Page 5 - Phonebox Magazine September 2010

HAVE YOUR SAY
Letters Dear Editor
In response to the letter from J&D Fowler in the August Edition of Phonebox, I'd like to respond with an alternative view of the Tesco developments in Newport Pagnell.
At a time when our green fields are being repurposed for housing developments, it is shocking that a brown-field site such as the former Aston Martin Factory is to be used for retail purposes, especially as there is no shortage of supermarkets in the area. Even though I'm not a resident of Newport Pagnell, I've witnessed the town improving in recent years and should hate to see it fall into decline again.
Tesco is a huge retailer, accounting for £1 on every £7.50 spent on the UK high street - they already own many stores in the area (including all the stores under the One Stop brand) and there is a Tesco Extra at Kingston, 4.5 miles and less than ten minutes away from Newport Pagnell, as well as several smaller stores.
The effects of yet another Tesco store will be felt much further afield than Newport - perhaps it's time to shop locally? Based on my experience in Olney, the meat and veggies purchased from some of the independant retailers are no more expensive and of much better quality than those in the supermarkets, and these shops need our help to stop the march of Britain's "identikit high street" retailers, such as Tesco.
Mark Wilson
Dear Editor
My family came to Newport Pagnell in 1971. It then had a population of 4,500 but did not have a competitive grocery store nearby. Like many others we shopped at Sainsburys in Bletchley.
Now, 39 years later, with a population of 17,500, there is still no competitive store with parking, a failure by the Council and the partnership to provide for the people of Newport Pagnell. The argument has been ‘it must be in the High Street’.
Let us face the fact that never, ever, will there be adequate parking space in the High Street for a competitive grocery store. In the past Budgens and Sainsburys applied to develop a store in Newport Pagnell. Both were turned down as unsuitable.
Of the 17,500 population in N.P. 2/3rds shop out of town. This includes those who say ‘No’ to Tesco, and members of the Council and partnership. The Council needs to take serious consideration of this!
The elderly, young families, often with no transport, pay the high prices of grocery within the town. Many elderly people travel with their bus pass and pay for a taxi back to carry their shopping. It should not be like this!!
No amount of Tesco ‘No’ letters will help keep open the High Street shops, most of which are specialist. Only money spent by customers on the products sold by these will increase their business. Tesco`s would not be in competition with any of these goods.
Let us look to the future by encouraging people to come to our lovely town which has much going for it. A 200 year old ironbridge, a historic church, river walks and picnic areas. Plus coffee shops and eating places not forgetting a Farmers Market. Should Tesco`s come to N.P. it could be suggested a large advertising board, with map showing the towns shops and features, be displayed in prominence on site. I believe this would revive the life of the people, and businesses, in the town.
Let us be positive and provide the services that people want and not want the protesters think we want. They do not speak for us all.
I will attend the August 12th meeting. I would offer to market the town, voluntarily, if the Council take a bold step and move forward.
Peter Badham
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Phonebox Magazine 5