Should we be letting supermarkets/chainstores establish in our town?

andrewb · 26-04-2007, 18:58

I ask this question as i've come across it quite a lot recently.

With the influx of chain stores and supermarkets, the homogenising of towns across the UK is well under way. Many, many towns are exactly the same, and I'd argue that although supermarkets bring jobs, and hence putting money in to our community, is that really the case? How much money do we lose from our town being just another chain store location?

I had the delight of wandering around the North Quarter (or at least thats what I think its called) in Manchester. There were a lot of independent shops all selling unique things that I hadn't come across before. It was really interesting unlike the countless clones of chain stores in Manchester town center.

Is it really to our benefit that supermarkets (namely Tesco) have so much power around the country? Forcing local shops to close, paying farmers a pittance, importing goods from around the world as they're cheaper than our homemade alternatives?

Tescos and other such companies have considerable influence in many places of power. They employ just under 300thousand people, thats a considerable amount of bargaining power with any government.

Do we really want a further expansion of profit driven supermarkets and unattractive, uninteresting clone towns?

Margaret Pilkington · 26-04-2007, 19:01

In a word......NO.

yerself · 26-04-2007, 19:02

It's all down to Market Forces.

cashman · 26-04-2007, 19:14

used too have quite a few independants in accy, and in my opinion the town was much better for them, sadly as yerself said = Market Forces, dont make it more palatable, but thats the way of it.

grego · 26-04-2007, 19:20

I dont like it Cyfr, but I also dont like the amount of pound and charity shops we have either, I would love to see more independants in Accy but they probably couldn't afford the rent, esp in the Arndale.

flashy · 26-04-2007, 19:28

in Blackburn we have 6 supermarkets...morrisons, asda, (several) tesco's, aldi, lidl and netto, even though they do create jobs they also kill jobs too....there was only 1 english butcher between Accrington and Blackburn (i mean between blackburn rd and accy rd) he wasnt making much profit thanx to cheaper supermarkets, his shop was just passed intack traffic lights, earlier this year he had to close the shop due to lack of trade, its not fair that such things are happening, i would rather go round a traditional market and buy traditional local food than go to the supermarkets which arent environmentally friendly, they import most of there groceries from other countries which doesn't help the earth at all.

katex · 26-04-2007, 19:29

Not just down to market forces, but also to the needs of modern society.
Before a council grant planning permission, the first question they ask themselves is 'Is there a need for this facility?'. Research is done incuding asking large slices of the community. Unfortunately, we are all busy people these days, and do not have the luxury of wandering around from shop to shop looking for unusual articles or going to the market for veg, local butcher for meat and hardware shop, etc. for varying items.

You still a student Cyfr .. wait 'til you have joined us workers, parents, etc., and see if you still can grant yourself the time to wander leisurely around. Reply in 10 years time.

Sad I grant you .. particularly with Tescos ... they are the bullies, and never been refused yet. Like the application for Gt.Harwood .. I don't see a need for them .. the Co-op/Whiteheads are excellent and to me no need for anymore, but let us see what happens.

SamF · 26-04-2007, 19:42

I would say no but the Tesco Bakery is a god send. Chocolate Croissant

davo69 · 26-04-2007, 19:47

sad as it is with money so tight and taxes so high most people look for econemy .

katex · 26-04-2007, 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by davo69

sad as it is with money so tight and taxes so high most people look for econemy .

Exactly davo .. (hope your hand better,by the way) .. and with house prices rising so much now, have no choice, have we?

We are an enemy to ourselves.

By the way Cyfr did you, by any chance, buy anything ? x

andrewb · 26-04-2007, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by katex

Exactly davo .. (hope your hand better,by the way) .. and with house prices rising so much now, have no choice, have we?

We are an enemy to ourselves.

By the way Cyfr did you, by any chance, buy anything ? x

From Manchester? No, but thats because I had stopped over at a friends and had no money on me, if I had money on me i'd have bought items from several of the shops.

Actually I tell a lie, I did buy a tshirt with the £10 I had.

davo69 · 26-04-2007, 20:45

katex hand still bad waiting for mra scan

MargaretR · 26-04-2007, 21:17

I rarely visit any shop of any kind - I can buy all I want and /or need on the internet and have it delivered. More and more people will realise that this is the new way to shop and the town centres will die anyway.

Ps - hairdressers,dentists, optcians,chiropodists, doctors need personal attendance but chemists deliver

lettie · 26-04-2007, 21:20

I have to agree with Flashytart on this one. Supermarkets not only create jobs but they cost the jobs of those working in smaller shops. I do like to get fresh stuff off the market and when I'm not working I will often go market shopping. On days out we will normally find an independent butchers or farmer's market and come home with enough different flavoured sausage to fill the freezer and tons of cheeses. I don't believe that supermarkets are much cheaper than smaller shops, if the cost of tonights shopping at Tesco is anything to go by......

I'm having to have a glass of wine to get over it..

davo69 · 26-04-2007, 21:21

and more jobs will go. lets get more lazy and stay in doors .