Tesco Planning applications for 144-146 Lower Clapton Road
Two planning applications have been submitted by Lower Clapton LLP (based in Herts) working to rent the unit to Tesco, which you can see on the lamppost outside 144-146 Lower Clapton Road, or on the Hackney Planning website here:
- 2010/1039 – application to change delivery hours
- 2010/1041 – application to load and unload on the road to the front of the unit
These applications are both in relation to Tesco Express wanting to move into the commercial unit at 144-146 Lower Clapton Road (under Shire Court). This has been confirmed by Family Mosaic, the building freeholders.
What could Tesco Express mean to the residents of Alva and Shire Court and neighbours? …
- Noisy deliveries at any time of the day or night (particular problems for flats at the front of the buildings that overlook Lower Clapton Road)
- Tesco delivery trucks disrupting traffic and buses on Lower Clapton Road
- Increased use of the loading bay (outside Palm2) for deliveries
- Added dangers related to a busier street and pavement during loading time
- Increase in parking in the surrounding area as no additional parking will be created for the unit
- Increase of pedestrians to the unit (Tesco Express would potentially be open 7 days a week until 10pm)
- Detrimental effects on the area:
- Huge competition to local family run businesses, in particular the Palm 2 grocery stores, potentially leading to their closure
- Reduction in choice of food, especially fresh fruit and veg (Tesco won’t be taking your suggestions when they buy stock, like Palm2 do)
- Loss of identity of the Clapton Pond area: We already have a William Hill, do we need any more chains?
Additional issues particularly related to Alva and Shire Court residents
- Increased traffic on the estate: Tesco staff would have 3 parking spaces on the estate to the rear of the unit;
- Commercial bins and additional food for vermin in the bin stores as the unit has permission to use the bin store;
- Added strain on communal areas (including the gates), and access to staff of the unit. Meaning that the communal area will become more of a commercial area, which should especially concern those who’s children play outside.
Tesco or those representing them do not have to apply for planning permission to open the shop as the unit has the permission to be a retail unti (A1 usage), this could be your only chance to try and stop them. This is our chance to get our voice heard.
The Clapton Pond Neighbourhood Action Group and local Councillors are in support of this campaign.
Details on objecting to the applications are here
Definitely against Tesco coming to Clapton pond. We love Palm 2 and the individual service. Please let me know what you organise.
Thanks for the support.
please come along on this Sunday (23rd) at 5pm to the Hackney Gazette photo http://www.noclaptontesco.org/hackney-gazette-photo/ and also write an objection letter regarding the applications http://www.noclaptontesco.org/planning-applications/objecting-to-planning-applications/
What’s this? Yet more middle-class, pseudo-radical conservatives trying to decide where Clapton’s predominantly poor community can spend their money? Don’t you trust poor people to decide whether or not they want to enjoy the benefits of modern commercial reality? Don’t you want much needed jobs for local residents who actually pay real wages rather than below minimum wage to family members?
Furthermore, since you acknowledge the probable “increase in pedestrians”, why don’t you mention the benefits that has for other businesses around the pond area?
I’d bet that Tesco will also supply a free cashpoint rather than the existing ones in shops that charge some extortionate fee.
If Tesco is as crap as you claim, surely they’ll go bust? They don’t because people most people enjoy the cost benefits of modern commerce.
Alex, thanks for your comments. You’re fully entitled to your own opinion on this, as am I entitled to campaign for something I believe in.
My motivation in becoming involved in the campaign was to raise peoples’ awareness that Tesco was opening up in Clapton Pond, and make their opinion heard about the opening. They’ve carefully kept their name out of all planning documents, and I feel that by hiding this they’re stifling the opportunity for people to choose whether they want a Tesco to open. I don’t think it’s for either of us to say what other people would choose, rich or poor.
I’m in the anti camp as I think that Tesco can undercut their rivals here by hugely squeezing their suppliers which gives them an unfair advantage. I also feel that we already have a choice to shop at Tescos (a 15 minute stroll away in Mare Street) or Somerfield.
On a more local level, the residents of Shire & Alva Courts will have to put up with deliveries round the clock from Tesco’s huge lorries. Where Tesco have opened other stores they consistently deliver outside their allowed hours, using larger lorries than they have been allowed. I don’t think they’ll make an exception for Clapton Pond.
The increase in pedestrians we refer to above is something mainly of concern to residents of Shire & Alva courts and people who use the bus stop outside. I feel that the increase would be at the expense of the other shops in the area.
Finally, I like the people in Palm 2 and the surrounding shops. I like that family businesses have a personality. I’m not sure where you got your facts about only employing family members under the minimum wage from, but I know that not everyone who works in Palm 2 is from the same family, and the same can be said for the other shops around the pond. The guy in the newsagents across the road has been selling papers from there for 30 years – do you think his business will survive once Tesco move in across the road?
If you’re all for Tescos then please express your opinion and write to Caroline Ozor (details on “Objecting to Planning Decisions” page) stating why you support the two planning applications.
I do live in millfields road and I have a small business in there as millfields convenience store and this shop looks after 3 family so far if the tesco move in the area what do you think will happen to us you should think more careful about that. we do not want a tesco around us.
we all say NO NO NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Ah yes, the poor of Hackney – just as the rural poor are always invoked by the well heeled country dwellers when the price of petrol goes up. No self-interest there, then.
Tesco makes billions in profit from providing more and better paid jobs (are we talking globally?) than the competition. Something doesn’t quite add up there. As Dan says, there is a huge branch of Tesco in central Hackney which seems to be immeasurably popular. How far do you go- Tesco on every street corner? Because something is popular doesn’t make it morally good.
“Morally good”? What the hell are you talking about? They are popular for a reason. Address it, rather than denying progress. The advent of the printing press put scribes out of work and the internet has been disasterous for the newspaper industry. Why don’t you set up campaigns to close them down? Why should progress stop at some arbitrary time designated by you?
If (and I emphasise “if”) the profits of Palm2 take a hit, why don’t they adapt to the new reality and open a large deli-cafe. If done well, they’d make a fortune.
I can’t help but feel that much of this objection to Tesco is simply snobbery; Would you be complaining quite so hard if this were a Waitrose proposal?
Furthermore, is vandalising the private property of housing associations “morally good”?
Alex,
This campaigned was kicked off to give local residents a chance to object to the planned arrival of Tesco Express should they wish to as any planning applications are being hidden by the face of Lower Clapton LLP, as you can see there are residents against this (as they would be for any massive supermarket chain) and they have a right to make their objections heard. You also are welcome to your opinions but I don’t agree to you making personal comments about other people.
It’s not just Palm 2 that would be effected by a Tesco moving in, there are other businesses around the pond that will also take a hit, so there is no point in bringing it back to them.
What vandalism are you referring to?
Emily,
Nobody is questioning the right of resident’s objections to be heard. How did you get such an idea? And what “personal” comments are you refering to? I’m merely trying to assertain whether your objections stand up to any kind of intellectual scrutiny, that’s all.
I only mention Palm2 because it is often mentioned by this campaign as the obvious loser. But you’re right, there are other businesses, some of whom will probably benefit from a Tesco.
The vandalism I’m referring to is the scrawling of this blog address (and other stuff) on the windows.
Great, then I think we are in agreement that all the local residents, despite what their financial situation, including my neighbours on the affordable and social housing estate behing the unit are free to make up their own minds whether you think they are “middle-class, pseudo-radical conservatives” or not.
Emily,
of course residents are “free to make up their own minds whether you think they are “middle-class, pseudo-radical conservatives” or not.” Again, who said they weren’t?
My point is is that if your campaign is successful many people (the silent majority), including Clapton’s many poor and disabled residents, will not be free to enjoy cheap produce close to home, and will be forced to pay exhorbitant prices for food (even when that food is multipack tins illegally broken up for sale) and I think that’s unfair.
Hi Alex,
You’re very much entitled to your own opinion and to think that paying higher prices for food locally than those charged in the supermarket is unfair. Personally I think that Tescos squeezes its suppliers to get much cheaper wholesale prices than the local minimarkets can thus meaning it can undercut the local competition and still make huge profits – and I feel that’s unfair.
But please, if you are for Tescos opening up make your opinions known by submitting them to Caroline Ozor at Hackney Council. You can find her contact details under the “Objecting to Planning Decisions” link at the top of the page. Remember – the deadline for making your views known is the 5th June – don’t be late!
Dan
But you have the option of not going there Dan!
My disabled sister does not have the luxury of choosing whether to buy at a local Tesco or a local “independent”, and if you get your way, she, like many others in Clapton, never will.
You seem to be under the impression that farmers are forced to sell their produce against their will to chains. They do it because that is how they make more money. If they didn’t, they would never sell to them would they? It’s called freewill and self-interest. If you don’t think that’s fair, why not ask the farmer to stop selling his produce to Tesco?
It strikes me that no one seems willing to engage with the issues and simply resorts to the last refuge of the intellectually bankrupt by repeating peurile truisms such as “You’re very much entitled to your own opinion”. Gee, thanks! But the question remains whether any of your “points” stand up to even vague scrutiny?
Excellent piece of Tesco cheerleading, Alex. Would we be protesting against Waitrose? Probably not because of their different business model. Tesco, in common with the banks latterly, has seemed more concerned with making money than anything else. Why else does it never seem to accept a planning judgment which goes against it, using its huge financial might wherever possible? What do you think its business model is, Alex? Is it to squeeze the last possible drop of market share to creat a monopoly? Or is it live-and-let-live? But its stance where the planners don’t agree with it suggests the former.
Well, if all that matters in life is the lowest possible price of everything, you win.
Alex writes…
“You seem to be under the impression that farmers are forced to sell their produce against their will to chains. They do it because that is how they make more money. If they didn’t, they would never sell to them would they? It’s called freewill and self-interest. If you don’t think that’s fair, why not ask the farmer to stop selling his produce to Tesco?”
No thats not a real arguement, farmers are put in a position by companies such as Tesco who manipulate markets so farmers have little choice but to sell to Tesco at prices that the supermarket dictates, or go out of business. I no way is it “called freewill and self-interest” thats not how markets work and you are kidding yourself if you think otherwise.
Pseudoradical conservative,
So it’s not about saving “independent local businesses” then. Not if you wouldn’t oppose a Waitrose.
The Tesco model is driven by commercial logic, like any other business (including smaller businesses around the Pond). The economy of scale means that they can purchase more stock from suppliers at a heaper price and then pass on much of that saving to consumers. That’s why large companies are largely successful.
You say that Tesco “seemed more concerned with making money than anything else”, as if that’s news. Of course that’s their primary interest; it’s the primary interest of all world commerce. If you want to create an international socialist state, then that’s a valid position, but you can’t try to achieve it via a local planning office.
Anons,
how are farmers “put in a position” by Tesco to sell to them? Farmers were offered large sales at reduced rates and they took the cash because it was in their interest to take the cash.
I’m neither a “cheerleader” for corporations nor protection-racket for smaller businesses. Merely someone who understands that progress brings change.
Alex
I have a sort of grudging respect for your seeming passion for clarity. In fact I think a challenge to what people are saying (by the way, I am against Tesco moving in here)is really healthy, as quite a lot of what is being said does lack real clarity and accuracy. Also, I abhor the act of having painted across the window. I would request that whoever did that, if they’re reading this, to hold their hands up and have the decency to clean it off. It totally undermines the work a large number of essentially decent people are attempting to do.
However, and it’s a big however, I think you’re as guilty as the people you’re challenging. You have made a lot of fairly generalised statements that sound as if you’ve pulled them out of the air. You make a claim about “much needed jobs for local residents who actually pay real wages rather than below minimum wage to family members?”; another that people “will be forced to pay exhorbitant prices for food”; and then “Of course that’s their primary interest; it’s the primary interest of all world commerce” and then you say that “It strikes me that no one seems willing to engage with the issues and simply resorts to the last refuge of the intellectually bankrupt by repeating peurile truisms….” .
Have you checked what the shops round Clapton pond pay the people who work for them, and how those rates compare to Tesco rates? Are you suggesting that famlies running a business shouldn’t pitch in and work together?
Have you compared all the prices in Tesco and the local shops? It’s not that Tesco undercut everything, it’s that, because of their scale, they can afford to run huge loss leaders, offer two for ones and use that to get people in. They have a reputation, not unfairly as far as I can see, of using tehir business model to squeeze other competition out of the market, as opposed to existing alongside it.
Your comment about “it’s the primary interest of all world commerce” is not quite accurate. There are a fair number of people in the world attempting different commercial models that are not socialism. Some people are interested, very interested in models where, whilst making money is not a dirty word, it is not the sole purpose of the enterprise. Similarly, your comments about progress seem to make the assumption that big, more and I suspect shinier and brighter, etc is progress. Whilst there will probably always be benefits arising from change and ‘progress’, maybe, just maybe, people trying to find another way of operating, rather than solely accepting the way the juggernaut seems to be rolling, could be a form of progress.
I do find it rather sad that you seem to be negating people’s attempts to engage with an issue because they don’t match up to your intellectual sharpness. Maybe some people are ducking their head because they’re avoiding an issue, but do I detect just a hint of self righteous pomposity in your comment about intellectual bankruptcy? I can be, and frequently am, self righteous, but I’d rather actually try to build bridges for ome common benefit, rather than do what looks to me like attacking something for the heck of it. I reckon you like a good intellectual ruck. do you?
I have a challenge for you Alex! Rather than continue to gleefully pull apart what people are saying, my invitation is to seriously engage with people and use your clearly intelligent and sharp brain to enable people so that everyone wins in this. Do I have a formula for how that could happen? No! However, it’s a game I’d much rather be playing, with you as a partner in it, than any game of verbal tennis.
By the way, I am sorry that your sister loses out in the current situation. When I say a solution that works for all, I very much include her and each and every in Clapton.
Thanks Dave,
I’ll take your points one at a time;
Jobs & wages. You’re quite right in that I haven’t checked with every shop to check their employment policy, but I do know a former worker at one of the Pond’s main shops who told me that she was paid less than minimum wage and that all employees were family members. No, I’m not suggesting that there’s anything instrinsically wrong in families working together, merely pointing out that such an arrangement precludes employment from the wider community.
I don’t know how much Tesco pays, but obviously it is at least the legal minimum.
“Have you compared all the prices in Tesco and the local shops?” Now you’re just being silly.
Obviously, generally, Tesco are cheaper; that is why they are successful. Otherwise you appear to be negating the central point of your opposition. Competing businesses don’t plan to exist alongside each other, unless they’re indulging in mutual price-fixing.
You state that profit motive is not always the driving force of commerce. Well, if you wish to put your money where your mouth is and set up a shop by the Pond with a differing model, I certainly won’t object to it. I’ll welcome your new enterprise and let the people decide.
“Progress” is subjective, I agree, but I wouldn’t describe it as necessarily “big, more…shinier and brighter”. I do think however that economy of scale is efficient and therefore progress. The success of this model in the commercial sector would indicate that the vast majority of civilisation would agree with that position. As a democrat I believe that “progress” should be defined by what people freely choose (in contradiction to your position). There are of course areas where small independents can come into their own; niche markets and lifestyle/cultural arenas, but they would still operate with the same motive, just compete in a slightly different market that large corporation would be unable to do as well.
You state that your aim is to strive for a situation “so that everyone wins in this. Do I have a formula for how that could happen?” You go on; “I am sorry that your sister loses out in the current situation. When I say a solution that works for all, I very much include her and each and every in Clapton.”
Well here’s a plan that is democratic, fair and inclusive; how about not trying to block the opening of a shop which will provide employment and much needed facilities such as a free cashpoint, so that all local residents can freely choose where they shop, be it in a store that is efficient and consequently sells its goods generally cheaper than others, with disabled access, and within legal requirements, or alternatively, at stores, some of which, are very expensive, with no or poor disabled access and who indulge in practices such as illegally splitting multi-packs, splitting cigarettes packs to sell individually, selling contraband tobacco etc.
Finally, if the aim of this campaign is to be inclusive and find a solution that works for all, who gave it permission to speak on behalf of all its residents? “CLAPTON POND SAYS NO TO TESCO”. Does it indeed? I suggest that you are fully aware that at least a large percentage of residents would in fact choose to shop at Tesco. In fact, that is the centrality of your objection. It is precisely Tesco’s efficiency and popularity that you object to, and I find that perverse.
Personally, I used to live near a Tesco Express and I can say with confidence that it was dreadful. The fruit and veg were far from fresh (bagged), the selection/range of products were minimal and it wasn’t what I would call inexpensive shopping.
Furthermore for a time I myself was in a wheel chair, following a serious accident. During this period I found the best way to shop was online. Simply because you didn’t have to worry about getting around the store, reaching the shelves, or trying to carry your shopping home. Getting around is difficult, getting help is difficult and going out in public is a nightmare. I found that staff in supermarkets were generally unhelpful, whereas the smaller stores were more sympathetic. Of course this is based on my own personal experience, I can’t speak for each and every store. Being in a wheel chair is a different world to the one that most people know, and I consider myself fortunate that I was able to walk again.
Tesco cannot be considered as healthy competition, they are an aggressive company that are set on dominating every high street in the UK.
For example they recently revealed plans to build ‘Tesco villages’. The effects of this will mean that soon enough you’ll be able to eat your Tesco-bought dinner (meat), sat at your Tesco table in a home built by Spen Hill (the supermarket’s property development arm), paid for with – you guessed it – a Tesco mortgage, and all insured by Tesco insurance. You’ll even be able to fill your house with Tesco products, as they now sell Electrical and house hold goods.
Criticism has been directed at Tesco from various groups, both national organisations and individuals. One of the biggest criticisms it faces is the perceived threat it poses to small businesses due to the monopoly it imposes over products. There is also a belief that they use aggressive tactics to gain land for building new stores. Other controversial areas concern the treatment of staff and customers.
They have also been heavily criticised by the media in both the UK and Ireland among other places over its comparatively more ruthless and harsh business tactics compared to its rivals, all of whom stand charged, like Tesco, of bullying farmers to lower their prices to unsustainable levels. Interestingly Waitrose was the only major supermarket to come out of this accusation relatively unscathed.
I do not believe that a Tesco Express will have a positive impact on the area. They already have a large store in Hackney central, and if you live in Clapton you are only a short distance away. Today’s society are more focused on convenience, they have no interest in the economic impact that corporations like Tesco have. Just so long as it’s convenient, cheap, and the share holders are making money no one minds. Of course if they succeed in getting the unit they will be cheap initially (whilst they gather custom) and then they will gradually up their prices as their competition is forced to close. They will do nothing for the aesthetics of the area, and currently Clapton has choice, it has variety, which is something that should be celebrated.
Alex P, interesting to hear your experience. Alex, thanks for your response. You do make some points worth considering.
However, I am wondering why you seem to put forward the argument that Tesco’s cheaper prices (and I stand by what I said about them selectively lowering prices in order to get people in, and not all the rest are cheaper) justifies the way they go about being able to offer those prices. You challenge me to “Well, if you wish to put your money where your mouth is and set up a shop by the Pond with a differing model, I certainly won’t object to it.” and others to take action on things, and then make claims about farmers having a choice whether to sell to Tesco. I challenge you to have built up a business over time and find yourself in a situation where your prices are driven down and down, and you don’t experience any freedom to choose. Go and speak to some of the farmers that have been on the blunt end of Tesco’s policies, or for that matter some of the small businesses that have been on the blunt end of their agressiveness, and tell me that making that free choice not to sell to them is that simple. By the way, this isn’t about price fixing or people not having the freedom to choose. Would you call a company that strives to dominate to the extent that it drives other people out of business, the pathway to a healthy economy where we have a wide variety and choice? People have the choice of Tesco within easy reach, so I haven’t for one minute suggested doing away with the freedom to choose. But there is a fine line between that and what threatens to end up as less choice.
Yes, people will use Tesco – it is convenient! However, I reckon (and I know I haven’t actually researched this) that if we ended up with a row of empty shops as a response to Tesco coming in, a lot of people who use it would regret that happening. That’s one of the risks that we want to avoid. Your point about it bringing in new jobs is also not fully valid Alex, as that would be countered by the loss of employment as businesses who work on very slender margins either have to let people go or close down.
I stated that my stance is to find a solution that works for all. I can’t speak for the rest of the people involved with the campaign. However, you seem happy to speak for other residents. How many other residents have you spoken to about whether they would choose to shop at Tesco or at the otehr shops? … and, No, that’s not being silly. If either of us are going to make claims, let’s not do so when it suits us and shoot the other down hiding behind something. I wasn’t being silly before. You totally ignored the point I made about Tesco using cheaper prices on selected items in orer to get people in the store. From a business point of view that’s smart, but the aggressiveness with which they do it, sometimes doesn’t leave a particularly healthy economy around them.
Your point about shops using illegal practices is a fair one. However, I don’t see welcoming in Tesco as an answer to that. I was actually unaware of that previously and I agree with you, it’s not great. If it concerns you as much as it seems to, I’d invite you to take a stand on that and do something about it. I’m not sure whether you write on this blog out of a commitment to make a contribution and to forward something, or for the heck of it, and possibly to ry and wind people up. If it is to make a contribution, I’d invite you to extend that and see what you could do that would contribute to the quality of life in the area. The people I know who are backing the campaign believe that what we’re doing is for that. Maybe you see the best way to make your contribution is to ensure Tesco gets here. As I said, if you haven’t already done so, I’d invite you to consider what your contribution will be.
Dave,
You say;
“Yes, people will use Tesco – it is convenient! However, I reckon (and I know I haven’t actually researched this) that if we ended up with a row of empty shops as a response to Tesco coming in, a lot of people who use it would regret that happening. That’s one of the risks that we want to avoid.”
Loads of Tesco Metro/Express and Sainsbury’s Local stores have opened up in Hackney and Tower Hamlets in recent years. Tell me a street where this has resulted in “a row of empty shops” and increased unemployment. Your argument is bankrupt if you are now resorting to inventing your own anecdotal evidence. Can’t you see the irony in your argument that is tryng to block the occupancy of an empty shop?
You then say; “I can’t speak for the rest of the people involved with the campaign. However, you seem happy to speak for other residents. How many other residents have you spoken to about whether they would choose to shop at Tesco or at the otehr shops?”
I haven’t spoken to any Dave, but, again, in trying to self-servingly deny the obvious, you belittle your own position. Of course a significant percentage would choose to shop at Tesco, otherwise you wouldn’t claim that it would have an impact on existing shops. Besides, you already state in your ealier paragraph that “Yes, people will use Tesco – it is convenient!” As I said ealier, it is precisely Tesco’s efficiency and consequent popularity that you object to.
You go on; “You totally ignored the point I made about Tesco using cheaper prices on selected items in orer to get people in the store.”
Sorry Dave, I didn’t realise that was a “point”. Are you suggesting that Tesco invented and are the sole user of the “special offer”?! When Palm2 had jars of pasata on sale at 2 for £1 was that “fair” to the opposition? Are you suggesting they shouldn’t do such things? Do you understand the concept of a competitive free-market which the majority of the world is engaged with? Again, if your argument is against the basics of capitalism, then join the SWP or similar rather than trying to create your own market model via a local planning office.
Alex P,
I appreciate that shopping is never an easy exercise for disabled people, but it is an obvious legal fact that disabled access is better in chain stores because they are legally obliged to provide facilities that facilitate their access whereas small shops are not.
Yes, the internet is marvellous invention (despite the changes it has brought and the companies it has put out of business) and shopping online is a good option for the disabled, so long as you can afford the minimum spend requirement. It also does further isolate disabled people from social inclusion which visiting a physical shop brings.
Finally, Dave; thanks for your enquiry into my private life, but I’m quite happy with my contribution to community and wider public affairs both in my professional and private life.
Alex
I’ll end this conversation. I can see I’ve been attempting to make a point, and not doing a very good job of it, and I’m all too aware that that’s a real dead end to go down. We seem to have different opinions on what we want in the area, and that’s about the size of it.
Dave
In reference to Tesco Express and accessibility, I wanted to mention this report of a Tesco Express using the pavement to store pallets and making it difficult for anyone especially visually impaired, mobility impaired or those in a wheelchair to get past http://www.fixmystreet.com/report/63144
The paint on the window is wash away liquid,so no need to burst a bubble….
Seems like someone is on the tesco take!
I have just read through all these responses, is this just an excuse for people to let off steam and have a rant?! Hilarious!
I frankly don’t see the problem with having a Tesco in Lower Clapton. I live in Upper Clapton and rarely if ever venture south of the roundabout, preferring instead to shop on Stokie High Street. That has both a Tesco and a Sainsbury, and I’ve not noticed any of the Turkish grocers going out of business recently because of their presence. Lower Clapton High Street really needs an anchor store to bring in the “footfall” as they call it, and while Tesco isnt exactly Harvey Nicks, I’m sure it would be a net positive for stores on the street, and eventually help to regenerate it.
There has been a debate raging in the Clapton area of Hackney recently about proposals by food retail behemoth Tesco’s intention to open one of its Express stores in currently vacant premises on Lower Clapton Road. Local strength of feeling on the matter is such that it was reported in the local press that “campaigners staged a demonstration…in opposition to plans to open new store” and “have collected nearly 500 signatures on a petition that encourages the council to reject the plans”.
The main concern of the ‘No Clapton Tesco Campaign’ is that another supermarket branch will not help the local economy – with the exception of a small number of low paid jobs – but, rather, damage it by driving the area’s small retailers out of business.
Creeping retail homogenisation of the local economy is also a matter of concern for activists who take the view that, with seven stores in Hackney already (including a superstore on Morning Lane), Tesco already possess an excessive share of the food retail market.
While Tesco does not have to seek planning permission to operate from the site, the council could effectively block its proposal by refusing permission for necessary alterations to the loading bay on the street outside, without which the shop would be unable to load and unload its stock.
There have, perhaps inevitably, been cries of ‘nimbyism’ from those who are happy to see Tesco and other large supermarkets colonise a borough renowned for its independent shops and food markets. While there may be a degree of truth to this in so much as the group that has been formed to oppose the plans is composed of what appear to be the largely white, middle-class residents of the rapidly gentrifying ‘Clapton Pond’ area, I don’t believe that, in this instance, this is either a relevant or particularly constructive observation, and certainly not proof that the campaign is without merit.
My view is that the prospect of more low paid labour is not something that anybody (well-off or poor) should celebrate in an area already blighted by economic inertia and the observation that Clapton’s independent businesses perform as much of a social as commercial purpose is a persuasive one. One local resident, for example, said “the fact that it’s them (local independent shops) and not Tesco [in the local area] means that if my child gets lost, she walks into any of them and they know who she is”. Whether a large, impersonal supermarket chain could perform a similar role in the community is debatable.
Another of the assertions made by critics of the ‘No Clapton Tesco Campaign’ is that the proposed store will inject some much-needed price competition to an area with inefficient, family-run shops. Even if it were true, this argument is short-sighted in that, if the proposed outlet is marginally cheaper than local independent stores (due to Tesco’s purchasing economies of scale), those stores provide employment and a reasonable livelihood for many people in the area who then channel their income in to shopping at other local shops, which helps to generate growth in the local economy through the ‘multiplier effect’. Tesco’s model, on the other hand, in which its (often) wealthy shareholders are the beneficiaries of its profits, would, I suspect, not have the broader positive impact on the local economy that independent shops do.
Moreover, the argument that the proposed Tesco Express is likely to be cheaper than the area’s independent shops is a questionable one on the grounds that Express branches often charge significantly higher prices than their larger stores, meaning that low-income families would, in all likelihood, not be able to use this branch for the bulk of their shopping in any case.
In large industrial societies there will, perhaps unfortunately, always be a place for supermarket chains; but that place doesn’t have to be ‘everywhere’. After all, Tesco currently has seven stores in Hackney, including a superstore on Morning Lane.
Despite my natural inclination to shy away from the homogeneous, and a healthy scepticism about the impact of large retailers on local communities, normative assessments of the relative benefits or otherwise of another Tesco in Hackney don’t really help. However, when – even in the rudimentary fashion that I’ve done – you hold the proposal up to both economic and social scrutiny, there are more than enough unanswered questions to encourage councillors to think twice about approving the application that will effectively give Tesco the ‘green light’ to set up shop in Clapton.
Of course, one of the ways by which everybody’s needs could be satisfied would be to form a Clapton food co-operative, which could provide high quality, nutritious food at affordable prices. Fair remuneration for staff would also be a feature of such an organisation or staff could be volunteer members, though, for several reasons, I’m less keen on this ‘free labour’ concept, which is being employed by Arthur Potts-Dawson’s ‘The People’s Supermarket’.
Who owns the unit that the proposed Tescos will occupy? Hasn’t it been an empty eyesore for a couple of years.
Will,
the unit was built as part of Alva/Shire Court in 2006. The freeholders are Family Mosaic, the leaseholders were Groveshire and are now Lower Clapton LLP. Until last year T-mobile had a mobile transmitter substation on the pavement in front of the unit (you’ll still see it on Google street view) and the local community helped to have removed. The unit was built in order to be affordable workspace, not a retail unit, there are moves to try to find out why this changed and why there are not already local businesses using the space.
Thought I’d post a link to the article in today’s Guardian about Terry Leahy’s legacy as he retires from running Tesco http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2010/jun/10/tesco-terry-leahy-supermarkets
Personally, my dislike of the chain is not political, it’s just that I prefer supporting local businesses, where the food is more varied and the service friendlier than that of big supermarket chains where my custom doesn’t matter.
I sincerely hope Tesco give up on their plans to come to Lower Clapton Rd, although I suspect they probably will anyway. But I will continue to support our local shops, and hope other people will too.
has anyone written to Tesco head office to let them know how unpopular this makes Tesco
Hi Nathan,
We haven’t written to Tesco yet. It would be great if you would like to though. The details of the new man in charge are:
Philip Clarke
Tesco PLC
New Tesco House
Delamare Road
Cheshunt EN8 9SL
Go for it!
On Sunday 4th July at 13.00, we were on bus 38 towards Angel when we got to Islington Green. There was a large Tesco lorry parked the wrong way forcing buses to drive on the right hand-side of the road and holding up many cars. There was no off-loading taking place nor any sign of the driver. It was just poorly parked there. I don’t want to see the same scenes on the bus stop at Clapton pond.
I’m all for supporting the local businesses and on hearing about Tesco wanting to move in, my immediate reaction was no, but now I’ve read the earlier comments I’m not sure what to think.
My husband and I regularly pick up odds bits of shopping from the store, particulary below the kicking boxing gym on the corner of the pond. The staff are always friendly and I like the produce in there – the veg, olives and freshly baked baguettes. Recently I was looking to buy saffron in Fairdeal and they suggested the Organic shop, but they’d run out so called the shop on the corner for me and they had it waiting by the time I’d crossed the road. Now that’s service – and it was nice to see the shops helping each other out.
I don’t want to see local businesses suffer as a result but if it CAN help the area regenerate, then that’s a good thing surely? Would I feel differently if it was Waitrose? No, because I’d still be concerned about what impact on local shops and of course, the residents who would have to bear the brunt of the increased disruption.
I’m also very committed to asking Tesco to step down on this particular site. I love Palm 2 and the fact that the shop has become a hub for the community. Can someone update me on action and how to support it please.
Gary,
The deadline for comments on the planning applications have now closed, but you can still make your views heard by writing to the planning officer; they will still accept your comments prior to the planning committee meeting. Have a look at http://www.noclaptontesco.org/planning-applications/ and http://www.noclaptontesco.org/planning-applications/objecting-to-planning-applications/ for information on where and how to comment.
You can also come along to the planning committee meeting to make your views known, we will post the dates on this website as soon as we know them.
Dan
Palm 2 and other local shops will serve much more variety and friendliness than Tesco will offer but because Tesco is a multimillionare company, it will undercut the local shops if we dont act against them.