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Store has backing of the powerful
• AVIS Baldry bemoans Tesco’s behaviour at Islington Green (Our campaign showed the way, April 27). The likely reason is that Tesco appears to have friends in Islington who are happy to help the company do as it likes.
At the Highbury Corner end of Holloway Road, the company has even managed to get conservation area status withdrawn, and a listed building demolished. There’s now a large hole in the ground and I don’t imagine the company feels much obligation to put anything of any great quality in its place.
A quick look at the Islington Retail Report, published earlier this year, indicates that Tesco has some significant support where it matters.
Although no operators are named, in the section on supermarkets an operator is reported to “need” large sites at Angel, Highbury and Highgate/Upper Holloway. The one required at Angel is 50 per cent bigger than the existing Sainsbury’s. You have to wonder what the council thinks is going to be demolished to fit that in.
The underlying research for the study was almost non-existent. A phone survey purported to show that residents of Crouch End did no shopping in Crouch End, but instead chose to bypass the Nag’s Head and shop at the Iceland or M&S at Angel. It also indicated that the biggest buyers of “fashion” in Archway, came from Shoreditch.
The real purpose of the retail report becomes clear when you see an editorial comment in red, clearly left by mistake. “Supermarket?” it reads, next to the section which reports that Archway is ideal for independent retailers.
The study was not designed to look at what would benefit Islington, just ways of satisfying big retailers’ “needs” for outlets in the borough, and among those Tesco seems to be given special treatment.
The interesting question is: who is behind this support, which is so contrary to what Islington residents want – or need?
AMY SILVERSTON
Laurier Road, NW5 |
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