Plans ‘called-in’ by COMIN as opposition grows to Tesco ‘expansion’

Opposition appears to be growing to the proposed large scale expansion of the Tesco’s store in Lake Road, Douglas.

Castletown Commissioners have written to the Dept. of Local Government & the Environment (DLGE) expressing concern about the possible impact on Castletown, and other town and village centres; and pointing out the new Callow’s Yard development needs to be given the opportunity to succeed. The inference is that expansion of Tesco’s may put the investment and regeneration of Castletown in jeopardy.

The Ramsey Town Commissioners are due to consider representations from local traders who fear the expansion will have a devastating impact on local businesses and town centres.

Chris Blatcher, director of the Ramsey Warehouse, fears many small independent traders will just not be able to compete and says all “government bodies should be aware of the potentially disastrous effect this may have on the Island’s economy and way of life”.

The Moughtin Brothers, who own the ‘Fine Food Centre’, in Bourne Place, Ramsey, agree with the concerns; and also worry that a Tesco store could open in Ramsey.

However, it is a more detailed, and lengthy letter, sent by Mr Coope, on behalf of a, claimed, ‘number of people in the Island’s service industry’, which appears to have caused the greater concern to the Commissioners.

Originally unsigned, because of fears of reprisals (from whom is not stated), the letter write states he has experienced the Tesco ‘factor’ in his ‘home town’ of Stafford, in England; which since the building of an edge-of-town Tesco store is claimed to have become a ‘ghost town’.

The letter goes on to say traffic problems associated with the Tesco store has ‘driven’ shoppers to other places, outside the area, to avoid the congestion.

The Manx Herald understands it has been claimed the expansion of the Douglas Tesco store will also create congestion problems if access to the Lake Road site is not improved, or an alternative entrance provided. So, working on the basis of the aforementioned argument, surely this should be good news for Castletown and Ramsey?

The Manx Herald has also discovered that Asda has received planning approval for a new 15,000 sq ft mezzanine floor, similar to the one proposed by Tesco for their Douglas store (21,000 sq ft), at their store in Stafford; and is expected to employ an additional 60 people (which sounds a much more realistic figure to that quoted by Tesco, for Douglas, of over 200).

Doug Davis, cabinet member for planning and regeneration at Stafford borough council, is quoted, in the Staffordshire Sentinel, as saying the expansion and job creation is welcome. He goes on to say “In economic terms, Stafford is a very desirable area to set up a business in. It has become a better place to shop and there are some major developments taking place. Over the next five years, £500 million is going in to transform the town centre.”

Even more interesting is that Tesco applied for planning permission, in October 2008, to expand their Newport Road store, in Stafford, by adding a 22,000 sq ft mezzanine floor. It plans to sell more non-food items, including clothing, electronics, CD’s/DVD’s and kitchen equipment. At this store they only anticipate employing an extra 80 staff, some of whom will be part time – which again makes one doubt the veracity of the 200 plus claim for the IOM store.

The article in the Sentinel does however confirm there is a congestion issue as mentioned by Mr Coope in his letter to RTC.

Judy Summers, manager at Stafford Chamber of Commerce, is reported as saying something should be done to improve the existing road junction leading into the store. However, and perhaps surprisingly so given the reaction from some commercial enterprises in the IOM, she welcomes the proposal: "Overall the store has been wonderful addition to Stafford and increased trade on the outside of the town."

Mr Coope also makes claims about the impact Tesco has in the Inverness area of Scotland; suggesting places as far a field as Kingussie, some 35 miles away, is affected.

He points to Inverness being very quiet, lacking in life and having boarded up shops.

This latter claim appears to be supported by a letter, sent in by a local Inverness resident, to the Inverness Courier; who says shops are indeed closing down. Although the writer suggests more should be done to make the centre “fit for purpose” his main concern is that he supports the building of an Asda superstore, and which apparently Tesco are making some objections!

Mr Coope goes on to quote that a Westminster all party parliamentary group is predicting that by 2015 there will be no independent retailers left in the UK, and it is perhaps undeniable that many towns and villages no longer have local stores; as they are unable to remain viable in the face of competition from out-of/edge-of-town superstores.

It is therefore perhaps for this reason that the Council of Ministers has announced that they are ‘calling in’ the Tesco application; as clearly it has the potential to have a significant impact throughout the Island.

The Manx Herald supports this move, by COMIN, for an independent inquiry; and in fact the editor wrote to the DLGE, some weeks ago, making this suggestion – so perhaps the Government does sometime listen and act on common sense suggestions.

A public notice will published shortly providing details of the inquiry, and the Manx Herald will attend and report on proceedings in due course.

Footnote: It is now known a number of parties called on the COMIN to call in this application, including RTC - but, whoever is owed the credit for the decision to 'call-in', it doesn't change the fact it was the correct decision.