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Nick Harvey MPStanding up for North Devon since 1992 |
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LOCAL AUTHORITY LEADER'S SLEIGHT OF HAND
March 18, 2010 3:19 PM
Nick Harvey, MP for North Devon, says, "The North Devon Council Leader is being rather misleading suggesting I am chasing votes, by warning Barnstaple about the impact of the proposed Tesco store for Severn Brethren. This is simply about what's best for the town.
"The Liberal Democrats did indeed support the integrated redevelopment of Seven Brethren, but that was on the basis of a new flagship college and housing for the Shapland site.
"How he can suggest by inference that I supported putting a giant Tesco superstore on the site, when everyone knows that the company obtained Brian Ford's covertly, beggars belief.
"My understanding is that the original Brian Ford's replacement was meant to be like-for-like in scale and not the massive superstore now planned by Tesco. Nor was it to have over a third of the floor space stocking non-food goods.
"The permission which has now been granted means Tesco will provide neither in-town nor out of town shopping, but some sort of half way house.
"NDC's Leader presses me to name some ghost towns, well Liss, Liphook and Scunthorpe suffered the superstore affect. Inverness infamously dubbed 'Tesco Town' lost 30 independent shops within two years in the face of three Tesco stores. He should be aware that this is happening up and down the country.
"Now the Conservatives have given in to Tesco the proof of the pudding will be in the eating. We may all be paying the price for years to come."
Notes for Editors:
In October 2007 the Competition Commission confirmed that Tesco hoards land to keep out rivals. The All-Party Parliamentary Small Shops Group investigated the future of small shops in the UK. Its report "High Street Britain: 2015", released in January 2006, predicted a bleak future for independent shops. The report predicted that independent convenience stores and independent newsagents were very unlikely to survive.
For more information on Tesco plans across the South West see:
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