Planners say no to fourth city Tesco!

THE only MSP to join the objectors to Tesco’s proposed fourth superstore in Inverness is celebrating after councillors threw out the controversial multimillion-pound development.Green MSP Eleanor Scott is tickled pink with a decision by members of Highland Council’s area planning committee to give the thumbs down to the application to create a 4,400-square metre supermarket at Ness Side. She was just one of more than 3,000 people who rose up in a display of public indignation to protest against the plan.

A green light would have paved the way for a massive store, individual shops, a petrol filling station and sites for the construction of a hotel and a doctors’ surgery – as well as parking for almost 400 cars. Dr Scott, has previously accused Tesco of using aggressive tactics to put local shops under pressure. She has further claimed that the retailer’s operational policy “trashes the planet on a daily basis, all in order to line the pockets of fat-cat shareholders”. In the aftermath of the planners’ decision, Dr Scott said: “I am delighted it has been chucked out.“It is much larger than was originally proposed. It is too big and people simply don’t want it.” She said approval would have consolidated Tesco’s “stranglehold” in the city.

The group already has a market share of 51 per cent of Inverness food sales – the highest percentage of any UK city.

Dr Scott, convener of the Scottish Green Party and spokeswoman on rural development, added: “Our concerns are not confined to Tesco but to all big supermarket chains.”

Among the party’s fears are the packaging of produce, the food miles clocked up by delivery lorries, the fact the company does not buy from local sources, and the belief that it forces “pitifully” low prices on suppliers.

The MSP was one of 73 people who wrote letters of objection to the council.About 4,000 more signed a petition.

Planning officers recommended the application be rejected on the grounds that it was contrary to the Inverness Local Plan, as the size of the foodstore would undermine smaller stores in the Ness area. Courtesy Inverness Courier

Opposition to Fourth Tesco Plan

Residents of an Inverness community have objected to plans for a fourth Tesco supermarket in the city. At a public meeting chaired by Holm Community Council, all of the 130 people present said there was no need for a store in their local area....

Read the full the BBC News Story here

The Office of Fair Trading has been under increasing pressure to investigate the supermarket sector amid competition concerns in the sector. The OFT weighed up a number of questions before it decided to refer the matter to the Competition Commission. Read The Full Story Here and Here and the Office Of Fair Trading Report Here Watch the VIDEO

Competition Commission update
The Competition Commission has published its “emerging thinking” on the progress of its investigation. The report says that the Commission has not ruled out any areas for investigation and has identified problems including with supermarkets impact on farmers and small shops. However, the Commission’s concern’s are at this stage inconclusive and it wants more evidence about supermarkets’ practices and the impacts. The evidence and submissions many of you have written to the CC have already had a significant impact in prompting the CC to reach some of the conclusions it has. Any more information or evidence that you or people you know may be able to send in would be very useful, particularly evidence from farmers or other suppliers and small retailers on the impacts of supermarket dominance.

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More than 200 local protest groups have joined an online alliance. Read The Guardian Article Here Tesco allowed to evict protester. Read More Here

Campaign against planning reforms launched
A coalition of groups has launched a campaign, Planning Disaster, against reforms to the planning system recommended by the Treasury in the Barker Final Report in January 2007. The report recommended deregulation of the planning system to give big business more power, and specifically changes to national planning policy on town centre development that will effectively make it easier for retail chains to build large stores outside town centres. The Planning Disaster campaign aims to encourage people to write to the Treasury expressing their concerns. For further information and to take action please see the Tescopoly & Planning Disaster links to the right.

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Friends of the Earth warmly welcomed the new "High Street UK 2015" report from the All Party Parliamentary Group on Small Shops, and urged the Government to follow the Group's recommendations. Read the Press Release Here

High Street, Clone Town, 2015 - MPs warn this that Britain's shopkeepers face extinction under the supermarket juggernaut. Read More Here

The Tescopoply Alliance links www.tescotown.co.uk to national campaigns.
Visit Tescopoly Campaign Section Here and what Friends Of The Earth say about it Here

MORE than 1,600 high-street butchers, greengrocers, fishmongers and newsagents closed across Scotland in just six years as they buckled under the weight of competition from supermarkets and out-of-town shopping centres. Read the full story here Read the BBC report here See also: 10 years to save the high street warn MP's

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Fergus Ewing MSP has suggested that Inverness should apply for World Heritage Status to preserve the city's biggest asset, the unspoilt scenic journey to Loch Ness. He warned that the vast expanse of car parking and superstore Tesco propose on this route would lurch Inverness into a future model of Milton Keynes. See a larger aerial photograph of the affected area HERE

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Fergus Ewing MSP has pledged his support to oppose a fourth Tesco in Inverness. "Inverness needs a fourth Tesco store like Imelda Marcos needs another pair of shoes" he said. He cited Traffic Chaos, Flooding and the impact on Local Shops as reasons why it should not proceed along with a strong criticism of the government for not providing infastructure funding. He also urged the council to heed the views of it's citizens. He recently canvassed outside local Drumblair Stores and has invited residents views. You can contact Fergus Ewing MSP Here

Fergus Ewing MSP with petitioner Anne Walker, Steven Roger and shopkeeper Shane Scragg.

Meanwhile nationally: MPs declare war on power of supermarket giants. Read the fully story here
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Local stores already have over 1000 names on their petition against Tesco and are now considering a demonstration outside council buildings with 'NO To Tesco' banners and leaflets. You can add to our online petition HERE "Every Little Helps!". See also: Is Tesco Threatening Your Business? See also:Supermarkets 'will kill corner shops by 2015'

Inverness shopkeepers have appealed for support for a demonstration outside council buildings. If you wish to take part please let us know Here (library image)

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"The Highland Council has not discussed a sum of money that the developer might be expected to pay for the infrastructure" Read the full story here
Read the Press & Journal article Here
Who said 13 million? Find out Here
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The muscle of the major supermarkets in manipulating the planning system is leaving local councils powerless to resist their expansion, a new Friends Of The Earth report reveals.
Read the full story here
Also see
How to oppose local supermarket applications (PDF file)
How supermarkets get their way in planning decisions (PDF file)
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Approval of Tesco's controversial plans for a 4th store in Inverness would almost certainly block any move by ASDA or other retailers to gain a foothold in the city as it would almost fill the 5000 metres food retailing space indentified in the local plan.

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The march of the multiple giant Tesco into the convenience sector has been halted in Barnet. More
Edinburgh council refused a Tesco application for Portobello. see comments
Aberdeen council refused a Tesco Supestore application in 2002. see comments
Council Refuse Norwich, Norfolk Tesco. see comments
Yiewsley Council Refuse Tesco. see comments

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Over 300 people from the local area of the proposed new Inverness development turned out on a stormy night recently to make their feelings known at a public meeting. 100% unanimously AGAINST the proposal! Steven Rodgers Holm Community Council Chairman.

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In Inverness, 'dominant' does not begin to describe the extent of Tesco's stranglehold on the population's purses. Read the full story here

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Tesco, the UK's largest supermarket giant, has been accused of having a near monopoly in the Highland city of Inverness. The city currently has three stores and a fourth is planned in the Holm area. Read the full story here If you have broadband, watch the video Here Hit "permalink" to add this page to your favourites.

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