Letter: Shropshire’s David failed to fight Tesco’s Goliath
Tuesday 26th October 2010, 6:00AM BST.
Letter: The Tesco debacle should be an embarrassment to Shropshire Council, it was quoted that the “Damage has been done”, the fact is the damage has not been done, it is being done.
Tesco broke the rules, they reneged on an agreement and they should have been forced to toe the line.
The council may well have set a precedent: Why should other corporations take notice of regulations, how can the council defend any action against citizens who decide to do as they wish on their land?
The council must consider the difficulties independent retailers contend with each day, not just in the river loop but throughout town.
All major supermarkets in Shrewsbury sell non-food items; we have large international clothing and electrical retailers.
It also worries me the town council spokeswoman says she was opposed to the decision. People who were not elected by townspeople ignore their representatives but have the cheek to comment on something which won’t affect them.
If Tesco were to appeal against any decision it would have cost our council up to £300,000 to defend if they had lost; I don’t think the council would have lost.
The fact is the damage has not yet been done; it will be done because David was afraid to take on Goliath.
Kev Pardy
Sundorne
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Well if you don’t like the decision and can’t turn to your council or the law, who can you turn to but yourselves ?
Organise, try and raise 300K and fight the decision, public-picket at the Tesco’s store, and at the town-hall – If Shrewsbury is a community, act like one. A hive-mind can stop nearly *any* decision or at least make any future decision much less palatable.
I look forward to reading history books and seeing Tesco’s Shrewsbury as being the flashpoint where the public drew a line although I suspect that might end up being the Bishop’s Castle Biomass, they have better communities in the south of the county (this final comment is designed to get your blood-boiling and get you out in the streets protesting)
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I’m now picturing a line of villagers with flaming torches setting out to Castle Frankenstein, like in an old Boris Karloff film.
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Or Shrek, for the younger generation..
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The problem is that big, unitary authorites just don’t care.
Those who pushed for the Shropshire Unitary Authority said that everything would be better, that it would save money and all would be well.
And pigs might fly.
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the council is run by officers and could not afford to take on tescos in court they should be called gummy bears as they can only bite the poor and are scared of the rich
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What used to amaze me was that the same town suffered first Frankenstein, then Frankenstein and Dracula, then Frankenstein and Dracula and the Wolf-man, without any of the inhabitants ever saying ‘I think I can see a pattern in what’s happening here, let’s just move to a different town before the Mummy rolls up’.
The inhabitants of Shrewsbury may now be starting to feel the same way. I suggest arranging for a giant, but badly rendered, painted backdrop of Carpathian Mountains to be erected behind Tescos.
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All the small “local” traders, coffee shops, bric-brac stores. Put out your tables on the streets, put up awnings, put out signs pointing to your shops. (and good luck to you) The “council” (note small c) have set the precident now. The regulations (such as they are) are there to be flouted. Tescos (‘suppose should also be a small t) can abuse the law and get away with it, so why not everybody else. The pig trough boys have left the door wide open for anyone to do what the hell they want. Idiots!
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[I don’t think the council would have lost.]
Well a similar sum of money was lost, on our behalf (apparently) fighting the unitary council.
Do you feel that this is really worth the risk?
I don,t persoanlly shop at Tesco but I gather a huge number of residents do.
Perhaps it is a classic example of market forces as proclaimed by a certain tory lady who is feted by most of our council.
In reality the ease of internet shopping is more likely to be closing shops in the town centre.
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i remember before my partner worked for the ouncil and were told to vote labour as otherwise the unitary would not go ahead she told me this after attending a meeting this was a tory county council at the time sabc took the fight half way
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Who exactly is complaining about this? I would have thought anyone on the North end of town would have welcomed the decision. It seems to me that it is only those concerned about the over priced town centre boutiques that are kicking up a fuss, here is an idea as Sainsbury’s are also heading for massive expansion. Sort out the parking!
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The Council argue that the people of Bishop’s Castle will be protected from the impact of the biomass plant by a list of complex and expensive to monitor conditions imposed by the Inspector.
They have always considered that the conditions, which are welcome on the face of it, are not worth the paper they are printed on because they will not be enforced.
The Council’s capitulation to Tesco is a good indicator of how they will deal with breaches of conditions at the monstrous power station they are determined to impose on the Town.
THIS COUNCIL IS A DISGRACE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
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So true, Michael, especially your final comment. I detest Tesco on principle and will never shop there.
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