Community fights to save cornershop

3:00pm Monday 28th May 2012 in New Forest Photograph of the Author By Chris Yandell, Chief Reporter, New Forest

Campaigners outside Harveys convenience store. Campaigners outside Harveys convenience store.

A CAMPAIGN has been launched to save a corner shop that has been at the heart of its community for more than 60 years.

Harveys – the only convenience store in the Hounsdown area of Totton – is set to close with the loss of at least seven jobs.

Paul Harvey, who runs the business, is blaming competition from supermarkets for his decision to pull down the shutters.

But Hounsdown residents say the store provides a vital service for the large number of people in the neighbourhood who still prefer to shop locally. Almost 60 campaigners gathered outside Harveys in a massive show of support for the business.

Neighbourhood Watch coordinator Shelagh Trusson said: “Harveys is a lifeline for those without transport, particularly elderly people who have been stranded since the removal of our local bus service.

“The shop is used extensively by residents, pupils from Hounsdown School and local businesses.”

The campaign to save it is being led by Councillor David Harrison, who represents Totton South on the town, district and county councils.

He said: “The loss of Harveys would be a savage blow to the community – it’s the only convenience store serving the whole of Hounsdown.

“I have been contacting other local business owners and setting up meetings with the aim of finding a new owner or possibly launching some sort of community venture.”

About 80 homes are due to be built at nearby Durley Farm in a move that is likely to generate extra trade for the shop.

Cllr Harrison added: “Hopefully a local businessman will recognise that the store represents a good opportunity and will be prepared to take it on.

“Three people have already expressed an interest.

I have every optimism that something good may come out of this.”

Comments(11)

sarfhamton says...
3:06pm Mon 28 May 12

Tesco express within a year, more stock and cheaper prices too

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dopplershift says...
3:15pm Mon 28 May 12

sarfhamton wrote:
Tesco express within a year, more stock and cheaper prices too
You obviously haven't actually been to Harveys have you? If you had you'd realise it's no bigger than a front room of a house because that's what it used to be! It's a corner shop not a supermarket.

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Shoong says...
3:17pm Mon 28 May 12

dopplershift wrote:
sarfhamton wrote:
Tesco express within a year, more stock and cheaper prices too
You obviously haven't actually been to Harveys have you? If you had you'd realise it's no bigger than a front room of a house because that's what it used to be! It's a corner shop not a supermarket.
Tesco Express stores are not supermarkets.

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dopplershift says...
3:28pm Mon 28 May 12

Shoong wrote:
dopplershift wrote:
sarfhamton wrote: Tesco express within a year, more stock and cheaper prices too
You obviously haven't actually been to Harveys have you? If you had you'd realise it's no bigger than a front room of a house because that's what it used to be! It's a corner shop not a supermarket.
Tesco Express stores are not supermarkets.
ok you pedant it's not a supermarket. Show me a tesco store that you can't fit a 3 piece suite in and i'll start believing.

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ToastyTea says...
3:43pm Mon 28 May 12

Maybe if all of these '60 campaigners' actually shopped there then it wouldn't be closing down.

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Dusty says...
3:55pm Mon 28 May 12

If the community feel that strongly about it and want it saved. Why did they not buy from there in the first place. Lets face it, if they did it would not be in this predicament.

Hypocritical the lot of them

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Georgem says...
4:39pm Mon 28 May 12

Dusty wrote:
If the community feel that strongly about it and want it saved. Why did they not buy from there in the first place. Lets face it, if they did it would not be in this predicament.

Hypocritical the lot of them
Came here to post exactly this. The ONLY way a local business can be "saved" is if people actually use it. There's only one reason it's closing down, I don't see what any petition is going to do.

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Dusty says...
4:57pm Mon 28 May 12

The pitition does not pay the rent and wages. A few will go in the shop for a month or two, go back to their old habits and shop else where and then moan that Harveys is closed.

I bet most only used it for the emergency cigs, milk and bread after they ran out from the big shop, every now and then

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pod says...
5:57pm Mon 28 May 12

Georgem wrote:
Dusty wrote:
If the community feel that strongly about it and want it saved. Why did they not buy from there in the first place. Lets face it, if they did it would not be in this predicament.

Hypocritical the lot of them
Came here to post exactly this. The ONLY way a local business can be "saved" is if people actually use it. There's only one reason it's closing down, I don't see what any petition is going to do.
me to, to have a successful business people have to walk into a shop and spend money on a regular basis. Do the people standing outside really expect the owner to continue losing money just on the off chance that they might need the odd item.

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Writers Cramp says...
7:35pm Mon 28 May 12

"About 80 houses are due to be built at nearby Durley"? I think you need to check your facts....has planning been approved? Last number was 100....it's still in the DRAFT core strategy not yet ratified. Please Daily Echo, check the facts and if necessary print a correction.

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rabbitlady says...
10:03pm Mon 28 May 12

At least the local school kids will be getting to school on time now. Far too many used to be hanging around outside Harveys way past the 845 am start time of school. Also saves the job of a teacher trekking up there in the mornings to move them on !!!!

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