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‘Tesco’s plan should be shelved,’ insist residents
Fears community shops will close if supermarket giant moves in
RESIDENTS opposed to supermarket giant Tesco taking over a derelict pub in Swiss Cottage have been petitioning to save their local shops.
They are worried that the chain would kill off trade for their community stores if they moved into The Britannia in Belsize Road. Some say they want to see it revived as a bar or restaurant.
A Sainsbury’s, a Waitrose and a Mark’s and Spencer are all within walking distance of the proposed new Tesco site.
A Tesco spokeswoman confirmed that they are in “negotiations” to buy the site.
Two off licences in Fairfax Road, opposite the disused pub, have collected more than 60 signatures from customers.
Nicola Cobbold, who lives in Hillgrove Road, said: “I think if Tesco came here it’s going to ruin all the local shops – we don’t need it and we don’t want it.”
She accused Tesco of shrouding their ambitions for the residential street in secrecy, and labelled them “sneaky”. Calls to Tesco’s press office from the Journal were not returned for 10 days.
Ms Cobbold added: “I would feel unhappy. I can see Tesco has its uses but it will price out all the lovely little shops who are open 24 hours for us.”
Abdul Adam, manager of Save More in Fairfax Road said: “Of course it’s going to ruin us. We would close very quickly if Tesco came.
“If people come here and are short of 20p we let it go, they’re local and they’ll pay next time. Tesco won’t do that.”
Customers would have to go to Finchley Road for goods during the night as Supersave – a 24-hour shop next door to Mr Adam – could be forced to close, he warned.
Rumours that another Tesco was planned for a site less than 500 metres away in Winchester Road were denied by a Tesco spokeswoman.
She said: “We are in negotiations for a new site in Belsize Road. It is the Britannia pub. It would be a Tesco Express. There are no plans for a site in Winchester Road.”
Clare Moore, from Squire & Partners Architects, the firm behind the Winchester Road redevelopment, confirmed Tesco would not be moving there. She said four shops the size of a newsagent or a launderette had been agreed.
Ward councillor Don Williams warned the siting of the Tesco in Belsize Road – which would be on a roundabout – could cause traffic problems, and said delivery lorries could disturb residents.
He added: “It is a nice village atmosphere and we want to keep it that way. We don’t want it to turn into a high street.”
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