Campbeltown Creamery expansion

[maxmix]

Think Creamery going to Snipefield, Tesco then moves to vacated Creamery premises, what happens to the old Tesco site is anyones guess - do they own the land ??

Correct....

I told this story for about 5 years to local people.... I have to think back to remember the ones that laughed at me....

Great news for the customer and job front.... Plenty of new jobs created and sooooo much variety to buy....

AND CHEAP PETROL AT LAST ! (I was in Girvan last week and 99.9p for unleaded at JET) Ayr a penny dearer....

Here 108 or 109 or something crazy.....

Just a pity that the store is so close to the town centre (But no where else for a massive store to go to)....

Will hit local butchers, florists, fishmongers etc quite a bit I think.... and no doubt more local shops....

Ah well, glad I got rid of my shop last year after 10 years, too much competition as it is onlline now....

maxmix

[EMDEE]

Think Creamery going to Snipefield, Tesco then moves to vacated Creamery premises, what happens to the old Tesco site is anyones guess - do they own the land ??

Correct....

I told this story for about 5 years to local people.... I have to think back to remember the ones that laughed at me....

Great news for the customer and job front.... Plenty of new jobs created and sooooo much variety to buy....

AND CHEAP PETROL AT LAST ! (I was in Girvan last week and 99.9p for unleaded at JET) Ayr a penny dearer....

Here 108 or 109 or something crazy.....

Just a pity that the store is so close to the town centre (But no where else for a massive store to go to)....

Will hit local butchers, florists, fishmongers etc quite a bit I think.... and no doubt more local shops....

Ah well, glad I got rid of my shop last year after 10 years, too much competition as it is onlline now....

maxmix

I can certainly agree with you there maxmix. You will know my views about Tesco from previous posts on this forum. The problem with Tesco is that they brook no opposition whatsoever, and will aim to kill of any local business that might get a share of the market. On the plus side here in Oban, although this is a "Tesco town", they can not compete on quality and value with local butchers and fishmongers. (those who have managed to survive)

Tesco is great for the consumer in the short term, and I am guilty of supporting them, as we probably all are, but in the longer term it will create a monopoly and will kill off local businesses.

This is a different issue from the creamery which is great news for the whole peninsula.

[Boaby]

the council will have to do something about the lack of parking in the town centre if they want the wee shops to stand any chance of survival.

[Ileach B]

Will they not knock down the old creamery and build on the ground?

Think the local butchers and the fish monger will still have their regulars who shop there, as people will pay slightly more for a better cut or fish? Unless Tesco start to stock local produce, can they do that? Good for local fishing and farming?

Cannot wait to get decent priced petrol, as the price of it is scandalous here! I'm suprised more money isn't spent in the town as no one can afford to put petrol in their car to get out of it!

I'm all for supporting your local shop (of course) but out of interest what shops will it hit hard apart from the butcher and the fish monger? And were do said owners get their shopping from?

[maxmix]

The Council sorting out parking ! Is that some sort of joke lol, The Council aint worth even mentioning lol

Tesco doing Clothes, Paint, Electrical's, Furnishings etc will hit all local traders BIG !

It would be a different case if it was a large Tesco being built a few miles out of the town, ie in a retail park....

But having a large one like this within the town will be a killer....

Same as every other Tesco town in Britain....

There are a handful of shops (I'm not mentioning) that will continue to do well because of the items they sell....

But for the normal run of the mill, it will not be easy, which is a shame.....

Thats life, i'm afraid.....

maxmix

[Boaby]

I foresee the closure of Alex Wilsons and Neil Brodie's, both because they are a suitable age for retirement. Depending on the extent of the clothing department in the new Tesco, the Surf Shopmay suffer, and that new kids clothing shop, and possibly Mrs Farmers.. also the bookshop, one of the flower/garden shops...

I'm conflicted about the new Tesco, cos at the end of the day it means more products at cheap prices, but although people may have good intentions about making the extra trip to the main street for meat etc I think it's a gimme that the wee shops will suffer to some extent.

[maxmix]

although people may have good intentions about making the extra trip to the main street for meat etc I think it's a gimme that the wee shops will suffer to some extent.

Definately.... When you hit the 24Hr Asda's and Tesco's elsewhere, you take one look at the fish and meat counters (Usually with some local produce) you dont need to enter a small shop again... It's a sad sign for people trading for years....

But what can you do ?

maxmix

People always want a bargian, sometimes they forget about customer service or quality etc.... But you still see their shopping trollys full in Tesco or The Coop, same as my own

[Ship called Dignity]

I suppose it is impossible to keep this thread to the subject as all manners of questions and discussion are raised from the excellent news that the creamery will have a re-build and as part of this a new Tesco will be built on the site of the existing creamery.

Like Emdee I have my reservations about a new "super duper" Tescos in Campbeltown and stated this elsewhere before but the investment made by Tescos in purchasing the existing Creamery site helped secure a new creamery and 100 dairy farms in Kintyre. Without their investment the deal would not have been met. So on that basis it is good news about Tescos too. Still not sure what affect it will have on the town centre as Tescos don't take any prisoners when it comes to ensuring the consumer spends every penny with them. Positives perhaps are that shoppers will have to come through the town centre to get to the new Tescos. Other postives for the town centre are the opening of the old Woolworths shop and hopefully it wont be long until the Royal Hotel is open again. Topped with a new marina the town centre will have potentially more visitors than ever so the onus turns to shop keepers to attract them there.

the council will have to do something about the lack of parking in the town centre if they want the wee shops to stand any chance of survival.

Boaby

Sorry, I genuinely am not trying to be confrontational here but where exactly is there a problem with car parking in Campbeltown town centre? (honestly am interested in understanding where the problem is). The town centre ranges from Hall Street down the front to Longrow at the co-op so that is a pretty large range to park your car in. Certainly agree there are times when you try to park in the Main Street that you can't but there is always a space somewhere else (and do agree this sometimes is further away than you wish).

Lets put another pespective on this - should the council not be looking at Pedestrianisation of the town centre to help smaller businesses? Having to look over out for vechiles while going from one side of the street to the other in the town is a real probelm especially if you have children and is another reason why parents enjoy the reasonable safety of the supermarket. Wouldn't it be nicer to roam from one side of the street to the other without cars in your way? Car parking isn's an issue in Campbeltown it is peoples attitudes about parking right outside the shop that needs to change.

As said above just trying to add to the debate and certainly not trying to ruffle your feathers Boaby!

[LANDROVER ROGER]

I believe that a number of tourists,who have a Tesco"back home"would prefer to use local shops by way of a change from normal daily routine.This has certainly been the case when I have visited.(Especially the fish shop!).

[Trapper]

Agree wi SCD regarding the town centre parking. I lived in stirling for a couple of years before moving home again and I have to say it was only when I moved home I realised how lazy I had been when previously living in campbeltown! You can walk from one side of campbeltown to the other in less than 20 mins so why bother taking the car (unless you have lots of shopping to carry). As I say I used to be extremely guilty of what was mentioned, trying to park right outside the shop you're going to. The esplanade is 5 mins walk for the main street and there is ample parking there.

Incidentally, I heard that the Ambulance station was moving to the current tesco site. Anybody confirm or rubbish this rumour?

[The Hitman]

Lets put another pespective on this - should the council not be looking at Pedestrianisation of the town centre to help smaller businesses? Having to look over out for vechiles while going from one side of the street to the other in the town is a real probelm especially if you have children and is another reason why parents enjoy the reasonable safety of the supermarket. Wouldn't it be nicer to roam from one side of the street to the other without cars in your way? Car parking isn's an issue in Campbeltown it is peoples attitudes about parking right outside the shop that needs to change.

As said above just trying to add to the debate and certainly not trying to ruffle your feathers Boaby!

This was looked at SCD and 3 designs were put forward to the local community not more than 5 years ago. It consited of one way systems etc which were required in order to pedestrianise Longrow South and Main Street, however the majority of shopkeepers generally booted the proposals into touch as they were of the opinion that the one way systems would reduce the number of people visiting the town centre and force consumers into the arms of Tesco and the Co-Op.

Whether pedestrianisation could take place now with the road realignment required for Welcon is something that would require to be looked at by the Council's design section.

If pedestrianisation were to take place then you would almost certainly need the provision of a car park in the town centre due to the one way systems that would be required. Suitable areas for a car park?

Woolworths & the derelict land behind the Christian Institute? Council Yard on Kinloch Rd? The remainder of Park Square once the new road is built through it? Any others?

[Pete Reek]

Didn't hear about the plan posted by Hitman, that there was to be a new road built through "parliament place"!!

I have heard of the proposed road through Park Square however.
I don't really see Welcon gaining any benefit by going through the Parliament Place area, unless it's to stock the towers with provisions on their way past Tesco's.

[Kevin Mc]

Agree wi SCD regarding the town centre parking. I lived in stirling for a couple of years before moving home again and I have to say it was only when I moved home I realised how lazy I had been when previously living in campbeltown! You can walk from one side of campbeltown to the other in less than 20 mins so why bother taking the car (unless you have lots of shopping to carry). As I say I used to be extremely guilty of what was mentioned, trying to park right outside the shop you're going to. The esplanade is 5 mins walk for the main street and there is ample parking there.

Incidentally, I heard that the Ambulance station was moving to the current tesco site. Anybody confirm or rubbish this rumour?

In Campbeltown we usually park on the bit in front of the Picture House, or on the Esplanade across from the Aquilibrium. That's a shorter walk than we're used to at home.

I remember my granny walking from town laden with shopping bags up to Davaar Avenue into her late 60's.

I suppose the current Tesco site would be more central than the current location of the Ambulance Station. You'd then have the Police / Fire and Ambulance service within yards of each other..

[Ship called Dignity]

This was looked at SCD and 3 designs were put forward to the local community not more than 5 years ago. It consited of one way systems etc which were required in order to pedestrianise Longrow South and Main Street, however the majority of shopkeepers generally booted the proposals into touch as they were of the opinion that the one way systems would reduce the number of people visiting the town centre and force consumers into the arms of Tesco and the Co-Op.

Good information Hitman - think I can recall the proposals. One included a one way street in Bolgam Street? Seems strange the consultation did not involve the concumers as they at the end of the day are the customers. Did like the idea of Longrow South being pedestrianised - would be nice to have some kind of cafe culture in Campbeltown which is something we sadly lack for locals and visitors alike.

Whether pedestrianisation could take place now with the road realignment required for Welcon is something that would require to be looked at by the Council's design section.

Perhaps they should look at the bigger picture right enough? Was interesting to note a comment in the Courier highlihting if Tescos move to the Creamery site their will be more lorry traffic through the town so that will have to be looked at to. On that note does anyone know when Tesco and Co-Op lorries actually come to Campbeltown? Was thinking about this last night and thinking you never see them!

If pedestrianisation were to take place then you would almost certainly need the provision of a car park in the town centre due to the one way systems that would be required. Suitable areas for a car park?

Woolworths & the derelict land behind the Christian Institute? Council Yard on Kinloch Rd? The remainder of Park Square once the new road is built through it? Any others?

Yeah good point and good options.

[rainbowsprite]

On that note does anyone know when Tesco and Co-Op lorries actually come to Campbeltown? Was thinking about this last night and thinking you never see them!

Early in the morning SCD, thats why you miss them

Think the Tesco one is in really early and not sure if the Co have two deliveries, as you quite often see a lorry reversing up to the Co about half eight or so.