New Tesco

[howlsatthemoon]

Wish it was open now as the County Garage has bumped their prices up to 120.9 for diesel and petrol (Dick Turpin rides again).

[Malky]

Wish it was open now as the County Garage has bumped their prices up to 120.9 for diesel and petrol (Dick Turpin rides again).

The County really are taking the piss now. 10p a litre dearer than Glasgow and 5p dearer than Lochgilphead. The sooner the new Tesco gets the go-ahead the better.

[mary]

There must be more to this debate than the price of petrol! I don't mean to say that the price of petrol is an insignificant issue but we should consider the long term implications of a super store on the town and the probable impact on the rest of the retail community in Campbeltown. There will also be a serious impact on the "heart of the town" in many ways. I do think that the overall future implications of this development should be seriously considered and should reach beyond the price of petrol. As a community we could tackle the price of petrol in other ways.

[ullean's mum]

Wish it was open now as the County Garage has bumped their prices up to 120.9 for diesel and petrol (Dick Turpin rides again).

The County really are taking the piss now. 10p a litre dearer than Glasgow and 5p dearer than Lochgilphead. The sooner the new Tesco gets the go-ahead the better.

Malky if you think the county prices are high,we got 134.00 on mull!!!!!

[LO]

Wish it was open now as the County Garage has bumped their prices up to 120.9 for diesel and petrol (Dick Turpin rides again).

Be careful what you wish for......

I attended the Tesco Open Day event and asked their representatives what the situation was regarding fuel as I had previously been surprised to find out that the fuel at Lochgilphead is not Tesco's but Esso's . Although it was not a major issue, I was mildly surprised to discover that fuel at this store didn't count towards Clubcard Points.

Anyway, on the night I was cheerfully informed that it would be Tesco fuel, which was reassuring......

........ until the lady next to me asked if it would be sold at "the national price". It turns out that there is no national price. However we were assured that fuel prices at the new superstore would match or be cheaper than filling stations within 40 miles of the store.

Thus, if Tesco sell at the same price or even 1p cheaper than either the County or the garages at Tarbert, Clachan, Tayinloan and Carradale (whichever is the cheapest) they will be keeping their price promise.

Of course, when these places go to the wall, there will be no competition leaving the field open for Tesco to charge what they want for as long as they want. If anyone doubts that they will turn the thumbscrews, I have one word to say ........ Inverness

[howlsatthemoon]

Of course, when these places go to the wall, there will be no competition leaving the field open for Tesco to charge what they want for as long as they want. If anyone doubts that they will turn the thumbscrews, I have one word to say ........ Inverness

Is this not what the county garage is doing just now? There is no competition in Campbeltown for them so the are charging what they want.

[LO]

Is this not what the county garage is doing just now? There is no competition in Campbeltown for them so the are charging what they want.

That's exactly what they are doing and like most people in the area I think it is outrageous.

All I'm saying is that Tesco's track record does not bode well for the area - they are certainly not a white knight in shining armour as some people are painting them, merely another bunch of hucksters looking to maximise their profits........

http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news ... rices.html

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Articl ... 1?UserKey=

[Ship called Dignity]

I'm unsure how I feel about the whole Tesco's new store. Not sure if we really need a bigger store - if anything, what for?

Don't know enough about it to really comment. Perhaps someone could?

I note their planning application is in and has been since September. Isn't there a period where people should object if they feel strongly or something like that?

Surprised it hasn't been the hottest topic on here - really will be a big change...

[£3.73]

Tesco's is a double edged sword.

From a consumer point of view it will offer more choice, great prices and it will all be fantastic.

However, Tesco's are in this game to make money. They are in essence a cash hoover, your transaction is immediately hoovered off to a swiss bank account somewhere. Suddenly you money isn't circulating in the local economy, (it goes from point of sale directly to somewhere outwith the local enviroment) They will agressively pursue ALL opposition. If you happen to be a local trader, then cheerio !

That is the reality. (and it's no slur on Tesco's, that's just their business plan, that's how they make their living).
They are a mainstream player in the retail sector, and have the expreience, strategy and business knowhow to back up what they do. (competitve pricing, questionable ethics).

So it's a good thing, and it isn't. It's all relative.
If you envision a thriving Main St, then Tescos probably isnt for you .. VOTE NO
If you happen to be trying to survive on a meagre income, and want more bang for your buck, then it probably is ... VOTE YES

(and don't forget the jobs, any new Superstore will create minimum wage JOBS .... however, to be completely balanced you would need to figure out the nett gain ... and take away all jobs that will be lost)

Simples

[mary]

I am pleased to see that I am not alone in feeing that this development will not be in the best interests of the town

Please consider the following:

The case against supermarkets

1. Local choice is eroded as smaller, independent shops struggle to compete with the
supermarkets. Between 1997 and 2002 more than 13,000 specialist stores around
the UK – including newsagents, Post Offices, grocers, bakers, butchers - closed. The
loss of local, independent shops can have serious impacts in terms of access to
food, particularly for people on lower incomes or those who don’t have use of a car.viii
2. Money is siphoned away from local communities and towards shareholders and
distant corporations. A Friends of the Earth study of local food schemesix found that
on average just over half of business turnover was returned to the local economy –
compared to as little as five per cent for supermarkets.x
3. Traffic congestion increases. The distribution systems used by supermarkets and
the location of out of town stores generate large amounts of traffic. Recent work for
the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) suggests that car
use for shopping results in costs to society of more than £3.5 billion per year, from
traffic emissions, noise, accidents, congestion and accidents.xi
4. Local jobs are lost. Supermarket claims that new stores bring in jobs fail to consider
the wider picture of independent retailer bankruptcies. A 1998 study by the National
Retailer Planning Forum (NRPF) examining the employment impacts of 93
superstore openings between 1991 and 1994 found that they resulted in a net loss of
more than 25,000 jobs or 276 per store opened.xii
5. Food and packaging waste is generated. Packaging now makes up nearly a
quarter of household waste.xiii A shocking 35-40 per cent of all household waste
which ends up in landfill begins life as a purchase from one of the big five
supermarkets.xiv
6. Suppliers are exploited and the environment is damaged. Supermarkets use
their market dominance to exploit suppliers and farmers and drive down prices, thus
ensuring that environmentally damaging practices are continued both in the UK and
overseas.

This was copied from Friends of the Earth website where you can look up the references and their research.

The Argyll & Bute Council planning application reference is 09/00002/PAN - if you agree with any of the points above, you can write to the planning department. If no-one writes they will think we are all in favour of this.

[kintyre56]

I'm surprised the local traders association hasn't got a petition against it on the go - or have they? Does anyone know?

[LO]

The Argyll & Bute Council planning application reference is 09/00002/PAN

I understand that the full application has been recently returned to Tesco's agents unvalidated as there were a number of problems with it that needed to be resolved before it could be accepted by the Planning Department. It doesn't appear to be on the Council's website for now but I've no doubt it will be re-submitted shortly...... and before anyone asks, I've no idea why it couldn't be validated!

[EMDEE]

It's good to see some debate about this, and in particular an element of scepticism about the benefits. Without reiterating in detail my own opinions about supermarkets, which have been stated on here many times, this is not a Campbeltown problem, but applies to any small town that comes into the sights of a major Supermarket chain. A new superstore in a small town is a poisoned chalice for the local economy. It looks good at first, creating employment and offering low prices, but if one looks behind the initial "carrot on the stick", the longer term effect on the local economy can only be adverse, as their longer term objectives are fulfilled.

[LANDROVER ROGER]

Huge Tesco opened near to my village of Blythe Bridge in Staffordshire.Followed in a relatively short space of time by closure of a greengrocers,two butcher`s shops,two off licences and a sweetshop.Good for the local economy?Tosh!

[Mr.Everready]

Huge Tesco opened near to my village of Blythe Bridge in Staffordshire.Followed in a relatively short space of time by closure of a greengrocers,two butcher`s shops,two off licences and a sweetshop.Good for the local economy?Tosh!

Was there a Tescos there already ?