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Supermarkets & the high street
Graham_Devon
Posts: 58,560 Forumite
I'm in two minds about this one.
Supermarkets (mainly Tesco and Sainsburys) have taken on an approach which is seeing express stores crop up everywhere. Residents are angry (at least some are) with the closure of pubs in turn being converted to an express store.
My problem lies in the fact that the pub has to close or give up business before Tesco takes over. The articles and people who are protesting talk as if Tesco are simply taking these places away.
So what's better? Boarded up pubs or an Express store?
Instead of news outlets constantly attacking supermarkets, would it not be a better idea to urge shoppers to actually use what they have around them if they don't want it closing down?
Usual whinge article here, written by people who no doubt shop at supermarkets instead of the expensive deli: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/apr/06/supermarkets-pubs-takeover
Supermarkets (mainly Tesco and Sainsburys) have taken on an approach which is seeing express stores crop up everywhere. Residents are angry (at least some are) with the closure of pubs in turn being converted to an express store.
My problem lies in the fact that the pub has to close or give up business before Tesco takes over. The articles and people who are protesting talk as if Tesco are simply taking these places away.
So what's better? Boarded up pubs or an Express store?
It seems we want the unique shops around us, but won't use them because of high prices.Peckham's fans talked of its high-quality foods, much of it locally-sourced, and a cheese and wine selection that went beyond the usual brands seen in the major chains – although they also complained about high prices.
Instead of news outlets constantly attacking supermarkets, would it not be a better idea to urge shoppers to actually use what they have around them if they don't want it closing down?
Usual whinge article here, written by people who no doubt shop at supermarkets instead of the expensive deli: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/apr/06/supermarkets-pubs-takeover
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Comments
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Hmmm. In order for the High Street to survive, people have actually got to want to use them and it seems that if a big supermarket moves into an area then people stop wanting to use the High Street.
If a smaller version of the chain moves in then possibly that could be viewed as a good thing as it still allows for other small shops to coexist. Having said that however any small shop in direct competition with the new express store will have to be outstandingly innovative to stand a snowflakes chance of survival!
When a Mr T express moved into our village, two convenience stores and the butchers quickly went to the wall but the other shops which were meeting the needs of the community have survived.
I think that in order to compete, the small shops are going to have to be a lot more clever than they have been. The status quo is just a romantic ideal in some people's minds. Sad but if express stores are now the front line we might be able to reinvent our communities in a positive way."A thousand candles can be lit from a single candle without shortening the life of that candle."
I still am Puddleglum - phew!0 -
I rarely (very rarely) visit either.
I expect that has some influence on pub closures, and even less on the expansion of Tesco Express.
It is entertaining to witness the people exiting Tesco Express with bags of shopping. Not the ones that simply walk away from the store, but those who climb into a Range Rover and drive off. :rotfl:30 Year Challenge : To be 30 years older. Equity : Don't know, don't care much. Savings : That's asking for ridicule.0 -
Let's not forget that Mr T (and all) offer free car parking. The High Street does not. Also, at least around my area, pub closures are due to the fact Mr T (and all) sell a bottle of semi good wine for £4 - £5 a bottle whereas the pubs charge the same for a glass!
Local Authorities (and it galls me to afford capital letters) have a lot to answer for. Get rid of High Street parking charges (and we may use High Street shops). Lower the totally extortionate business taxes for pub landlords and we may get a beer for a reasonable price.
The only place (semi locally) that seems to buck the trend is Ludlow, Shropshire. But...you can park for free (if you know the side streets) and the pubs make an effort (you don't seem to be ripped off because there are small independent brewing/vineyards locally).
I love Ludlow - I want to live there!!0 -
I don't think it's the job of the media to encourage anyone to do anything.
I do, however, think it''s the duty of local councils to stop destroying small businesses by levying absurd charges on the High St and then making it as difficult as possible for shoppers to drive and park there.0 -
The office workers would take all the spaces.Get rid of High Street parking charges
Generally the point of council parking schemes in town centres is to ration space and time to give everybody a chance, because in a free-for-all it would become impossible to park at all."It will take, five, 10, 15 years to get back to where we need to be. But it's no longer the individual banks that are in the wrong, it's the banking industry as a whole." - Steven Cooper, head of personal and business banking at Barclays, talking to Martin Lewis0 -
The office workers would take all the spaces.
Generally the point of council parking schemes in town centres is to ration space and time to give everybody a chance, because in a free-for-all it would become impossible to park at all.
That may be the claim. In reality, the 'point' of council parking schemes is to raise revenue.
They have find the money for the chief executive to live like a Renaissance prince, after all.0 -
These Express stores are handy / more price competitive (but can be expensive on some things) BUT I love going to Europe and using the abundance of individual grocery stores.
Our high streets are often too similar these days. I've heard that these Express stores don't put as much back in the local economy as the Independants do/did.0 -
And yet they often don't charge nights and Sundays, even though they could. And some places that do have enough space do have free parking, even though they could charge if they liked.That may be the claim. In reality, the 'point' of council parking schemes is to raise revenue."It will take, five, 10, 15 years to get back to where we need to be. But it's no longer the individual banks that are in the wrong, it's the banking industry as a whole." - Steven Cooper, head of personal and business banking at Barclays, talking to Martin Lewis0 -
My council have introduced a charge in the huge once free car park. It is now half empty most of the time. You could park up and pop into town for 10 minutes free, not any more. The side streets are now chaotic, the library car park and local park always choked, the half hour on street spaces are always full, in fact any free parking space including those belonging to shops are now full to capacity. One local business has blamed his decision to close on these charges, he says there was a marked downturn when the charges were introduced. The councillors, the ones with the free parking at the town hall, refuse to back down on these charges. There is also a Buisiness Improvement District which has a compulsory levy (yet another tax) on all businesses in the town centre, a small restaurant is being charged £350. Councils are killing town centres not Tesco.0
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They're giving you a chance to reduce the effect of public spending cuts. If they put up the council tax, the government will be cross. So why don't all you good citizens use the car park and pay the charge and your grannies won't lose their home helps?My council have introduced a charge in the huge once free car park."It will take, five, 10, 15 years to get back to where we need to be. But it's no longer the individual banks that are in the wrong, it's the banking industry as a whole." - Steven Cooper, head of personal and business banking at Barclays, talking to Martin Lewis0
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