Campaign statement by Thame Tesco supporters
On 15/06/2015 At 11:49 pm
Category : Missed a ThameNews story?, More News, Thame news
Responses : 15 Comments
IN response to the Thame Centre First campaign against a proposed large supermarket on the outskirts of Thame, a group of residents in favour of the proposal have started a campaign of their own and have issued the following statement:
“Thame NEEDS Tesco – TNT, was formed to represent the views and opinions of people in the town who welcome the prospect of a Tesco supermarket on Howland Road. We are all local people living in and around Thame. Many of us have lived here most of our lives. We have no vested business interests or political ambitions. We represent a broad cross section of the Thame community; working people with young families, retired folk, young people keen to get a start in life.
“We care for Thame and are concerned about the future of the town as it faces changing times involving the building of hundreds of new homes.
We support the vibrant town centre with its mix of shops and services, but recognise that it does not meet the everyday shopping needs of many residents. We strongly believe that Thame needs another supermarket that can offer what is currently unavailable, or unaffordable, in the town centre. Many of us shop in big supermarkets in Aylesbury, Wheatley, Princes Risborough, Oxford or Bicester. But we’d prefer to spend our time and money in Tesco, in Thame.
“Wanting Tesco does not mean we do not support the town centre shops. We will continue to use them as we do at present if Tesco is built.
The argument that Tesco will affect town centre businesses carries little weight if the people who currently shop there continue to do so. And why would they change their habits when they already have the choice of shopping in other out-of-town supermarkets if they wished to?
“Thame is likely to have to cope with over 700 new homes in the next 10-15 years. Where will those new families do their shopping? The town centre is already congested with very limited parking; it certainly will not be able to cope with the predicted influx. If new homes are built, the town has a moral duty to provide the services needed to encourage owners to become part of the community. That includes adequate local supermarket choice. Forcing people to spend time and money in other towns will limit their involvement in, and appreciation of, the town they have chosen to live in.
As well as a much-needed choice of shopping, Tesco will bring new employment to the town. We are lucky to live in an area of low official unemployment, but the figures disguise the fact that new jobs would be very welcome among young people, parents with pre-school children, older people and those looking for part-time work. And let’s not forget that this is not just about a supermarket but also about providing other commercial employment on the site with DAF and or other businesses.
“In the weeks ahead we will continue to talk to people in Thame, seek their support for our campaign and represent their views to the town council, the district council and other parties involved in the decision making process. ”
Details of the supermarket’s plans can be seen on the SODC website, Planning Application P15/S1637/O where comments of support can be made.
TNT, like the Thame Centre First group, has set up an e-petition for supporters to sign: LINK HERE FOR PETITION
For more information about Tesco in Thame, Contact: thameneedstesco@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ThameNeedsTesco
Information about the Thame Centre First campaign can be found on its website: LINK HERE
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HooHaa – you have obviously never been in to Wrens if you think that the butchers in Thame are expensive. Their 3 for a fiver and three for £10 specials are great value. Added to that, with a proper butcher you get personal service. At the end of the day, the people who will benefit most from having a Tesco in Thame will be Tesco, not us!
Thame has to move into the 21st Century, with 800 new homes and all the new people coming we need more options and facilities.
Tesco will enhance the shopping possibilities for people and give everyone more choice..
The shops in the high street will still be ok with all the new people moving in.
Thame cannot opt out from the world and pretend time has stood still, lets get real, have a choice, reduce our carbon foot print by not having to drive to Aylesbury or Wheatley.
We need this…
I didn’t realise until last night just how many people Newitts employs …… 40 and that’s just one business in the town that will be under threat if Tesco is allowed to build OUTSIDE of the town centre.
I personally applaude Tesco coming to Thame, sainsburys and co-op offer limited ranges and waitrose is expensive. I do my weekly shop in Asda Wheatley or Tesco PR, and use the Thame supermarkets for “top up” shops. The butchers in Thame are too expensive, so I use the one in Chinnor who not only offers local produce, is very reasonable. I used to live in a town in Kent that had a similar outcry about 10 years ago, the local businesses were not affected and still going strong. It’s a competitive market and we, as consumers want choice and value for money.
Childcare isn’t really the issue.
Zero hours doesn’t pay, or support, any families long term.
As a town, we voted for a Town Plan.
This application would invalidate the legitimacy of every town plan in the country.
I, personally, wouldn’t mind a corner shop.
But the people voted against it, so we cannot stand in the way of democracy.
So DWTSOT you don’t consider part time employment of use to younger families where one of the parents is willing to work evenings or weekends instead of using high priced childcare. Try looking at the wider picture
I’m not convinced that zero hours contracts will help the local employment figures.
Lesley, try shopping online.
Newitts deliver
So do waitrose
I’m sure many other local shops would if you asked.
To say that the arrival of Tesco will not affect town centre businesses is simply not true. The Thame Neighbourhood Plan clearly states that;
“any major shopping outside the town centre would be likely to undermine the town’s vitality of the town centre shops. This would be detrimental to the overall sustainability of the town and would be likely to reduce the accessibility and choice of services and facilities available to the community”.
FACT: a study in Fakenham, Norfolk found that town centre food retailers experienced a 64% decline in market share following the opening of an out of town supermarket.
Furthermore, government policy on both a national and local level is
focussing on the use of town centres for convenience shopping. Therefore, if there is a need shown for an additional store, then this is exactly where it should be placed, to act as an “anchor” for the independent shops, just as the current supermarkets do.
Is should also be noted that many independent retailers also buy their supplies locally which obviously contributes to the wider local economy and also employment.
On the subject of employment, these supposed 200 jobs are likely to be part-time or on zero hours contracts and permanent, full-time positions would be lost in the town as a result of businesses closing or relocating, so no gain here!
What would happen to Thame Market if Tesco came to town? This has been in existence since the 14th Century and is one of the most successful markets in the South East of England, providing great variety and choice at a reasonable price.
If people really do ‘care’ about the town then help to preserve what is truly great about it ……. Its High Street! Estate agents describe Thame as “a bustling market town” … let’s keep it that way and say no thank you to out of town shopping.
Tesco coming to Thame would stop a lot of people having to do their shopping out of Thame I for one would change my shopping from high Wycombe to Thame
Thame is a market town. Do we really want our local butchers, sandwich and tea shops closing due to Tescos coming to our town. They take over. . Opening all hours. We have Tescos in Aylesbury, Oxford, Princes Risborough, a brand new one in Stokenchurch.
Excellent article; very heartfelt and true. Thame desperately needs Tesco – bring it on! We aren’t all retired people who have time to shop in lots of shops/use the market. Some of work full time outside thame and have to shop outside Thame. I would welcome the chance to shop in Thame but the current supermarkets are too expensive, too small and offer little choice.
We need more choice and more food shops with all the houses being built
It sounds very NIMBY to say that Tesco ” will cheapen the place! ” . I suppose if you are trying to price younger families and couples starting out on married/ shared lives together then high house prices & limited choice stores would be a route to getting your own way ! The reason you don’t see the current stores ” heaving” is probably down to higher prices ( Waitrose ) & a limited range ( Sainsbury & Co Op ). We shop at all of those but do the ” big shop” at Tesco . Finally your comment that brands everyone who supports Tesco implies we are not welcome as Thame residents ( after 50 Yrs ) and should go & live in Aylesbury just beggars belief !
I live near thame and I certainly don’t want tescos. Tescos will cheapen the place. If I wanted to live in aylesbury I would have moved there in the first place. These large supermarkets have no place in areas like thame. I have no objection to express type supermarkets but we already have waitrose, sainsburys, coop and a mini m&s, I don’t see any of them heaving with shoppers so I’m sure another 700 houses will bring good business to them without the need to go to the dreaded tescos super giant.