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Tesco expansion - thread 3

 
 
On 22 Jun 2009 at 9:47pm Muppet wrote:
Choice is overrated. 57 brands of toothpaste just makes it harder to choose one.
 
 
On 22 Jun 2009 at 10:21pm expat wrote:
I'd never complain about having too much choice if I could shop in a Tescos. I'd be in heaven. Come and buy some toothpaste here in a New Zealand supermarket. You can have Colegate or own brand. At least you have a choice. It's so frustrating NOT having one.
 
 
On 23 Jun 2009 at 8:03am Rozzer wrote:
I know what expat means but isn't this choice sometimes a bit absurd? Why, for example, for we need to choose between 10 or 20 brands of toothpaste - all pretty similar if not exactly the same? The same goes for soap powders, cars, TVs, computers etc etc
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On 23 Jun 2009 at 8:35am bonfirek wrote:
and empty antique glass bottle, balls of string and items made of hemp, too much choice?
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On 23 Jun 2009 at 9:13am Spongebob wrote:
Without sounding too much like Uncle Albert, didn't people give the ultimate sacrifice so we could have these choices. If "decent citizen" and a few others on here had their way, we'd have no choice at all and we'd be run by the nazis.
I've said it before, Lewes needs drag itself into the 21st century a bit and it can do that without losing its charm and history. If the town became more attractive to smaller shops selling stuff that "normal" people want to buy, there would be no need for a bigger Tescos. But our council and chamber of commerce seem to be threatened by everything that is slightly lower than upper class shops.
There are many reasons why some of the decent shops don't want to come here. Parking, flooding, high business rates, the reputation as an arty-farty guardian reading, 2CV driving town and lack of ambition from our council (even digging a bit deeper, would you want to set up business in a town where the xmas lights are nothing more than embarassing !!!)
I personally don't want to drag myself to Asda in Brighton on a sunday morning to do my shopping, i'd much rather it was done in this town but it doesn't have a lot of stuff i need and use, so i go to Burgess Hill, Uckfield and Tun. Wells.
If the town got its act together and got rid of the reputation as being a town full of stuck up snobs, it may attract more decent businesses.
 
 
On 23 Jun 2009 at 10:00am Rozzer wrote:
Spongebob wrote: 'If "decent citizen" and a few others on here had their way, we'd have no choice at all and we'd be run by the nazis.'
Isn't it the other way round? Spongebob comes on here speaking up for a multi-national company and thinks he is being rebellious
 
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On 23 Jun 2009 at 10:01am Its Not Rocket Science wrote:
Spongebob, I dont think you can blame the parking scheme or flooding for the disappearance of any of the shops mentioned in my earlier post. These went long before the parking scheme was even dreamt of, and certainly well before the last floods in 2000. They were however, still there after the previous floods, so I don't think that argument stacks up. Furthermore, bringing the Christmas lights into the argument is scraping the barrel a bit to say the least. The fact of the matter is, that if the rest of the useful shops in town close down due to their customers buying everything they need in Tesco, then where will your choice be ? I suppose you will have the choice between buying food in Tesco, or string in the High Street. I see meanwhile that you are now saying that it would be good if there were more normal shops in the High Street. Make you mind up ! One minute you want a larger Tesco that will kill off even more smaller businesses, but in your eyes give you more choice (?), and now you want more smaller businesses so that Tesco need not expand. At least you have finally seen that there is a link..Does this mean you are changing your mind ?
 
 
On 23 Jun 2009 at 10:21am bonfirek wrote:
Speaking up for Tesco in this day and age is rebellious! Speaking up for eco warriors/hemp wearers et al is just following the herd coz it's trendy!
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On 23 Jun 2009 at 10:24am Spongebob wrote:
Tescos will NOT kill off smaller businesses...read one of my last posts in the "part 2" thread nor did i say that flooding and parking scheme killed off those shops, i said that the parking scheme and flooding (among other things) were stopping businesses coming to this town although i know Lewes motor factors and Seymours both mentioned the parking as a major factor when going under.
You don't seem to get my point with this, we need "normal" shops in this town. If we had a primark, a cheap shoe shop,a regular weekly market in the precinct etc etc, i'd happily use them. But we don't and we don't seem to be anywhere near to getting them.........although hopefully Wilkinsons will be the start. Therefore, i fully support the Tesco expansion.
I appreciate the bit about the xmas lights (and i mentioned it was "digging a bit deeper") but it doesn't fill any new business with seasonal joy at their busiest time of the year when our lights look like damp squibs and 8 miles up the road in Uckfield, there's a riot of lights and colour....i know which one i'd choose. It just gives the impression that no one gives a toss, no one can be bothered with anything and that must have a bit of a reflection when it comes to where you want to set up your business.
As for changing my mind, not just yet pal. If some wonderful new "useful" shops opened before work started on Tescos, who knows but we all know that ain't gonna appen. So it's viva Tescos until something is done about the s**thole of a high street
 
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On 23 Jun 2009 at 10:25am Rozzer wrote:
Is there someone called Spongebonfirek? It seems there is.
 
 
On 23 Jun 2009 at 10:27am Spongebob wrote:
Oh i didn't see that bit about being rebellious.....now that is superb
Spongebob the rebel
LOVE IT
 
 
On 23 Jun 2009 at 10:31am seafisher wrote:
Why is a Tesco expansion a problem?..will it just grow a little bit behind where it is..ie near all the other ugly buildings?..cant see the problem..tbh I dont even shop there but have no problem with it
more pressing is the fact that Id like to be able to buy some bread and milk up near the bottle neck where I live without spending the best part of of tenner...I'll be ok if I want a teddy a few famous five books and a victorian shaving kit though
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On 23 Jun 2009 at 10:48am Spongebob wrote:
Some people just want to object to it because they can. Most of the others think that it'll put the shops that sell teddies, famous five books and victorian shaving brushes out of business.
Work that one out !!!!
 
 
On 23 Jun 2009 at 12:10pm bonfirek wrote:
To be fair who needs to buy everday work clothes or cheap fruit and veg when you can buy an expensive teddy, victorian shaving brushes, empty glass bottles, nice looking pointless stones etc. It's supply and demand i suppose, obviously the DFL's go to work naked coz they don't need clothes or they can afford to shop in Bone, Fat Face etc. Personally i go to Brighton for Primark, Peacocks etc. Thereby increasing my carbon footprint when i could in the future just walk to Tesco and get some reasonably priced clothes there!
 
 
On 23 Jun 2009 at 12:28pm Footy Mum wrote:
At least if we have a big Tesco there might be a toy department. Lewes so needs a Toy Shop. Yes i know we had one but it was expensive and small.
I go to Uckfield there toyshop is large and affordable. I then will go to get the rest of my shopping Id rather keep my money in Lewes
1
 
On 23 Jun 2009 at 1:40pm Its Not Rocket Science wrote:
I think you are missing the point Spongebob. Before there were big supermarkets in the town, there was plenty of choice of places to buy your groceries - several small supermarkets, and minimarkets (even at the top end of town). Everyoone doing their shopping therefore was in the town providing passing trade to numerous other shops. The reason that none of these 'useful' shops is going to open on the High Street now, is that they would get next to no trade. That is because the majority of people would still use Tesco or Waitrose. The damage has already been done to the grocers (It is worth remembering that Bills premises used to be a supermarket), and they are not therefore going to expand by selling more groceries. They are going to expand into new areas. If, for instance they had a large music and DVD department like they do in other stores, then how long would it be before Octave closes down and makes way for another posh string shop ? You may well say what difference does one shop closing down make, but then they also start selling TV's, electrical goods, homeware, clothes etc..etc.. and chip away further at the High Street. You are so keen on having a choice, but Tescos objective is to take that choice away from you. They are a business after all, so why would they want anything else other than to put their competition out of business ? They are certainly not there to help out people like you or me.
 
 
On 23 Jun 2009 at 1:43pm Ed Can Do wrote:
As a matter of interest, does anyone know how many jobs are likely to be created by the expansion of Tesco? I'm sure the building work will be done by a national contractor so no jobs there (And looking at the slow and shoddy work being done on Cliffe High Street and the Cuilfail Tunnel who would ever use a local contractor?) but those builders need to sleep somewhere and eat while they work right? Then if Tesco expand by a half, they're going to need a few more staff to stack shelves and man the inevitable extra tills aren't they and God only knows there's not exactly a lot of work around at the moment. I can't see Wickle and Flint providing employment for many of the current generation of school drop-outs or people after shift work or part-time stuff.

Also, a pro-tip for anyone worried about Tesco leeching money out of the local economy, you could always buy shares in Tesco. Then when the dividends come in you can go out and spend the money locally in some kind of beautiful economic rendition of the circle of life.
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On 23 Jun 2009 at 5:52pm juliet99 wrote:
absolutely cannot wait for Tescos to expand, Lewes needs more normal shops!!!
 
 
On 23 Jun 2009 at 6:25pm Hedwig wrote:
I second that
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On 23 Jun 2009 at 7:53pm Footy Mum wrote:
I cant wait either, especially if their clothing dept expands.
I cant afford childrens wear fromWickle or Brats etc.
Tesco sell functional school uniform etc.
 
 
On 23 Jun 2009 at 11:54pm Do we need more choice wrote:
How ironic that the Sussex should report on their front page last week that the plan to extend the Lewes Tesco store has been criticised by local
traders and opposed by Lewes Town Council who said it will damage trade in
the town centre and drive customers away from the High Street whilst on
page 19 of the same edition, Cindy Holmes of Lansdowne Health Foods is
quoted as saying, in connection with the footpath closure at the River
Lodge Surgery, People usually park in Tesco and walk over to the Cliffe.
The drop in trade has been phenomenal.
I hope Tesco is grateful its car park is of such benefit to the local traders who are opposing their proposed extension. The same extension will
presumably include additional car parking spaces, presumably for use by those very customers of the local traders that Cindy Holmes refers to. The rest of us who choose to shop in Tesco will have to continue to drive round until we find a parking space.
 
 
On 24 Jun 2009 at 7:30am MC wrote:
I dunno what they don't all shop in Uckfield. It.s much easier and there's only a small chance you'll get spat at by the chavs.
 
 
On 24 Jun 2009 at 9:15am Spongebob wrote:
I go there a lot MC as well as a few other towns.
the biggest proble is that most people who object to tescos are the people who still live in the 1950's. They don't have a car, do their groceries every day, don't let the wife work, etc etc
One question i have for people on here, how do these small shops that sell expensive crap actually survive ? That bloody place by the war memorial Adamwhatshisname for example ? Ive never seen anyone in there and at £35 for a serving spoon, im not surprised. but how do they go on ?
 
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On 24 Jun 2009 at 9:59am Careful shopper wrote:
Seafisher, you can buy your bread and milk from Richards butchers or the veg shop next to it just past the Pelham Arms. 2 minute walk from the bottle neck and normal corner shop prices. Veg shop closed Weds though.
 
 
On 24 Jun 2009 at 10:08am Decent Citizen wrote:
You can walk down to St Pancras stores. Straight along Rotten Row and down. You can walk through the path past the Pelham to Leicester Road stores. Always supposing you have no mobility problems.
1
 
On 24 Jun 2009 at 10:13am Spongebob wrote:
Oh welcome back decent citizen, That was a very short "snub" !!!
 
 
On 24 Jun 2009 at 10:22am Careful shopper wrote:
Footy Mum, I miss that toyshop. Perfect for all those birthday parties kids get invited to. I don't remember it being all that expensive, but I'd have thought what you spent on petrol to go to Uckfield would have wiped out any savings anyway. I'm not having a pop at you personally, but it strikes me that the Tesco expansion supporters say they want "normal" shops, but then they don't shop at them when they're still around. Terry's fish is cheaper, fresher, and most is locally caught, keeping local fishermen employed, and the same with Ben's butchers and local farmers, but people like Spongefirek wouldn't dream of doing some of their shopping in the Riverside instead of Tesco, presumably because they're either too lazy, or think saving money by supporting local shops, fishermen and farmers is just for "eco warriors/hemp wearers".
 
 
On 24 Jun 2009 at 10:23am Decent Citizen wrote:
Message should have read To Seafisher! Not snubbing anyone,too long in the tooth for that.
1
 
On 24 Jun 2009 at 10:57am Spongebob wrote:
Believe me careful shopper.... i like my food and im a pretty good cook. But i've found no difference in taste between the meat in tescos and the meat in Bens butchers (or any other local butchers). However, i have found a few quid difference in price. Add those "few quid" up over a week or so and you are often making a saving of £15-20 a week by buying your meat from tescos. That's 60-80 a month for a family of 4-5.
If you then bought your fruit and veg from Bill's, well you can guess the rest. I'm not a big fish eater but Terry's do sell big bags of frozen whitebait which i adore so i go there for those.
There is one butchers that i go to regularly and that's the one in Burgess hill in the enclosed bit as they sell some of the best meat for barbeques on this planet.
 
 
On 24 Jun 2009 at 11:12am Decent Citizen wrote:
I remember that end of town when there was a post office, a newsagents,a shoe mender,a small convenience store almost next door to the Black Horse,a bakers,another convenience store on the opposite side of of the road to the Cannon O"Donnell.
 
 
On 24 Jun 2009 at 12:56pm Careful shopper wrote:
Spongebob, I don't buy meat in the industrial quantities you must do, so admit I go for quality over quantity, but the meat I've bought from Ben's has always been roughly the same or cheaper like for like than supermarket prices. And it's nice to know you can buy lamb there that got to enjoy the South Downs, and help preserve that beautiful countryside for everyone, rather than being factory farmed.
 
 
On 24 Jun 2009 at 12:59pm bonfirek wrote:
But then the factories go out of business and people lose their jobs? It's a harsh world
 
 
On 24 Jun 2009 at 1:13pm Careful shopper wrote:
Spongefirek, drifting off topic here, but it takes more labour to rear animals traditionally (the reason why factory farms took over in the industry and why so many family owned farms have gone bust, labour costs are the biggest expense for most businesses), so if factory farms did go out of business because people preferred to eat local, non-intensively reared meat, that would boost employment.
 
 
On 25 Jun 2009 at 10:57am Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
"I go to Uckfield there toyshop is large and affordable. I then will go to get the rest of my shopping Id rather keep my money in Lewes"
And how does shopping at a huge chain store with its HQ in Cheshunt, that won't even give a few quid to the carnival do that, then, Footymum?
And you may not have noticed, but Argos sell toys.

 
 
On 25 Jun 2009 at 11:02am Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
"absolutely cannot wait for Tescos to expand, Lewes needs more normal shops!!!" I agree with the last part of your statement, but making Tesco bigger will do nothing to acheive it.
They need competition, so they that they have an incentive to provide a better service imo.
 
 
On 25 Jun 2009 at 9:11pm Jan wrote:
Hooray for Tescos


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