| |
Ramesh Patel says a new Tesco store could force him out of business |
Shops express fears for future as Tesco reveal plan to move in
Independent traders say supermarket giant would ‘destroy’ their businesses
TRADERS in Pimlico are digging in to fight for their survival after it emerged Tesco Express is coming to town.
Grocers, newsagents and a delicatessen in Lupus Street have organised a 300-signature petition against the proposal to open the store nearby.
They are calling on their customers to stay loyal should planners allow Tesco to move in.
Mubarak Ali, 65, owner of Greatway Food Store, has been in the street for 30 years and says Tesco will be the “death of the area” if they get the go-ahead.
He said: “If Tesco opens round the corner it will crush us all like ants. We can’t possibly compete with their prices.
“But we are not going down without a fight. Mine is a family business as are a lot round here – it’s our livelihood.”
Ramesh Patel, 60, who has run Norris Newsagent for more than 20 years, said Tesco would “destroy” all the businesses in the parade of shops on the edge of the Churchill Gardens estate.
He said: “I want to know what the council are going to do about this. They say they’re interested in protecting small business, so now they should stick to their word.
“If Tesco opens, people aren’t going to come here for their lottery tickets, newspapers and cigarettes because they can get them for cheaper. We’ve managed all this time without a local supermarket, why do we need one now?”
A planning application has been submitted to the council – expected to be heard in the next couple of months – that would see Tesco merge three stores into one.
Despite the tide of criticism, the company insists its stores are actually a boon for local business.
A spokeswoman for Tesco Express said: “We find our stores actually tend to attract people, thereby bringing economic benefits to the area. There are plenty of examples where independent shops can exist successfully side by side with larger retailers.” |
 |
|
|
| |
| |
