Residents oppose Sainsbury’s store (From Daily Echo)
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Bishop's Waltham residents oppose Sainsbury’s store
8:34am Friday 29th May 2009 in News
Residents oppose Sainsbury’s store
WE don’t want you here.
That was the resounding message from hundreds of residents last night angry at controversial plans to open a giant supermarket in their quiet Hampshire town.
Up to 500 people crammed into the Jubilee Hall in Bishop’s Waltham for a public meeting to discuss whether supermarket giant Sainsbury’s should open a new store.
In what has been described as the most important development in the town for decades, up to 200 people were left standing at the back of the hall as the town voiced almost unanimous opposition.
During a raising of hands to show who supported the opening of a new store just two people held their hands up.
More than 20 people stood up to speak against the plans with one resident even calling for a massive banner to be hung across the High Street saying “Don’t let Sainsbury’s Kill Off Our Community.”
Fishmonger Peter Atkinson, who formed the Bishop’s Waltham Action Group Against Sainsbury’s, called on traders and residents to stand up and fight the supermarket giant.
He said: “I’m concerned about the affect it will have on my business. But I’m also concerned about the affect it will have on the identity of this town and what Sainsbury’s will do to it.
Once Sainsbury’s come here this town will change forever and we won’t get it back.”
A petition launched by the action group has so far collected more than 2,500 signatures.
Sainsbury’s is hoping to build a new store covering 35,000 sq ft and employing up to 300 staff on the Abbey Mill site.
If built, the superstore would cover an area of land more than two times the size of an Olympic sized swimming pool.
Peter Mason, Hampshire County Council Liberal Democrat Member for Bishops Waltham, said: “It will change Bishop’s Waltham out of all proportion.
“It will be horrendous the amount of traffic that will be generated by the development.
I urge you all to say no.”
Winchester City councillor George Hollingberry, called on traders and residents to start supporting the action group by knocking on doors and campaigning against the supermarket giant.
He said: “If you make the effort now you might just stop this happening.”
Sainsbury’s is planning to leaflet up to 12,000 homes in the area as part of a consultation over the plans. The supermarket bought the land last December but planning permission for the store has not been submitted yet.
To join the Bishop’s Waltham Action Group Against Sainsbury’s, contact Peter Atkinson on 01489 896111.
Comments(34)
Some Clutch
says...
9:32am Fri 29 May 09
Spud the Scarecrow
says...
9:48am Fri 29 May 09
Some Clutch
says...
9:50am Fri 29 May 09
spotburst
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9:57am Fri 29 May 09
Some Clutch
says...
10:14am Fri 29 May 09
G3orgem
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10:18am Fri 29 May 09
Irate Wintonian
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10:26am Fri 29 May 09
If opposition is so strong, why did only 20% of those opposed bother to turn up?
I agree with Georgem. No reason big supermarkets and small local businesses can't both be successful.
undertheeast
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10:36am Fri 29 May 09
The people of Bishops Waltham are held to ransom by the over priced low quality stock - that's if they can be bothered to put it on the shelves.
championez
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10:49am Fri 29 May 09
Also, for someone from Brockenhampton to say that theres lots of polish people in Bishop's Waltham is absurd. Get your facts right son.
Georgem
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10:54am Fri 29 May 09
This is like saying "don't lower the price of cakes, it'll make me fat"
BWGirl
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11:31am Fri 29 May 09
I am 30 years old and Bishops Waltham has always been my home.
12,000 households are going to be surveyed by Sainsbury's, yet there are only 2,700 households in BW. It is not a survey to discover what local residents think, it is a survey that will enable Sainsbury's to monopolise the area.
When we say it will kill off local trade we mean that people out of the area will drive to Sainsbury's, which will be outside of the town centre, do their shopping and leave. Currently people do use the supermarkets like the one in Hedge End, we are not disputing that, then they use the High Street for fresh produce like meat, bread, fish and veg, as well as the 3 convenience stores and small foodstore we already have. If Sainsbury's uses their massive bulk buying power the village shops will not be able to compete. It is one thing to manage against a store 10 minutes drive away but another to have it looming in the back yard.
I understand all the arguments for a Sainsbury's and I appreciate that opposition could look like a NIMBY response but ultimately there is no need for a 35,000sqft store in a small town when there is one 4.8 miles away.
yummy_mummy
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11:32am Fri 29 May 09
Maybe having a supermarket in BW will attract young families to move there instead of these do-gooders who are too set in their ways to see much further than the end of their armchairs.
G3orgem
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11:39am Fri 29 May 09
BWGirl wrote:Could you please stop polluting the environment driving 4.8 miles to get food and use the local shops. Thanks
There are 340 members of a facebook group called NO THANKS SAINSBURYS who would probably feel rather annoyed at being described as a NIMBY OAP. I am 30 years old and Bishops Waltham has always been my home. 12,000 households are going to be surveyed by Sainsbury's, yet there are only 2,700 households in BW. It is not a survey to discover what local residents think, it is a survey that will enable Sainsbury's to monopolise the area. When we say it will kill off local trade we mean that people out of the area will drive to Sainsbury's, which will be outside of the town centre, do their shopping and leave. Currently people do use the supermarkets like the one in Hedge End, we are not disputing that, then they use the High Street for fresh produce like meat, bread, fish and veg, as well as the 3 convenience stores and small foodstore we already have. If Sainsbury's uses their massive bulk buying power the village shops will not be able to compete. It is one thing to manage against a store 10 minutes drive away but another to have it looming in the back yard. I understand all the arguments for a Sainsbury's and I appreciate that opposition could look like a NIMBY response but ultimately there is no need for a 35,000sqft store in a small town when there is one 4.8 miles away.
Georgem
says...
11:46am Fri 29 May 09
There are 340 members of a facebook group called NO THANKS SAINSBURYS who would probably feel rather annoyed at being described as a NIMBY OAP
And there are convicted rapists who would probably feel rather annoyed at being described as sex offenders.
BWGirl
says...
11:49am Fri 29 May 09
G3orgem wrote:I do.
BWGirl wrote:Could you please stop polluting the environment driving 4.8 miles to get food and use the local shops. Thanks
There are 340 members of a facebook group called NO THANKS SAINSBURYS who would probably feel rather annoyed at being described as a NIMBY OAP. I am 30 years old and Bishops Waltham has always been my home. 12,000 households are going to be surveyed by Sainsbury's, yet there are only 2,700 households in BW. It is not a survey to discover what local residents think, it is a survey that will enable Sainsbury's to monopolise the area. When we say it will kill off local trade we mean that people out of the area will drive to Sainsbury's, which will be outside of the town centre, do their shopping and leave. Currently people do use the supermarkets like the one in Hedge End, we are not disputing that, then they use the High Street for fresh produce like meat, bread, fish and veg, as well as the 3 convenience stores and small foodstore we already have. If Sainsbury's uses their massive bulk buying power the village shops will not be able to compete. It is one thing to manage against a store 10 minutes drive away but another to have it looming in the back yard. I understand all the arguments for a Sainsbury's and I appreciate that opposition could look like a NIMBY response but ultimately there is no need for a 35,000sqft store in a small town when there is one 4.8 miles away.
G3orgem
says...
12:03pm Fri 29 May 09
Georgem wrote:I know i am.
There are 340 members of a facebook group called NO THANKS SAINSBURYS who would probably feel rather annoyed at being described as a NIMBY OAPAnd there are convicted rapists who would probably feel rather annoyed at being described as sex offenders.
Tobeblunt
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12:03pm Fri 29 May 09
Bishops Waltham is a beautiful Village and the building of this supermarket will destroy all that is Bishops Waltham.
soton1980
says...
1:29pm Fri 29 May 09
http://www.facebook.
com/home.php#/group.
php?gid=75835604759&
ref=ts
Some Clutch
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1:40pm Fri 29 May 09
goard
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1:46pm Fri 29 May 09
goard
Ludacris
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1:54pm Fri 29 May 09
Not everyone in Waltham can afford the prices of "local" shops .. and whos really going to be affected anyway?? .. healthy competion is whats needed and i'm sure you will both retain your loyal rich customers..the high streets full of hair dressers and estate agents anyway..get it built..
Some Clutch
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1:55pm Fri 29 May 09
housewife
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2:20pm Fri 29 May 09
So those who can drive to Hedge end to do ALL their shopping.
If Sainsburys was in town, the fishmonger may well pick up some of their custom.
The only loser from a good supermarket bringing more people in to Bishops Waltham will be Budgens.
Some Clutch
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2:34pm Fri 29 May 09
s/w save-shop
Some Clutch
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2:36pm Fri 29 May 09
Georgem
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2:38pm Fri 29 May 09
housewife wrote:Exactly. Many's the time I've been in a supermarket, and thought "I'd much rather buy this joint of beef from a butcher, if there was one" or similar.
Budgens in Bishops Waltham is dire.
So those who can drive to Hedge end to do ALL their shopping.
If Sainsburys was in town, the fishmonger may well pick up some of their custom.
The only loser from a good supermarket bringing more people in to Bishops Waltham will be Budgens.
Ludacris
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4:45pm Fri 29 May 09
grumblerog
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5:05pm Fri 29 May 09
There is almost unanimous opposition to Sainsbury's in Bishops Waltham - what is amazing is that on thye strength of maybe 120 replies from their 12000 mailing Sainsburys are going to say they can draw meaningful conclusions. Also Supermarkets destroy jobs not create them. Every Supermarket kill off more jobs than they create. As for the argument that it is "poluting" to drive 4.8 miles to Hedge End - the store in Bishops Waltham the store in BW will have to have a catchment area many times that size as there are only about 2500 households in the town. The catchment area that Sainsbury's talk about is up to 15 miles. Every Sainsbury's store generates 1000 car journeys per week per 1000 square foot also each store generates about 300,000 lorry miles. Hardly offset by 2500 residents not driving 4.8 miles to Hedge End.
Irate Wintonian
says...
6:31pm Fri 29 May 09
grumblerog wrote:It is called 'consultation'. You get notified, and if you don't like, you respond. If you sent me (and I'm not a she btw, at least not last time I checked) a letter asking for all the money in my account, I would respond in no uncertain terms telling you where to go!
It is remarkable how people think sending a letter to 12000 people is the same as getting their agreement. If I send a letter to Irene Wintonian saying I can have all the money in her bank accoun she obviously will agree to it. There is almost unanimous opposition to Sainsbury's in Bishops Waltham - what is amazing is that on thye strength of maybe 120 replies from their 12000 mailing Sainsburys are going to say they can draw meaningful conclusions. Also Supermarkets destroy jobs not create them. Every Supermarket kill off more jobs than they create. As for the argument that it is "poluting" to drive 4.8 miles to Hedge End - the store in Bishops Waltham the store in BW will have to have a catchment area many times that size as there are only about 2500 households in the town. The catchment area that Sainsbury's talk about is up to 15 miles. Every Sainsbury's store generates 1000 car journeys per week per 1000 square foot also each store generates about 300,000 lorry miles. Hardly offset by 2500 residents not driving 4.8 miles to Hedge End.
As I mentioned before, if people are SO strongly opposed, why would only 120, as you suggest in your post, feel moved enough to respond to the leaflet?
I know several people who live in BW and they, as several posters on this site, are looking forward to not being limited to Budgens or having to drive further afield!
I also know of several people who work for various supermarkets who would not be employed if the omly shops were 'local' (often family run) businesses.
By your reckoning there are 2500 'households' in the town. Considering a majority of these constitute 3 or more people residing in there, it reinforces the fact that only 500 people turning out in opposition is considerably short of 'almost unanimous'.
Ian24
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6:42pm Fri 29 May 09
Reality-man
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6:56pm Fri 29 May 09
pomdownunder
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12:07am Sat 30 May 09
Martin Orford
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10:51am Tue 2 Jun 09
undertheeast wrote:Absolutely right - Budgens is a dreadful shop with hugely overpriced goods. They have a virtual monopoly in BW so they can charge what they like.
I wish we could replace the inadequate Budgens with Sainsburys. The people of Bishops Waltham are held to ransom by the over priced low quality stock - that's if they can be bothered to put it on the shelves.
I can't see the small High Street shops losing out too much if Sainsburys is built - I'm sure most of us do our weekly shop outside of the village anyway, so we'll just use the new store instead of the Hedge End one, and continue to use the smaller shops for bits and bobs.
I think Sainsburys would be a good thing for Bishops Waltham - infinitely preferable to a load more houses!
D.a.v.e says...
9:31am Fri 29 May 09
The local fishmonger is right to be concerned about the effect on his business but in the real world the majority of Bishop Waltham residents will travel to Southampton / Winchester etc to buy their fish at one of these supermarkets.