Several traders in Burnham-On-Sea have labled Tesco ‘a wolf in sheep’s clothing’ over its multi-million pound plans to expand its supermarket in the town.
Bosses from the supermarket giant attended this week’s Burnham Chamber of Trade meeting in the Princess Hall and got a mixed reception from the town’s business owners.
Several expressed fears that the proposed extension of the Tesco store in Love Lane might take away trade from existing shops in the town centre.
Chris Francis of Goldsmiths jewellers said: “It’s been proven elsewhere around the UK that out-of-town developments like this do have an impact on small businesses around them and I feel it’s right that Tesco is challenged on its plans for Burnham.”
“The size of the extension will be the equivalent of 100 small shops in the centre of Burnham. It feels to me like Tesco is a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ and the plans will harm our town centre. Let’s face it, Tesco is here for Tesco – not to help the local area.”
But Melanie Chiswell, Corporate Affairs Director for Tesco, defended the plans, saying: “We’re trying to provide local people with a better shopping experience.”
“By expanding the store, we hope to keep shoppers in Burnham rather see them travelling away from the town to Weston or Bridgwater. Our customer survey in the summer found a large majority of local people want this expansion.”
However, Burnham High Street shop owner Phil Hemmings of Home Hardware, also questioned the need for the expansion, saying a claim by Tesco that the Burnham store needs to expand due to ‘over-trading’, where shelves are often bare of products during busy shopping periods, is not an argument for the store’s growth.
He said: “If over-trading is a problem at the Burnham store, you should surely be expanding your storage space and staff numbers to cater for the demand rather than expanding the floor space and in turn taking away trade from shops in the town centre.”
Simon Russell, on behalf of Tesco, said the scheme “would not draw on the trade of town centre businesses” and added that the store “has no plans to sell ‘white goods’ – just the essentials and food.”
Melanie Chiswell added that Tesco also hopes to appoint a ‘community champion’ in Burnham to help with fundraising for community groups. And Mr Russell added that a Section 106 planning agreement might also mean that Tesco would provide funding for community projects in the area.
Burnham-On-Sea.com was first to report in July Tesco’s intention to expand the store in Love Lane.
The scheme would provide an extra 1,200 square metres of shopping space and around double the number of parking spaces, although the planning application is smaller than the extension proposed in 2005. It is designed to tackle over-crowding in the store and car park, particularly at peak times.
Alex Turco, Chairman of the Chamber of Trade, praised the supermarket chain for being so pro-active in seeking the opinion of local people and businesses.
“It is very refreshing that Tesco got in touch with us at an early stage and were keen to work with us,” he said.
Our photos show Tesco bosses at this week’s Chamber Of Trade meeting in Burnham-On-Sea’s Princess Hall
RELATED LINKS:
Survey finds 86% of Burnham residents back Tesco expansion
Tesco plans to build 17 new homes next to expanded store
More details emerge over Tesco expansion plans
Tesco to unveil expansion plans for Burnham store
