‘No one wants booze sold from 6am-midnight’ – Denham

Speaking to bitternepark.info after a packed meeting called to discuss community concerns about the arrival of Tesco Express store to Witts Hill, John Denham MP said there is still “a lot worth fighting for”. Use the player below to hear John Denham's view, and read on for a meeting roundup.
Audio © bitternepark.info | Pic left: Ann MacGillivray

 

L-R speakers John Denham MP, Ann MacGillivray, Vicky from SNA supermarket and Mary Finch from Bitterne Park Residents' Association

Tesco representatives were conspicuous by their absence at a packed community meeting held at All Hallows Church Hall at Witts Hill on March 26, called to discuss concerns around the imminent arrival of the store at the former Castle pub site. John Denham MP told bitternepark.info there is still “lots locals can still do to force Tesco to be a good neighbour”, in particular opposing the store’s application to sell alcohol from 6am until midnight.

Concerns

Various other concerns were also raised at the meeting, including the possible impact of the store on existing traders, getting the Tesco shop to “link up” with the rest of the parade, heavy lorries and delivery times, road safety, an application to sell “refreshments” (hot food and drinks inside and out, according to the licence application) between 11pm and midnight, and more.

Introducing the meeting, Vicky from the SNA supermarket, which has been established for 29 years at Witts Hill, said that the core reason for the meeting was to offer a platform for residents to voice opinions on the arrival of the new Tesco, which she said was due to open on May 10.

She stressed that even though Tesco “is now here”, there are still a number of things that people can do.

'Saturation point'

Mary Finch, a committee member of the Bitterne Park Residents’ Association (pictured far right), said that supermarkets had now started to open smaller stores in local areas in some cases within a mile of one another, taking things to “nearly saturation point”.

"This is happening all over the country, often to the detriment of smaller independent traders,” she said. “There are now 15-20 Tesco Express stores operating in and around Southampton, and three within a mile of our parade, at Cobden Avenue, West End Road and Townhill Way.”

Mrs Finch said that small traders are part of our community and offer a very important social service, whereas she thought social interaction at express stores is minimal: “It’s just hello, thank you, and please put in your pin number.”

Local resident Ann MacGillivray said she was worried about the sale of “loss leaders”, which she thought could not only hurt suppliers but also damage local businesses.

The final speaker, John Denham, Labour MP for Southampton Itchen (left), said that the small gains that had so far been won had only been achieved because people had become involved.

He went on to explain that the reason there’s never been the chance for locals to stand up and say “we don’t want a Tesco” was because no planning application was necessary to turn the pub into a supermarket.

“You don’t need planning permission for the fundamental change from a pub into a shop… the all-party ‘Save the Pubs’ group in parliament have been campaigning for a change in the law,” he said.

He added that an open sale and a planning application would have given two opportunities for a real say. Mr Denham explained that nationally over the last two years two hundred pubs have been turned into supermarkets, with more in the pipeline, and that the local campaign had become known nationally through groups like the Campaign for Real Ale.

“Even the people who are in favour of a Tesco probably think that local people ought to have a decision in these issues.”

He said that the “live issue” now was the off-licence, and that big community campaigns have had an effect on alcohol licences up and down the country.

“The thing that struck many of us is that the off-licence application is from six in the morning until midnight; that is way beyond what is currently the practice, and Midanbury doesn’t actually need a third off-licence.”

“If we could have an effect on the off-licence, that would be well worth doing,” he said.

• The licence application is online here. To comment quote reference number 2013/00417/01SPRN and either write to: Licensing Team, Southampton and Eastleigh Licensing Partnership, PO Box 1767, Southampton SO18 9LA or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

According to a leaflet distributed at the meeting, to comment on an application it’s important to state your interest (ie local resident) and give your name and address as well as your reasons for objection.