Tesco planning massive new store in Milngavie

[munroman]

I recently attended a public meeting, where plans for a massive new Tesco store in Milngavie were discussed.

It will be over twice the size of the existing one and there are many locals who fear that it will suck business away from the local small shopkeepers, as well as damaging the environment by being so out of keeping with the local Conservation Area.

A website has been set up to give information on the plans, if anyone has views they would like East Dunbartonshire Planning department to take notice of they can find contact details on the website.

The feeling of the meeting was an understanding that Tesco want to grow their business, but as the plans stand they will seriously damage the local area, and actually harm future business by making Milngavie a poorer destination to shop in, with less choice and more congestion.

http://www.welikemilngavie.org/

(Mods if this is the wrong forum please move it!)

[rabmania]

I've responded Munroman, thanks.

[Josef]

I've been in Milngavie once in my entire life, and that was to use one of the local shops. Namely, to buy a pair of R.M. Williams boots from the bloke that used to run the shop at the corner of Park Street / Great Western Road at Kelvinbridge.

Is he still there?

[munroman]

There are no men's shoe shops in MIlngavie now, unless there is a hidden one!

Could have a HG Milngavie outing for Josef then!

[Bridie]

I don't live there but a few members of my family do and they use Tesco.
I don't know what they think as it's news to me but I do like the Tesco store in fact it's my all time fav Tesco's (saddo) bar the one in Carbis Bay, St Ives Cornwall which has the most amazing views from the caff.

Tesco Milngavie is obviously very popular however have they asked the customers what they want?
What about the fact that the customers like the present size of the store, accessibility in getting around the whole shop not just for the elderly but for some of us who can't be bothered doing a circuit ( conveniently planned) to get only a few items.

As far as the local shops are concerned I think this problem probably started when Tesco and Marks first opened so I can't see it being a new thing. Milngavie town centre will go the same way as any other (small/market) town centre and become a place to walk around with gift shops/restaurants/ takeaways/pubs and ice cream shops.
My town here in Norn Ireland - Enniskillen is going that way, we were invaded by Asda and Tesco and now the High Street will be regenerated into a touristy walkabout type of place. However the local butchers will remain as they win the prize for the best butchers in Norn ireland - despite the competition from the supermarkets.

The rest of the overpriced rubbish local stores can go though.

[munroman]

Hi Bridie, the reason I have become involved, (I don't live in Milngavie, though I have lived and worked in it for over 30 years), is that the design of the new store is totally out of keeping with the area, and also instead of complimenting the town, it literally turns it back on the town.

It has been calculated that the existing Tesco has 61% of the Retail capacity of the area, so a massive increase in store size would lead to a dominance of Retail in the area. Proposed new legislation to improve competition would mean that they could not increase the existing store size, it appears that they are trying to get this approved before the legislation becomes effective. (This limits the % of any one company to 60% so Tesco are already maxxed out)

Kirkintilloch where I now live has had the energy drained out of it by out of town shops, I had no idea there were so many charities with shops! I don't want the same thing to happen to Milngavie, as I don't think the tourist shop thing would happen. Already the Co-op are shutting down, and nothing lowers a shopping area more quickly than empty shops.

The way I see it is that Tesco could actually benefit by having an appropriate, well designed store that is part of a nice vibrant shopping centre, so people would choose to go there for a day or part day out, taking in the Town Centre, perhaps Mugdock Country Park, and shopping at Tesco, which is a vital and welcome part of the Town Centre shopping experience.

Otherwise, it is just another big store, so why go there rather than St Rollox, or Asda, in which case Milngavie loses out, especially as I can only assume that a doubling of store size would lead to a doubling of traffic, which is already a problem at certain times of the day, so then people would stop coming to shop in Milngavie, so everyone loses out!

The existing store allegedly has a long and mysterious history, whereby the original 'Grocery only' store suddenly 'got permission' to sell Non-Foods, but the paperwork 'seems to have got lost'.

In case the arguement of 'more choice' gets thrown about, the existing store already provides a choice of 123 different beers, and 83 types of Shampoo, how much more choice do we need?

[munroman]

Apparently now over 250 objection lodged, http://www.welikemilngavie.org has full details of how to make your views known to East Dunbartonshire Councils planners.

Opposition has come from all walks of life including shopkeepers, anglers and architects, this is a building out of place with its environs.

[munroman]

Now over 600 objection received, closing date for objections is 31st March.

http://www.welikemilngavie.org has details of how to make your feeling known to East Dunbartonshire Council.

As has been recently seen on TV, Tesco has a habit of destroying local small shopkeepers when it moves in, and reduces local choice.

As a recent audit showed, the existing Tesco in Milngavie was selling 126 different beers, and 83 different shampoos, how much more choice do we need?

[+ 1]

I do believe that tesco seems to be taking over the world, too much annoyance. We should be supporting out local shops etc. If the store is not with keeping with the area then this is unacceptable also including if the original store is big enough to support the area.

I would like to add though that sometimes a big supermarket is good. For example a new Tesco was opened in Castle Douglas where my mum lives and people were concerned that local shops would close. In this instance it has actually benefited the area as it has made the smaller shops actually become more competitive by bringing in new products etc. Also no shops have actually closed down because of this.

I think that this has worked here due to the fact that people live outwith the town so it actually helps having a shop that is open later in the working week but then using the local shops when they are off.

[munroman]

I do believe that tesco seems to be taking over the world, too much annoyance. We should be supporting out local shops etc. If the store is not with keeping with the area then this is unacceptable also including if the original store is big enough to support the area.

I would like to add though that sometimes a big supermarket is good. For example a new Tesco was opened in Castle Douglas where my mum lives and people were concerned that local shops would close. In this instance it has actually benefited the area as it has made the smaller shops actually become more competitive by bringing in new products etc. Also no shops have actually closed down because of this.

I think that this has worked here due to the fact that people live outwith the town so it actually helps having a shop that is open later in the working week but then using the local shops when they are off.

This is very much our point, at the moment the mix of Tesco as it is and the mixture of independent shops means that people choose to visit Milngavie, over a 'Superstore' type shop.

If there was only a massive Tesco Extra, people would just go to their nearest Tesco Extra, so overall Milngavie would have no small shops, and an underused Tesco Extra, to me that doesn't seem a good outcome for anyone!

[Josef]

I always find this talk of Tesco taking over the world a bit odd. I've never lived anywhere - East End, West End, South Side, Suburbia - where there was a Tesco even remotely accessible. I don't believe I've spent as much as a hundred quid in total in their shops in my entire life.

Albeit I'm not a motorist.

Now Asda, that's a different matter.

[Vinegar Tom]

I always find this talk of Tesco taking over the world a bit odd.

If I understand it correctly, the beef is with the attrition that a new Tesco store has on existing small businesses. There is a calculation somewhere ( I think ) that shows that a 20% drop in business is enough to kill those wee local shops that I like. But I could be wrong.

[+ 1]

Josef I think you are right for glasgow and the surrounding area. Don't seem to by many through that way but I see alot in Edinburgh and in alot of other cities.

[Josef]

I always find this talk of Tesco taking over the world a bit odd.

If I understand it correctly, the beef is with the attrition that a new Tesco store has on existing small businesses. There is a calculation somewhere ( I think ) that shows that a 20% drop in business is enough to kill those wee local shops that I like. But I could be wrong.

No, you're absolutely right. I've seen it happen, and I dislike it. The skills, the jobs and the money disappear from the area. INot to mention the food quality. It just always seems to be Tesco that gets mentioned.

Whenever possible, I buy fruit from a fruit shop, meat from a butchers and fish from a fish shop. Tinned and packet stuff, I usually get from supermarkets.

[Vinegar Tom]

It just always seems to be Tesco that gets mentioned.

Whenever possible, I buy fruit from a fruit shop, meat from a butchers and fish from a fish shop. Tinned and packet stuff, I usually get from supermarkets.

I get your point now Josef - I have a beef with them all - I would never shop in Asda (well , unless I was desperate ) - because of the way they operate as Walmart in the US. Sainsbury , Morrison and the rest are part of the same process.