are the kind of person that shops at the Food Hall, you aren't going to be spending much at Tesco.
The 94 car parking spaces being promised will not be for town use. They will have CCTV Car Registration Recognition Software and if your over your limit or return in the No Return limit you will be posted a heavy fine. So how will those car parking spaces be any use? There is free parking there as it is, lets keep this free.
The site is in private ownership. You only park there for free now out of the owners generosity.
How will these lorries be able to get into Tesco and deliver? The current bridge is not suitable and the turn into the auction yard is not wide enough for these types of lorries. It is impossible.
Lorries come into town everyday. This is a small store, how many lorries do you think it will take to keep it stocked. The Spar lorries manage and they are the same size! The entrance will be improved especially if they plan to knock down the Spar block!
Please help us by saying no to Tesco and keep our local stores. We do not need a massive supermarket in town.
It's not massive! but think, if they were to build a massive store out of Town then that would really cause hardship to the traders.
Bowketts, have increased its range of products over time in an endeavour to maximise profits by monopolising your shopping choices.
Richard,
If you have "ethical" problems with Tesco, lobby your MP to impose restrictions on a national basis.
It's like saying you don't want Barclay's in town because you don't support their investment policy, but it's OK because you can have a Dudley Building Society account at Edward Gallimore's.
Don't enforce food poverty on local residents by forcing them to use more expensive retail alternatives.
Support British Farmers by buying your milk at the Barn Shop.
How much are you being paid?
The facebook group "Fight for Tesco in Tenbury Wells" now has 135 members, and "Keep Tesco out of Tesco"(sic) has 7 members.
RE: Its not massive
It is massive 15000 sq ft is double Bowketts Spar and the Co-op put together Its reported that Bowketts turnover is 5m a nice amount, but look at Tesco global sales 62 BILLION ,try putting this into a standard calculator YOU CANT .Thats the difference between Bowketts and Tesco!
Tesco sell milk. Their milk will be cheaper than the Barn shop's. Will people buy the Barn shop's milk? A lot of people will make the choice based on price and this is how the smaller shops will decline as they lose customers. With less people walking around Tenbury relationships and the sense of community will decline. Try reading Alice Coleman, Oscar Newman, etc. on how declines in communities can happen and how this affects crime and other social malaise.
It's not massive by Tesco standards. It's half the size of Ludlow, less than quarter the size of Kiddiminster. Some of their stores are 100,000 sq ft.
I think the Barn Shop's milk (& vegetables) is/are cheaper than Tesco.
Bowkett's meat is far better than Tesco, but not cheaper.
Tenbury is a really special place; locally owned businesses with an historic stake in the town. You can always park on the High Street, unlike Ludlow, and the retail offer has evolved over the years organically. It is one of the last unspoilt towns left anywhere and anyone who believes that allowing a 20,000 sq ft store is not going to damage this for ever needs to understand that this store will sell everything. They will have a newsagents, a post office (probably), they will sell books, toiletries and chemist goods, properties (it's coming)even mortgages. Furthermore they will lobby for parking in the High St. to be curtailed (cf Ludlow).
It is not just Bowketts who will be affected but many businesses that have supported the town over the years. You cannot replace that once it has gone.
I am not an anti Tesco-ist but 20,000sq ft is too big for Tenbury. It wouldnt be so bad if they were restricted to food offer only.
The Chemist is part of a national chain and sells it's products at the highest possible prices. They deserve a little competition.
Chase your a"disgrace" ,you purchased the cattle market ,which could have been bourght by a consortium of farmers at the time .We lose the famous Holly and mistletoe because of your greed ,you leave it to go derelict for years ,now you want to sell it to them. Thanks for NOTHING!!
Other link to keep tesco out of tenbury led to one with wrong name this is correct one
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I have recently moved out of Tenbury to Bridgnorth, where we are there is a Marks and Spencer food Store and a Somerfield more or less next to each other. These bring more people to the Low town section of Bridgnorth , Tenbury needs to attract more people it will only bring more people into the town which will be good for the town.Also it will help the front part of the town look better, that area is an eyesore now.
By my rough calculations there are 112 business premises in the three main shopping streets in Tenbury.
12 are empty.
11 have a partial clash of stock with Tesco, but increased footfall might balance out any losses. (See evidence from Ludlow & other market towns)
8 have a direct clash on all or most of their stock lines.
It would be heaven to not have to travel to get decent, competitively priced groceries. Bring this town out of the dark ages. The people who don't want a supermarket would probably still be running around in loin cloths, clubbing their dinner if they had their way!
Bring jobs into Tenbury ? Remember when WR15 quoted on average 276 jobs are lost when a supermarket is open 276-180 =96 people more are unemployed ,thats a boost to Tenbury i think not.
In reply to the above, the figures quoted relate to a large out of town store that attract people away from the town. Most studies show an 'in town store' has a positive effect.
They must be having second thourghts ,still no application long live Tenbury we wont be beaten
I cannot understand all these people moaning that they have to travel to Hereford ,Ludlow and Leominster to do their shopping .Have you not heard off internet shopping?It will save you money on fuel ,you will be keeping up with the "times" you wont have to talk with any of the Tenbury shopkeepers and even better you will have more time to gossip on Facebook or is it FaceLESS book
I am going to go to the meeting Weds evening but fear that the discussion might be a little one sided. I can see the pros and cons and I try to look at it from all perspectives. I love to use all the local independent shops in Tenbury, now the children have left home we can afford to! - it was different when we had 3 of them at home, so I understand that young families will probably be much more supportive of the plans.
At the end of the day, the thing that's the most important to me is to clean up our town and make it more attractive to visitors. The market site is the biggest eyesore. A supermarket giant redeveloping it would probably be forced to assist with repairing/improving the bridge too, another eyesore with peeling paint etc. If the SPAR block goes, lets face it, it's no great architectural loss and the current tenants would be compensated.
I am worried about the traffic but look at the traffic chaos around the schools on the Bromyard Rd, we don't seem to complain about that, with people living within 5 minutes walk of the schools insist on driving their children to school.
Change is hard but necessary. When we first moved to Tenbury I looked out on open fields and now there is a housing estate. Our house value is lower as a result but our town is richer and more sustainable. Tenbury must do something to make it fit for the future. I'm not sure my preference would be a supermarket, but in the absence of anything else on the table, I think it's better than nothing.
Whilst I am talking of cleaning up our town, does anyone know what will happen to what was Household Stores? The windows are an eyesore. Surely something could be done to improve this - a tourism display or something?
I know that there are negotiations to display murals in the windows, but I don't know if these have stalled or and ongoing. No idea what the owners long term plan is. I think retail is unlikely. It would be a great plot to redevelop for flats, like the old law courts.
I really appreciate reading all the views on this blog especially that of Lesley who sums it all so well…and, I am comment number 100!
Not wishing to use Gordon Brown's "B" word...I seriously wonder if the Tesco store does get built how many of todays "Antis" will be shopping there regularly two years after it is built.
Before you decide if you want a Tesco in your area think what it will do.
They promise more jobs, well there will be new jobs for a lucky few but the figure quoted is no where near the final total it just looks good in the news. How many local shops will shut. After the first year there will be a small number shutting but after year two and three the gaps in your streets will be more noticable. The favourite old stores closed. Think where the goods will come from. Shipped from all over the world and processed in this country and called English. Your town will look good filled with charity shops and places to drink coffee, just no shops to shop at. Have a look at Ellesmere or Shrewsbury and see how the large stores have affected the town centres.
Think about your local area and do not just think about cheap food and goods. No doubt local pubs will shut because you can buy cheap booze but hey you can blame that on the smoking ban.
Think about what you want and look around you and the effect it will have on your community and do not be blinkered.
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Tonight's meeting will either be interesting or a riot. Hopefully it will be constructive.
It is a shame that it is unlikely that the plans will be available as so far, much is speculation. Given the scale of the development and with pressure from the MP (whoever that turns out to be) and the local expertise of people like the Civic Society I really hope Tenbury can benefit from this development.
Tesco's rarely loose so I think it is shortsighted to think they won't eventually get approval, it is just a matter of what for.
The sloganist who shout "We don't want Tesco" have to understand that their sentiments are unlikely to stop a plan, but by negotiation then the plan can perhaps be made more palatable. So far, much of the 'anti' arguments have used evidence/data that relate to large out of town stores, not small in town stores.
In Sheringham (where the final decision is still outstanding) the a number of concessions were obtained:
Amongst other they were:
1. The store was designed by award winning architects. Good design is paramount especially in a historic town such as Tenbury.
2. 5 Independent shop units were included to be let to independent shops. Although Tenbury has a number of empty shops, they are not all ready or suitable for modern day use. It may be more sensible for some of the old shops to be converted for other uses such as housing and new units built to accommodate retail.
3. A small block of flats. Tenbury is short of affordable housing and perhaps designing living space within the town would be preferable to green field development.
4. A Community Hall. We have a surplus of halls in Tenbury, but again it might be an opportunity for an old site to be released for other use.
5. Car Park (free for 3 hours) whether shopping at Tesco or not.
The following items were planning requirements, but hold good here as well:-
a. Use hard and soft landscaping to avoid unbroken seas of tarmac.
b. Use lighting to make the site as attractive and welcoming as possible.
c. Minimise the impact of blank walls.
d. Be orientated so that it fronts the street.
e. Respect building lines of the existing urban environment and, where appropriate, build up to the edge of the curtilage.
f. Maximize the amount of active street frontage.
g. Provide level access from the public realm.
It is no good hoping that the Town Council will be able to stop the project because they have very little control over planning applications. The planning authority is Malvern Hills District Council and it is my understanding is that they can only refuse planning permission if there is a 'valid' (in planning terms) reason to do so. They certainly will not want to risk it going to appeal as they couldn't afford the legal fees! The site is zoned for retail, identified as a development site, there are access problems but these are solvable. I guess that Tesco won't be asking to remove any listed buildings. If it includes demolishing the 'Spar' block that meets the approval of the conservation area plan.
At least this is a small store (and in town) which will have a limited range, so whilst it will directly compete with some existing retailers, the effect on the majority should range from limited to none at all. If some of the evidence from similar developments is correct, it may well increase footfall in Town.
Tesco's will not want to spend more than necessary, but they understand give and take. Wouldn't it be great if as part of the development the riverside walk area was cleaned up and opened up. In many other Tourist towns the riverside is always an integral part of the 'offer' but in Tenbury it is poorly utilised.
This is a great opportunity for the town and we should use the 'system' to get the best deal possible.
Personally I would have preferred another retailer, but unless Chase LLP are approached by someone willing to make a better offer then Tesco IS coming, it's just a matter of how and when. The Sherringham battle has been going on for over a decade. Do we really want the cattle market site to remain as it is (or getting worse) for another generation?
Yes, I personally would also prefer another retailer - wouldn't a Waitrose or M&S Food be lovely? However, these would be much more damaging to the town's other retailers. People who currently pay the premium for fayre from Tenbury's existing traders would find defecting to Waitrose far more palatable. There is definately a bit of snobbery in all this. In Sherringham I understand that the locals battled against Tesco for 13 years but a Waitrose (albeit on a different site) was welcomed!
The proposed site isn't big, so it can't stock everything. My guess is that it would concentrate on servicing the needs of young families and others such as pensioners on a restricted budget. The existing shops could then concentrate on the higher end produce that is popular locally, but even their consumers would use a local supermarket chain for tins, non perishables etc. - a loo roll is a loo roll wherever you buy it from.
I would love to see something far more in keeping with our community with local produce, craft, culture etc on the market site. However, lets face it, if that was economically viable then someone would have done it already. I agree that there is an air of inevitability in all of this and I think the effort should be focussed on getting the developer to get the building and environment surrounding it as good as it can be and to get Tesco themselves to contribute as much as possible to the sustainability of the town as a whole.
Click link above.
As a resident of The Square, I welcome the proposed supermarket development, at the cattle market.
It will be easier access for lorries than squeezing by the vetinary surgery and traping residents in their cottages.
Hopefully it will help stop high sided vehicles trying to alter the shape of the round market.
At least there will be apropiate parking and not the inconsiderate abandoment of vehicles we have to put up with. Also waiting vehicles hopefully will switch their engines off and not fill our homes with fumes.
The cattle lorries were the same size as food delivery ones.
The question is "how big is to big"?Tesco accountants for 30%of the grocery market,and its supporters say that if customers didn't like Tesco they would not shop there.But there is a point where this loses credibility .In many 'Tesco towns' which Tenbury could be it's not that easy to find an alternative.SAY NO TO TESCO
S.O.S SAVE OUR SHOPS
If all the protesters stay loyal to their existing preferred shops, then there shouldn't be a problem. There will always be a place for quality suppliers. (Look at the turn over at Ludlow Centre they went from nothing to millions in such a short time)
In some areas the 'quality' need is met by the large supermarkets premium brands, but in a town like Tenbury there is no reason why this sector shouldn't be supplied by Independent retailers. Time and again, here and on other discussion forums, Bowketts is sited as supplying the best meat. They might loose some of their grocery volume, but if they concentrate on what they do best the will succeed. I understand that they have opened a butchers in Cleobury and they already supply other independent retailers with meat.
Notwithstanding the very sensible comments made by Tesco's spokesperson, I shall still attend tonight’s meeting. . . more in hope of some election-eve verbal fireworks than in expectation of any real enlightenment. Whatever happens, the meeting can hardly be anything other than cynical electioneering by the Lib Dems – who have, incidentally, today circulated another dose of their poisonous propaganda.
Go into the meeting and get everyone to join this group. We don't want a Tesco
Sign the Petition
How can there be a petition. No one knows what Tesco are planning yet. Or are the anti's such bigots (word of the year) that they have made up their minds and don't want anything!
Interesting that in Sherringham the local Councillors voted for, but most of the others (from other districts) voted against. Now there is an anti Tesco petition on facebook and so far most of the signatures are from people who don't live in Tenbury! One is from Australia and one America. :)
I very sorry to say that the anti’s appear to be symptomatic of what’s wrong with Tenbury – a complete failure to recognise that the Town is in urgent need regeneration. Some of that can only come through new capital investment. I regret that there are some Tenbury ostriches who will remain obstinately blind to the need for careful and sensitive change. Tonight’s meeting a just premature – as has already been said - no one yet knows, in any detail, what Tesco is proposing.
cant everyone see the logic if this site is turned down we will end up with a big tesco in burford and that will be the end of tenbury
come on all you anti tescos people think about it.
have you got any common sense.
A very interesting meeting and VERY well attended. A rather chaotic and inconclusive “show of hands” at the end showed a majority against Tesco’s proposals – which no one had seen! What would have been very interesting to know is:-
How many in the audience tonight
o have home deliveries from one or other of the major supermarkets or other “delivered to your door” operators
o go to Leominster, Ludlow, and Kidderminster et al to visit one of the big supermarkets
o use the internet for shopping
o shop exclusively in Tenbury
People whose livelihoods would be directly and adversely affected by the proposed store are very understandably upset, anxious, angry. Nevertheless, I do just wonder how representative of the Town was this evening’s meeting? Perhaps if our District Councillors really want to get the temperature on this they should organise a local referendum AFTER the definitive plans have been submitted.
No we wont that was just all talk. and even if they try that after we'd fight that still. why should we just sit back and let them. we need to fight. people have won battles against tesco before and it will happen again
One other problem at the meeting was that many (but not all) speakers did not declare personal interests – for example that they or their relatives would be adversely affected (financially) by a Tesco store.
Bromyard has a large Coop and right next door is Legges, an independent high quality butchers. They still seem to be doing very nicely. As do many other shops in Bromyard such as the chemist, Andrew Jelley opticians, BM Johnson etc. So a big name coming to town does not mean the end of the world for the rest of the shops. As long as the likes of The Food Hall and The Clockhouse keep up their quality and personal service I think there is room for both. In fact we end up with more choice, which is good in my book.
A useful meeting which cleared up a few things. No it's not a done deal but I maintain Tesco IS coming.
1. The Spar block doesn't appear to be on the table & the owners of the £2.5 million annual turnover Spar are willing to protect their investment by offering a planning consultant.
2. The Tesco plan according to anecdotal evidence is so lacking that it probably won't make it through validation.
Most people don't understand the planning system, and it is correct that you can 'fight' an application, and it might go away (just like the Biomass Plant.) However, perhaps the 'incomplete' plan is a clever devise. MHDC will no doubt not validate it and have to list why. Then the next revision comes in and surprise surprise, all the missing/wrong details have been resolved. Then the plan has to be validated and unless there is some 'planning' objection (and not just because it will hit Spar & Bowketts turnover) the plan HAS to be passed.
Some people likened section 106 money to a bribe. Well it possibly is, but if my understanding is correct, if you have failed to negotiate the S106 money at the appropriate time, then the development goes ahead without it. Who looses then?
I think the residents of Tenbury have got to face the facts, only very few businesses can afford to take on the site and will generate enough return to put in the investment. Tesco's is one of the few. Has anyone an alternate suggestion for the site? Anyone can put in a planning application and if it is successful perhaps Chase LLP will do a deal so they get their money/income now and not have to wait through the prolonged war of attrition that could ensue with the Tesco application.
Far better to reach a negotiated settlement now, than spend decades fighting and loose out in the end.
Some people are concerned that they will loose their free parking. There is nothing to stop the owner putting up a gate tomorrow and locking it for ever.
Remember most of the objections can be turned against the protest group.
1. Traffic Congestion : No studies have shown that with the reduction of people leaving town to shop elsewhere, the figures balance.
2. Lorry Congestion: No Tesco's are very efficient. They will use less vehicles to service the store than service Spar & Bowketts.
etc.
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I have to say that I'm feeling much less inclined towards the development and I haven't seen the plans yet. By all accounts they are not very good and as they don't include the Pizza Diane/Spar Block the proposed store is not fronting the high street and has poor access. The protest group seemed quite fired up and ready to fight, so I think we can look forward to years of further decline in retail businesses and even more delivery vans weaving their way through town.
There will always be more people 'against' at public meetings, so the numbers are not representative and a show of hands will mean nothing. People that like the idea of a supermarket won't necessarily give up their evening to go to a meeting, neither will people who don't really care one way or another.
I am surprised about the SPAR. That is one of the attractions of developing the market site - the removal of a very ugly building (provided the current businesses are appropriately compensated). Mind you, I think not including it at the very beginning is tactical. I can't see the SPAR surviving with a Tesco right behind it. Maybe Tesco think that in the end, if the planning gets through for the store itself, the owners of the SPAR will take the money, leaving Tesco able to revise the plans. Remember that Tesco are experts in this game, they will have been in this position a hundred times before and know how best to play the situation to their best advantage.
I don't want to see anyone lose their livelihood but fear that a missed opportunity here could see even more people detrimentally affected in the future. The fact that Tesco think there is money to be made in Tenbury means if they dont win the Market site, they (or another supermarket) will go for the main road location which would be bad news for the town. With a blank canvass of a field with main road frontage they will build a bigger store, which will stock a greater range of products + petrol station etc. putting a far bigger squeeze on the local shops.
Any large supermarket on that site will have to work hard to resolve parking and highways difficulties, but of course these issues exist for any high-volume retail development on the site.
If teco cared about the community they would of attended that meeting last night. Also saying that they will service it with less lorries than spar and bowkeyts yes ok bit that shows spar and bowkeyts are about quality of the food and have fresh on everyday where as tesco will jve to hold much more food instore for longer it will not be fresh
"If teco cared about the community they would of attended that meeting last night. Also saying that they will service it with less lorries than spar and bowkeyts yes ok bit that shows spar and bowkeyts are about quality of the food and have fresh on everyday where as tesco will jve to hold much more food instore for longer it will not be fresh"
OMG Tenbury is doomed!!!
There is a real opportunity here, instead of blandly making sweeping comments based upon rumour and speculation why not face some facts. Tenbury is slowly but surely dying a slow and painfull death.The shops are beginning to close, those that remain are generally reporting dwindling sales and therefore profits.The only area of growth are poorly run pubs, and fast food outlets, hardly what is going to propel the town forward and provide jobs houses for the future. I have lived here for 16 years after seeing Ludlow go down a similar route of pubs and pound shops. It managed to turn itself around, and now has achieved a nationwide reputation for gourmet cuisinne, food fairs an expanded festival etc. Through some good efforts by a minority of people in Tenbury , there has been some progress, the Applefest for example. However as a town we need to examine very closely who we elect into local and regioanl council, we have too many narrow minded representatives, who appear to be proffesional meeting attenders, that do little to progress the town and consider long term economic strategies.
We have a beautifull town, with some excellent local shops etc, most of whom only just survived the floods. Nothing appears to have been done to alleviate the threat of future potential flooding, although we do now have the rather odd new public toilets, or (salt n pepper pots) as I call them, lets hope that come the next floods they follow their predecessors into the brook and get redesigned by someone who actually considers the local archetecture. as for Tesco, well why not do as Hereford did with Asda, welcome them with open arms, but as a proviso for the planning permission, inist that they fund completely the much needed flood defense scheme in its entirity. At least then the businesses that remain, and many will, they can hopefully benefit from the increased numbers of people coming to the town. As indeed would we all. Come on Tenbury, you may have been a market town, but wake up, the markets gone, and its moving further away with every day. Change or die, simple really.
it very interesting to see that the chairman of the chamber of trade is fighting to keep tesco out
before she started her business in town
guess where she work
correct a supermarket LOW COST
I HATE HYPOCRITES
Interesting to see the "Fight for Tesco" leader shops in SPAR every day .I HATE HYPOCRICS
What's a HYPOCRICS?
They have to shop somewhere and unless the drive to Ludlow everyday they can't shop at Tesco.
Be nice, whatever the outcome we all have to live here.
Internet shopping EASY .CLICK CLICK JOB DONE
Tenbury is dying as it is, so a Tescos cannot make it any worse, and I think would be beneficial to the town. I would shop at a Tescos in Tenbury but go up the street for meat from Bowketts.
Tenbury on a Saturday afternoon is like a ghost town, I cant believe half the shops close at midday. does that not show that there is a lack of trade at present?
People without cars in Tenbury deserve a decent supermarket and as for the incomers, they just want to live some long dead rural dream that no longer exists.
people would say the internet is easy to shop but some people like to know what they are buying.also if tesco came it will bring us more job for young ones. SO COME ON TESCO BRING IN ON.
I am part newcomer and part returner. Some of us are realistic enough to realise that the rural idyll can be something of a fantasy. And we’re not all opposed to new enterprises bringing new capital to Tenbury. I am not, in principle, opposed to Tesco coming - but I would like more information about exactly what is proposed.
Well, as part of solving my dilemna as to whether I do or don't want a Tesco in Tenbury, I went to Tesco in Ludlow today. It's the first time I have been in a Tesco for about a decade or more. I usually shop at Bowketts and the shops in Tenbury, supplemented with a once a month trip to Morrisons in Leominster for tins, cleaning products, non perishables etc and stuff for the freezer.
Tesco in Ludlow is clinical and I did not find it a pleasurable experience. I wasn't tempted by the deli or fish counters at all. However, I can see the attraction for people on a low or fixed income or with many hungry mouths to feed. Also, I had three under fives (20 years ago!) and I recalled just why supermarkets are less stressful for mothers with young children - I wouldn't have got my double buggy with a 3 yr old on reins around Bowketts!
From my personal perspective, a Tesco in Tenbury would not change my shopping habits locally. I would probably do the monthly shop at a Tesco in Tenbury the way I do currently at Morrisons, simply because it would be nearer. However, I would still do the rest locally as I do now. I happily pay the premium for Bowketts meat, preserves etc. I would never buy veg or bread from a chain supermarket unless I had to and I would prefer to have coffee at the Spotty Dog than any Tesco cafe. As the store proposed is quite small, I really don't think it is going to threaten any non food shops in Tenbury. The food shops in Tenbury might need to concentrate their business away from staple products, as Tesco can 'pile them high and sell them low'. Provided they are prepared to do this I think they can all survive. Tenbury and the surrounding area has a high proportion of affluent households for these traders to draw on, but we must remember that not everyone has the income capacity to choose to shop in Tenbury (and they aren't using these traders anyway). By the way, I am not some retired person with time to meander around Tenbury all day to do my shopping - I work full time and commute to Birmingham daily!
Finally, for people who think that local shopping is expensive, by way of an example, Andrew at Brights has beaten every price we have ever given him for some years now. He recently shaved £150 off the cheapest price on the internet for our range cooker.
Goodbye, little country town...
Happy little Tenbury
With its merry market day,
Farmers on the corners
Discussing sheep and hay.
Pigs and poultry everywhere
Farmers wives galore
Popping in and out of SHOPS .
Stocking up there store.
Sad little Tenbury
With its miserable market day
No room for farmers
CHASE made them go away
No Holly or Mistletoe
No sheep or hay
Everywhere you look around TESCO had their say
Oh! sad little Tenbury
With rows of miserable streets
People on the corners ...
Well, better be discreet.
Now it's closed factories and overspill
And TESCO rattling their tills
This is progress?.So they say
GOODBYE liitle country town -
you've had your DAY
TENBURY WELLS R.I.P
I have read through this blog with interest. I have lived in the Tenbury area for 24 years and in the Town itself 14 years. Perhaps what the Chamber of Trade needs to do is get an understanding of how the residents use the Town and then develop strategies to meet their needs.
If you are trying to support a growing family then it is very hard not to use large supermarkets and take advantage of their pricing structures. I could not afford to do my ‘food shopping’ in Tenbury when my children were at home, the local shops could not compete with the large supermarkets and owing to their buying power that will always be the case.
In reality there has not been much change in the local traders attitudes to their business and most (not all) are still stuck in the 80’s. Likewise most of the premises are similarly in need of some urgent updating to make the town more appealing and inviting.
However one business in the town, GE Brights is an example of how to move with the times. I buy all my major electrical equipment from them. They can compete with Internet pricing, they deliver when you want it (at no extra charge) and their service is second to none! A lot of local traders would do well to look at them and take a leaf out of their book.
Being an average person, I ask my self this question: Would I benefit from a Tesco in Tenbury? The answer is quite simple; I will continue to use large supermarkets such as Tesco and Morrisons, as I will continue to use local shops such a Bowketts. My shopping patterns will not change. The only thing that will change is that if I have a Tesco on my doorstep I will use that as opposed to travelling to Morrisons in Leominster. So for me it will be the greener choice. In fact I will probably walk to the Tesco, so I might well look at the other shops and pick things up on the way so that would benefit the town.
I think we should forget Cameron and Clegg. I say let Lesley and Sierra-Delta rule the country. They seem full of plain common sense!
the auction yard is a disgrace about time someone brought it .everybody moans about it and does nothing about it.when someone comes in to do somethink about it everybody is up in arms the sooner tesco comes the better.
Okay, for those of you that didn't work it out... or thought that maybe I was posting under a pseudonym, Sierra Delta is my husband!!! I had no idea he would post on here!
Too funny!
To pick up on my husband's comment on shopkeepers being stuck in the 80's (or before!!).... I am not being mean or wanting to single anyone out here but Banfields is a good example. Yes, they sell nails, screws, washers and the like. However, they also sell pretty expensive lifestyle goods - things for the kitchen/cooking etc. People shopping for lifestyle goods thesedays expect to 'feel good' buying them. This notion may be 'shallow' but that's just the way it is. When I go in Casa Portuguesa, the stock is all displayed so nicely that I buy things even when I don't need them, same for the florist and the nick knacks and art on sale in the Spotty Dog. That is what consumerism is in this country - people buying things they don't need on impulse and being persuaded more by attractive advertising and displays than the products themselves. Retailers ignore this principle at their peril.
I love my town and want to see it prosper but can't help but think it could do more to help itself. If Tesco bought more people into town we must make it attractive for them to stop a while to make the most of it. Shutting up shop at lunchtime on a Saturday is another example of a wasted opportunity.
As expected the planning application submitted on 30th April is not valid. It has therefore not been validated by MHDC and has been returned to the applicant.
great poem about the old market site, it seems a little outdated though. OK the bit about the mistletoe sale having gone doesn't mean the love has gone from the site, its just that the mistltoe has been replaced by the used condoms. The holly too ,though the pricks now come from the discarded needles and the rest of the drug paraphanalia. The farmyard smells have been replaced by the wafting fragrance of marijuana. No, keep the site clear for all of Tenbury's junkies who do so much for the town. I dont think Tesco sell those sorts of drugs though so it may not upset the objectors.
I blame Chase and Brightwells for ripping the heart out of Tenbury .He has not done a single thing to improve the site ,sell it back to the farmers they wanted to buy it in first place .
poor old Bowkett it has been open as a family supermarket for years. They have all ready got meat counter and bakery they have been trying to make their business better for years. Now tesco are coming bigger and better to force them out. If it was my business i would be getting scared.anyway why have a store it tenbury there's all ready one in ludlow an kiddy plus if you really need tesco online shopping is the answer for this town. they may as well shut spar bowkett and the crescent shop because they can't compete and tesco know it
Tesco is a brilliant Idea, It will bring more people into tenbury making it more popular, it will only close a couple of business' and give plenty of jobs. Great Idea!
Let them come. Many people will still want fresh meat, fresh veg and fresh eggs from local producers. Like me they want to know what they are eating. It will not bring more people to
Tenbury because they will not get accross the bridge for tractors and the odd combine.
UP TO, note, up to 180, minimum wage - part time jobs. All of which, if not more, will go when the High Street closes down. Tesco's would be a disaster for Tenbury.
I note "historic blding " on cattle mkt,maybe but ugly/unnecessary and not listed.
Tesco blding not compatable--is the block of shops in front-Spa et al? AND is Tenbury really a very attractive town--most heavy and Victorian. The new lavatoties don't exactly blend and are an unnecessary expense.
Damage flood plain--this can be said of ALL houses/blding that have been built alongside/near the river and brook.
Local shops in the main will not be that adversely affected except one or two , it is scaremongering to put too much emphasis on this
The matter of the lorries on the bridge is only slightly relevant as this should be stipulated for local [not through] traffic only---SO many use Tenbury as a cut through.
One cannot live in a timewarp, and if Tesco does not come on cattle mkt it or another suppermarket will come AND possibly on A456 when Tenbury will be completely bypassed-SO THINK ABOUT THAT.
I should like to comment on the propaganda that seems to be being generated by someone working for Spar in Tenbury.....
"Tesco will buy from local suppliers will they....currently only 4% of tesco produce is sourced locally"
Would anyone care to tell us just how much of Spar Tenbury's (overpriced) produce is sourced locally?
"5000 extra vehicle movements in the town..."
Where exactly has this number come from? If there will be 5000 extra vehicle movements I say "Hurrah, 5000 extra vehicle movements means 5000 extra people in town.... bring it on, more people means more trade Doh!
"180 extra Jobs...Untrue. Most jobs part time...with unfair contract terms...minimum wage and few employment rights" Of course Tesco cannot commit to an exact figure of jobs, they can only make an educated guess and cannot leave themselves wide open for legal action if the number differs. I wonder how many of Spar's employees are on minimum wage and are part time. Spar has never exactly been noted for treating it's staff well or paying much more than minimum wage!!
"Loss of Floodplain...." Really? What if Tesco saw the need to erect flood defences to protect their investment?? Did the current 'floodplain' stop almost every single Tenbury business being flooded in 2007??
I could go on and on. I think this bigoted propaganda sucks of "I don't want Spar to go because I might lose my job"
What a pity scaremongering is being used against a company who is prepared to invest in a town that is dying on its feet!
Lets have some plain truths. Tesco are utterly ruthless, They manage staff by fear, they beat local suppliers down on price, no supplier will ever deal with them more than once. Their Hereford store is full of junk from the worst sweatshops in the third world. The people who support this plan need to get out more and see the world. Go to India see the poverty.
after today we need tesco in tenbury, bowketts are completly useless never got what you want, and went to spar to get it and it was expensive so we do need tesco as products are going to be cheaper so tenbury council please let tesco build
Tenbury Wells is a town dying on its feet. Tesco would be a welcome addition and perhaps make the shopkeepers in the town sit up and take notice of what people actually want - ie: choice and good service, something sadly lacking in this poor place.
On balance I think Tesco would be of benefit to Tenbury in many ways, and local businesses would not suffer, if they upped their game. However, I worry about the heavy lorries going over the bridge to stock the store. The road capacity is not there.
Well what a load of pompous self centred lot you objectors really are !!! Born and bred in Tenbury for the last 48 years i say bring it on, give us the choice and welcome someone who wants to invest money in our dying town and make no mistake there is investment coming from no other direction. MHDC couldn't give tuppence about us out here except take our council tax to fund their own gains !! As for pathetic excuses about Tesco delivery lorries causing chaos, how many lorries are going to deliver in a day maybe one, my how you people think is beyond belief. Since Bristows Transport ceased trading that took approx five lorries a day out of town so surely one Tesco lorry will make little difference. Obviously a lot of traffic will increase during construction but that happens everywhere, it would also give us chance to restructure the "T" junction at the swan take the grass verges off and put a painted roundabout in to help with traffic flow IT WORKS EVERYWHERE ELSE !!! Wake up all you good people of Tenbury before it is too late.
Hi anonymous.
Didn't you go to the presentation day when they held it at the pump rooms. They (Tesco) estimated between 4 and 6 lorries a day (Tesco's own lorries Not including Bread/Milk).
Tesco are estimating to take £15mil a year in Tesco Tenbury (If they get in) So what your saying anonymous is they can cover the £15mil with just 1 wagon a day. This don't seem right.
Regarding the mini roundabout at the sway, just ask the people of newtown if Tesco's helped with their traffic congestion.
Everyone has got there own opintion but I feel that tesco should come. It will bring jobs and it will give us more choice. Have any of u lot every seen the place that they are planning to put it there it is a dump and there is crap everywere so it will make the town look better and people who live out of tenbury and who travel to places like Ludlow and Leominster to get there shopping the can come to tenbury “Tesco" and before of after they do there shopping they will probably walk around the town I know I would!!!. Bouckets are [moderated] to small and too expensive. They won't loose much busniss because of ther meat people come from all over to get there products so that will not stop.. Tesco SHOULD Come...
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