24 May 2007
Belper Against Tesco Superstore - The First Meeting
Posted by admin under: belper; tesco; civic forum .
After my previous post about the loss of Ambergate’s own village shop and the possible Tesco development in Belper, I’ve been to 3 really encouraging meetings of people who are, like me really concerned about the way things are going in the local area.
The Belper Civic forum are a really together group of people who’s main interests are to do with positive ways of developing Belper - i.e. making sure that the great things that go on there now just carry on and the poeple of Belper can really have a say in how the town is developed. Hoppefully I can write more about this soon.
BATS - Belper Against Tesco Superstore held there first public meeting tonight in the Lion Hotel. I was (I must admit) a little bit reticent about going at first - possibly worried about a “minority fringe” meeting of ranters. How wrong I was! There was easilly at least 100 people packed into a very warm meeting room - people of all sorts and interests. The core BATS people really seem to have their heads screwed on, and have already realised how well organised and well thought out their campaign needs to be.
There was plenty of good points and ideas raised, plenty of money donated (for the fighting fund) and a general feeling that things really can be achieved for the best - and that we can stop this apparent juggernaut.
All very positive!
3 Comments so far...
Chris Says:
11 June 2007 at 9:12 am.
Minority Fringe? Are you suggesting 100s of people are a majority at Belper? From the few thousand i don’t think you really have the support you think you have at all. I have visited BATS site and can honestly say this is an incredibly poor attempt. For a site with a purpose as such, one would expect at least a half decent attempt at a mission statement detailing what exactly it is you people find so bad about another supermarket opening. As for the recently added video, do you really expect people to take this seriously when what looks to have been made by some 5 year olds video is posted?
Why are you so concerned with another supermarket which will clearly give an albeit small bypass from a congested bridge street. Not to mention another choice in where to shop. Morrisons has clearly declined in quality and i for one feel its about time we have another choice.
The CO-OP in Belper is a far greater waste of space serving up to 10 customers in an hour! I agree Belper does not need another supermarket, however, i would prefer to have a tesco and get rid of some we already have.
The Burdens of local produce and other shops which is at the forefront of BATS argument is one surely flawed? We already have a CO-OP, somerfield, Morrisons and a smaller tesco. Unless i am mistaken and TESCO have somehow started using brainwashing i dont think they will MAKE people shop there, that will be there choice. So if people still choose to shop at local stores why on earth would they stop for another supermarket?
If you want to support your local shops, then shop there. Tesco will be a welcome change from the shops we have and will hopefully not be put off from a few local people wishing Belper would stop growing and not change.
admin Says:
14 June 2007 at 7:49 pm.
Hey Chris - well I certainly caught someone’s attention - I’ll repsond with a proper post in full (see above).
I have to say that you are the first person I’ve met in all of this time since I heard about the Tesco’s plans who actually posivtively welcomes them with open arms. Whenever I’ve talked to it about people I’ve been surprised myself how much people are against it - and yes, I do mix with more than a handful of people - some of whom are big fans of Lidl (not all ardent local produce consumers like I am then).
As for your comments about the quality of the BATS website - I think they’ve done a very good job on a negligable budget and very little time. And the film - well my only comment would be that the picture quality could be better - they need to get it on YouTube - I think it’s a great piece of work. Who cares if it’s made by children (even if it is) - it’s whitty, well edited and original in it use of Lego!
One point (I will make in my post) is that the Tesco in Belper is NOT for Belper - as, even you agree, Belper doesn’t need another supermarket - Tesco needs Belper as “well connected” location to get into the North of Derby, Duffield, Ripley, Ambergate etc.
Andrew Huskinson Says:
25 July 2007 at 11:17 am.
Hi,
The website does need a bit of a tidy and some unrelated content removing.
However the video is very good and I think a ‘allegory’ about the issues facing Belper. It was made by concerned young children.
See you soon.
Cheers. Andrew.