For almost as long as I have been involved in Norfolk politics, Tesco have been trying to bully, buy, threaten and harrass their way in to the town of Sheringham. After numerous failed applications, constant "tweaking" by Tesco so as to constantly resubmit plans and wear North Norfolk's planning department down, the planning committee held their nerve and opposed Tesco's latest plans whislt accepting a rival plan from Waitrose. All I can say is good.
I have been at planning meetinga when Tesco have been there. Their arrogance is shocking. They make sweeping statements, rubbish valid data, sometimes choose choice data from those sources that they choose to rubbish at other meetings, and whilst doing this they constantly like to bandy round threats of legal action, whilst letting it be known they have the most expensive lawyers and can "break" councils.
To Tesco it appears that local planning rules and locally elected officials are secondary to their aims.
So I say well done to North Norfolk District Council for having the nerve to ignore threats and provide a new shopping experience through Waitrose which will support local businesses thus avoiding the inevitable and well recognised Tesco methods of driving local indepdent butchers, bakers, greengrocers out of business before raising prices.
Showing posts with label Tesco. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tesco. Show all posts
1/04/2009
99p pints never did me any harm
When pubs are closing at the rate of nearly 5 a week in response to the low prices being charged by supermarkets for alcohol coupled with the recession, it seems rather ludicrous for health groups to moan about one pub chain offering a pint for 99p.
As I recall this was the price charged in my old student union from 1994-97 and I have to say it never did me any harm.
The problem with a lot of health campaigners is that they fail to understand that it is the rise of the supermarkets and the lack of control they have over who buys alcohol and the amount they consume that actually affects alcoholism much more than pubs, who an at least refuse service to someone who is incapable and they can, in theory face sanctions if they continue to allow people who are intoxicated to continue.
Indeed only last week there was a report of a pub landlord who reported two drunk parents to the police who turned up at his pub drunk with a child in a pram. Can you imagine Tesco doing that ?
As I recall this was the price charged in my old student union from 1994-97 and I have to say it never did me any harm.
The problem with a lot of health campaigners is that they fail to understand that it is the rise of the supermarkets and the lack of control they have over who buys alcohol and the amount they consume that actually affects alcoholism much more than pubs, who an at least refuse service to someone who is incapable and they can, in theory face sanctions if they continue to allow people who are intoxicated to continue.
Indeed only last week there was a report of a pub landlord who reported two drunk parents to the police who turned up at his pub drunk with a child in a pram. Can you imagine Tesco doing that ?
1/01/2009
Tesco's complete lack of respect
Another example HERE of Tesco and the way they manipulate (but stay within) the planning system to avoid scrutiny by the public.
In Stalham, a small North Norfolk town which hase effectively been closed by Tesco driving local businesses out of business (for example, bread was sold at lower prices in Stalham than would normally be the case until the local baker closed down, and then the prices in Tesco rose), they want to further expand their store, but submitted the application very carefully in order to avoid local parish and town councils holding meetings and knowing that much of the period for objections would be over the holiday period when people had other things on their mind.
Tesco constantly talk about working with local communities and showing respect for them, but on every occassion they simply take the piss out of the democratic process and seek to use loopholes, lies and innuendo in order to coerce the planning system.
I was able to see this at first hand when the applied to build a store in Fakenham when at a planning meeting and a town meeting their spokesman sought to rubbish statistics that failed to make Tesco's case, indeed they questions the validity of the surveys and the reports, but at the same time took some elements of the reports (but didn't credit them) in order to justify their store.
As a Tesco opponent I was advised by an anti Tesco group from Suffolk to shred any post I receive and take extra precautions about who might be calling me pretending to be a constituent as anti Tesco groups in other parts of the country had had people going through their bins and letters and phone calls from Tesco "front" groups claiming to represent local residents.
As I said at the planning meeting back in 2004 to the all those councillors at the meeting, "we might all like to think that our political opponents play fast and loose with the truth and we may question their methods, but just be jolly grateful that Tesco are not a political party for they are they use the very lowest methods and truth is really not a word they understand".
In Stalham, a small North Norfolk town which hase effectively been closed by Tesco driving local businesses out of business (for example, bread was sold at lower prices in Stalham than would normally be the case until the local baker closed down, and then the prices in Tesco rose), they want to further expand their store, but submitted the application very carefully in order to avoid local parish and town councils holding meetings and knowing that much of the period for objections would be over the holiday period when people had other things on their mind.
Tesco constantly talk about working with local communities and showing respect for them, but on every occassion they simply take the piss out of the democratic process and seek to use loopholes, lies and innuendo in order to coerce the planning system.
I was able to see this at first hand when the applied to build a store in Fakenham when at a planning meeting and a town meeting their spokesman sought to rubbish statistics that failed to make Tesco's case, indeed they questions the validity of the surveys and the reports, but at the same time took some elements of the reports (but didn't credit them) in order to justify their store.
As a Tesco opponent I was advised by an anti Tesco group from Suffolk to shred any post I receive and take extra precautions about who might be calling me pretending to be a constituent as anti Tesco groups in other parts of the country had had people going through their bins and letters and phone calls from Tesco "front" groups claiming to represent local residents.
As I said at the planning meeting back in 2004 to the all those councillors at the meeting, "we might all like to think that our political opponents play fast and loose with the truth and we may question their methods, but just be jolly grateful that Tesco are not a political party for they are they use the very lowest methods and truth is really not a word they understand".
11/21/2008
How do teenagers get alcohol ? Tesco self service tills, that's how
Tesco have a policy in a number of their stores now of having self service tills, where you scan your own products in and you pay what it tells you to pay. You can pay with cash or a card, and in many stores, like my local convenience store, there are very often two self service tills, but only one manned by a human being, with the human till being the most popular till, but not with some teenagers.
Whilst I was in Tesco an hour ago I witnessed the self service till being very popular with teenage boys who were certainly not 18 years old, who were buying alcohol, a few cans each, from the self service till knowing that the very busy single member of staff on duty in the shop was never ever going to be able to challenge them on their age because he was too busy and the tills are organised in such a way as to prevent him seeing the items they are scanning.
We can get the police to do as much as possible about dealing with teenage binge drinking but when Tesco set up their shops so that teenagers are given a free hand to but as much alcohol as they want, the police may as well not bother.
Whilst I was in Tesco an hour ago I witnessed the self service till being very popular with teenage boys who were certainly not 18 years old, who were buying alcohol, a few cans each, from the self service till knowing that the very busy single member of staff on duty in the shop was never ever going to be able to challenge them on their age because he was too busy and the tills are organised in such a way as to prevent him seeing the items they are scanning.
We can get the police to do as much as possible about dealing with teenage binge drinking but when Tesco set up their shops so that teenagers are given a free hand to but as much alcohol as they want, the police may as well not bother.
9/08/2008
Well done to the Sheringham Tesco campaigners and North Norfolk District Council
After 13 years of campaigning against Tesco, dealing with the company's threats, and machinations, a planning enquiry has finally ruled against Tesco and Sheringham will remain Tesco free.
I first became aware of the Tesco problem in Sheringham eleven years ago when I ran a local election campaign for the Lib Dems in Sheringham in September 1997. Even then it was raised on the doorstep by electors who in most cases were against Tesco, but in a very few cases were very supportive of the plans.
In those eleven years Tesco have tried over and again, using threat that it will bankrupt the council if the council objected, making reference to its expensive lawyers and doing all the usual local muck raking to try and spread false rumours against those who opposed their plans. Throughout this time, the Lib Dem run council has stood by the independently made decisions of the planning committees who, voting on the application and ignoring the threats and associated consequences, voted against Tesco time and again. The council committee recognised the unique nature of Sheringham, a small town dominated by small shops, and in my opinion they made the right decision.
So well done to all those involved who have shown that the planning system does, once in a while, work in the best interests of local people.
I first became aware of the Tesco problem in Sheringham eleven years ago when I ran a local election campaign for the Lib Dems in Sheringham in September 1997. Even then it was raised on the doorstep by electors who in most cases were against Tesco, but in a very few cases were very supportive of the plans.
In those eleven years Tesco have tried over and again, using threat that it will bankrupt the council if the council objected, making reference to its expensive lawyers and doing all the usual local muck raking to try and spread false rumours against those who opposed their plans. Throughout this time, the Lib Dem run council has stood by the independently made decisions of the planning committees who, voting on the application and ignoring the threats and associated consequences, voted against Tesco time and again. The council committee recognised the unique nature of Sheringham, a small town dominated by small shops, and in my opinion they made the right decision.
So well done to all those involved who have shown that the planning system does, once in a while, work in the best interests of local people.
2/06/2008
Is there any value in a £1.99 Tesco Chicken ?
Apart from grabbing headlines and squeezing margins on their suppliers, what is the value in a £1.99 chicken from Tesco ?
Tesco and free market nuts will say it is a good deal for customers, but good value for the customer should also relate to good quality and good proce for the supplier, thus making the whole process sustainable.
It appears in this case that the National Farmers Union are not keen, suggesting already that Tesco are expecting their supplier to cut the prices they charge rather than Tesco taking their own price cuts on the chin. How can Tesco get away with doing this to their suppliers ? It's called "market dominance", with no supplier being able to really stand up to Tesco.
And what of the food quality itself ? How much growth hormone, how much added water do you have to get in to a bird that much more quicjly in order to unsure that it can be sold for £1.99 ? You might be eating something labelled as a chicken, but I wouldn't be keen to describe it really as being chicken.
It reminded me of a frozen chicken I picked up in a rival to Tescos once. As I put it in my trolley a friend of mine in the Lib Dems walked past me in the store's overalls, tutted and said quietly "put it back on the shelf, I wouldn't eat that myself it it was offered for free". He then went on to tell me what the store's supplier did to fatten the birds up and how he had once been to one of the farms as part of his training. "I get my meat from the butchers in town", he added.
So to be fair, it is not jsut Tesco, but I cannot see how a £1.99 chicken can be good for anyone at all.
Tesco and free market nuts will say it is a good deal for customers, but good value for the customer should also relate to good quality and good proce for the supplier, thus making the whole process sustainable.
It appears in this case that the National Farmers Union are not keen, suggesting already that Tesco are expecting their supplier to cut the prices they charge rather than Tesco taking their own price cuts on the chin. How can Tesco get away with doing this to their suppliers ? It's called "market dominance", with no supplier being able to really stand up to Tesco.
And what of the food quality itself ? How much growth hormone, how much added water do you have to get in to a bird that much more quicjly in order to unsure that it can be sold for £1.99 ? You might be eating something labelled as a chicken, but I wouldn't be keen to describe it really as being chicken.
It reminded me of a frozen chicken I picked up in a rival to Tescos once. As I put it in my trolley a friend of mine in the Lib Dems walked past me in the store's overalls, tutted and said quietly "put it back on the shelf, I wouldn't eat that myself it it was offered for free". He then went on to tell me what the store's supplier did to fatten the birds up and how he had once been to one of the farms as part of his training. "I get my meat from the butchers in town", he added.
So to be fair, it is not jsut Tesco, but I cannot see how a £1.99 chicken can be good for anyone at all.
9/19/2007
Tesco - Very little helps
Most products that are not up to the job are usually described as being only fit to wipe your backside with. However, Tesco have developed a product that does not even do this.
A friend of ours who also has a young child decided to give Tesco nappies a try, only to find that they fail to stick properly and literally fall apart. A dodgy batch she assumed, so bought another pack thinking Tesco cannot make a product that is that bad. She was wrong.
It appears that Tesco nappies are not even fit to wipe your backside with.
Okay, it might not be political news, but it is another reason to avoid Tesco.
A friend of ours who also has a young child decided to give Tesco nappies a try, only to find that they fail to stick properly and literally fall apart. A dodgy batch she assumed, so bought another pack thinking Tesco cannot make a product that is that bad. She was wrong.
It appears that Tesco nappies are not even fit to wipe your backside with.
Okay, it might not be political news, but it is another reason to avoid Tesco.
9/03/2007
The Liberal Democrats - Sponsored by Tesco
I received an invitation to the "Approved Parliamentary Candidates Reception" at conference a few days ago, I note "Sponsored by Tesco".
I am not going to conference anyway, but if I were, I couldn't possibly go to something sponsored by Tesco.
The constant bullying by Tesco of councillors in North Norfolk who oppose plans for a Tesco in Sheringham, the lies they told about the impact of a Tesco on Stalham in North Norfolk and the quite awful way they lied and manipulated information when getting store built in completely the wrong place in my old District Council ward, coupled with the bullying they used at meetings means that I could never go to a political event sponsored by Tesco.
Surely another sponsor could have been found, and one with less of an obvious interest in having councillors who might feel favourable to them ?
I am not going to conference anyway, but if I were, I couldn't possibly go to something sponsored by Tesco.
The constant bullying by Tesco of councillors in North Norfolk who oppose plans for a Tesco in Sheringham, the lies they told about the impact of a Tesco on Stalham in North Norfolk and the quite awful way they lied and manipulated information when getting store built in completely the wrong place in my old District Council ward, coupled with the bullying they used at meetings means that I could never go to a political event sponsored by Tesco.
Surely another sponsor could have been found, and one with less of an obvious interest in having councillors who might feel favourable to them ?
4/15/2007
Another Tesco tale of woe
Visiting Devon last week gave me another example of the damage Tesco are doing to communities across Britain.
Having just built a new superstore and petrol station in East Devon, they have done an enormous amount of trade and people have stopped using local petrol stations as they "fill up" when they do their shopping. As a result, five petrol stations in villages as far as 12 miles away from Tesco have closed. The problem is that in many of these small petrol stations there were also small shops which were usually the only shop in the village. So what is the result ? There are now a number of villages with no shop at all and you have to do a 24 miles round trip to get some petrol.
For me personally it was a bit of a nightmare as I was low on petrol and having driven for over 50 miles without seeing a petrol station I was starting to panic. Fortunately, the one garage I found was able to keep going, so the owner told me, because he also does vehicle repairs and MOT's.
Why pay more ? ask Tesco. I think the reasons are clear.
Having just built a new superstore and petrol station in East Devon, they have done an enormous amount of trade and people have stopped using local petrol stations as they "fill up" when they do their shopping. As a result, five petrol stations in villages as far as 12 miles away from Tesco have closed. The problem is that in many of these small petrol stations there were also small shops which were usually the only shop in the village. So what is the result ? There are now a number of villages with no shop at all and you have to do a 24 miles round trip to get some petrol.
For me personally it was a bit of a nightmare as I was low on petrol and having driven for over 50 miles without seeing a petrol station I was starting to panic. Fortunately, the one garage I found was able to keep going, so the owner told me, because he also does vehicle repairs and MOT's.
Why pay more ? ask Tesco. I think the reasons are clear.
3/01/2007
Tesco - Why pay more ? Doh !
This is a little scale model of a Tesco oil tanker, but importantly, it carries the same message on the side as the real Tesco oil tankers. "Why pay more ?"
Um, it surely doesn't need a rocket scientist or diagrams to answer that question does it ?
2/28/2007
Tesco petrol = engine problems
Read THIS story for more info.
Sadly, despite me constant whinging about all things Tesco, my wife filled up with petrol at Tesco last Friday and she is convinced that her car is running "funny", and she commented about this last Saturday before the news about this broke.
Oh dear !
Sadly, despite me constant whinging about all things Tesco, my wife filled up with petrol at Tesco last Friday and she is convinced that her car is running "funny", and she commented about this last Saturday before the news about this broke.
Oh dear !
1/12/2007
First Stalham, next stop Diss. Which Norfolk town will be next for the Tesco ghost town experience ?
The EDP reports on the ongoing saga in Diss, in South Norfolk, and Tesco's plans for total domination of the town.
A battle royal has been going on for some time since Tesco bough the old Co-op site and took on Morrisons. Anyone who drives through Diss will know that what was already a difficult road to drive through town on is now often a log jammed traffic jam. But the biggest problem is that there is now the real danger of a second Tesco superstore just a few hundred yard away, which many feel will cause the collapse of existing shopping patterns in town, leading to a closure of many shops in the high street with everyone going to the edge of town supermarkets. Read the report HERE.
I hope South Norfolk Councillors will have the stomach for the fight that could ensue. The site Tesco want to build on is already designated under the local plan as being for "leisure use". When Tesco wanted to build a store in my ward, they succeeded, but not without having restrictions placed upon them, but also not without the implicit threats that they constantly make to planning authorities and councillors.
Tesco have deep pockets, will use the best lawyers in the land, and will threaten councils that if the councils lose, they will ensure that the council pays. Many council's retreat through fear. In North Norfolk, we didn't, as can be seen from the fact that in Sheringham, Tesco have been thwarted so far. But that is because we have seen the dreadful effect Tesco has had on Stalham, which has seen local and independent shops close whilst Tesco has taken over.
Have South Norfolk Council got the strength to take them on over Diss ?
A battle royal has been going on for some time since Tesco bough the old Co-op site and took on Morrisons. Anyone who drives through Diss will know that what was already a difficult road to drive through town on is now often a log jammed traffic jam. But the biggest problem is that there is now the real danger of a second Tesco superstore just a few hundred yard away, which many feel will cause the collapse of existing shopping patterns in town, leading to a closure of many shops in the high street with everyone going to the edge of town supermarkets. Read the report HERE.
I hope South Norfolk Councillors will have the stomach for the fight that could ensue. The site Tesco want to build on is already designated under the local plan as being for "leisure use". When Tesco wanted to build a store in my ward, they succeeded, but not without having restrictions placed upon them, but also not without the implicit threats that they constantly make to planning authorities and councillors.
Tesco have deep pockets, will use the best lawyers in the land, and will threaten councils that if the councils lose, they will ensure that the council pays. Many council's retreat through fear. In North Norfolk, we didn't, as can be seen from the fact that in Sheringham, Tesco have been thwarted so far. But that is because we have seen the dreadful effect Tesco has had on Stalham, which has seen local and independent shops close whilst Tesco has taken over.
Have South Norfolk Council got the strength to take them on over Diss ?
12/17/2006
Not another reason to shop at Tesco !!
Twice in one week is getting ridiculous !
Last week I said I was thinking more kindly towards Tesco because of their financial support towards building a new ground for Everton football club and now they'ev announced that they intend to run 75% of their fleet of vehicles on bio-diesel by the end of 2007. Read about it HERE.
Now Tesco have done this, I would hope other supermarkets and large hauliers will follow.
Last week I said I was thinking more kindly towards Tesco because of their financial support towards building a new ground for Everton football club and now they'ev announced that they intend to run 75% of their fleet of vehicles on bio-diesel by the end of 2007. Read about it HERE.
Now Tesco have done this, I would hope other supermarkets and large hauliers will follow.
12/08/2006
That's Asda Price
The War on Wany report about Asda, Tesco and Primark selling goods where the factory workers in impoverished countries are receiving as little as five pence an hour should not come as a shock.
I've bough a couple of T-shirts from Primark for as little as four pounds each. I never assumed the workers were earning the UK minimum wage because they wouldn't make a profit on just £4.
The fact is that UK shoppers want cheap clothes as an option.
What I was confused about was the War on Want wanted consumers to "write to the shops telling them how unhappy they" and want the government to "introduce leglislation". They don't actually make clear what they want the legislation to say or even tell us in their report what they would do.
I'm not advocating that paying slave wages is good, but 5p an hour relative to no income at all in a poor country where there is no welfare state is different from earning 5p an hour in the UK. We do need to look at it in relative terms. I would be happy to pay more for my T-shirts, but will all shoppers ?
11/13/2006
Iain Dale's Diary picks up Tesco issue
Iain Dale's Diary has a link to my story yesterday about Tesco, Fakenham and the closure of shops in the town.
He points out the irony of the piece in the Sunday Telegraph yesterday saying that despite her pocketing of £1million in fees for ads she did for Tesco, Prunella Scales wants now to support independent small shops !
He points out the irony of the piece in the Sunday Telegraph yesterday saying that despite her pocketing of £1million in fees for ads she did for Tesco, Prunella Scales wants now to support independent small shops !
11/12/2006
Another supermarket closes in Fakenham - Thank you Tesco !
The EDP reports on its website today that Rainbow supermarket in Fakenham will close in two weeks. This is the second supermarket to close in Fakenham since Tesco came to town.I openly and vocally opposed the opening of the new Tesco, not just because I feared for the 
economy of Fakenham, but also becaues of its ludicrous location and the unwillingness of Tesco to build a bridge so that it could be accessed from the by-pass. At the time I got a lot of stick from people. One or two said they wouldn't vote for me again, others, even though they disagreed with me were pleased to have a councillor who actually stated an opinion for a change.
economy of Fakenham, but also becaues of its ludicrous location and the unwillingness of Tesco to build a bridge so that it could be accessed from the by-pass. At the time I got a lot of stick from people. One or two said they wouldn't vote for me again, others, even though they disagreed with me were pleased to have a councillor who actually stated an opinion for a change.Tesco at the time along with their supporters claimed that they would provide more choice, and with that could come lower prices. Now, with the closure of Budgens in the centre of town (only the budgens local is left) and Rainbow, closing in two weeks, the people without cars and those who shop in Fakenham town centre now really have no choice at all, and Tesco are in a monopoly position in the centre of town, which is, after all, what they wanted and knew would happen. This is, however, the opposite of the "choice" they offered the town.
The great shame is that Rainbow (part of the Co-op) had permission to extend and rebuild, but have chosen to sell out to Lidl. Yes Lidl will provide an alternative, but they are not a mainstream supermarket like Tesco, Rainbow, Sainsburys, Waitrose, Asda or Morrisons, and they will not be open for more than six months.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Morrisons on the edge of town will go ahead with the extension they talked about so that Tesco will really have to fight for customers.
I'm not at all pleased to be proved right about the affect Tesco has had on Fakenham. Budgens gone (and with it the Post Office), Rainbow gone, Curry's gone, and talk of others who are re-thinking their position. It happened in Stalham where rivals closed and smaller independent shops went to the wall, and it's starting to happen in Fakenham too.
10/10/2006
Is it me or do Tesco Metro charge more then normal Tesco ?
Having been forced to go to my local Tesco Metro, I am convinced that there is something missing. That something is the phrase "Special Offer".Normally, when you go to Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda, etc, aisles are festooned with "Special Offer" or "Buy one get one free" signs. However Tesco Metro seems to be an offer-free zone. Why is this ?
Is it because Tesco feel they have a captive Market ? Tesco is after all the only grocery shop in my village. If so, it highlights just what a danger Tesco pose as they now have approaching one third of the grocery market in the UK.
I have a friend who lives in Hove who told me about her local Tesco which did all it could to undercut local retailers until the local retailers went oput of business. Of course, after the competition was gone, Tesco altered their pricing whilst in Stalham (North Norfolk) Tesco must be delighted to see so many local businesses close since they came to town. A real sht in the arm (or head) for the local economy !
We await to see the effect Tesco will have on Fakenham. If it is a positve one, I won't be hte only one who is surprised !
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