Within a week of Tesco opening its doors Stokes Croft has found itself the focal point of serious violence and confrontation. Over the last few years our beloved community has undergone an amazing home grown resurgence. We are therefore devastated that Tesco’s refusal to listen to what the majority of local people want has resulted in our vibrant, peaceful community being subject to such a sad state of affairs.

We are also deeply saddended to witness the reality that we live in society in which young people feel the only way to see justice done is to throw rocks. The reality is the government / corporations / media have created this society and are now trying to blame young people for the mess they have created. What future can we hope for if corporations are allowed to continue to dictate governments? If their insatiable appetite for profit is allowed to reign supreme?

Year long peaceful protest

For over a year the majority of the local community have worked hard to peacefully campaign to stop Tesco from opening. 2500 people sent postcards to the Council, thousands more signed petitions and 96% of 700 people surveyed said they don’t want a Tesco. Despite such overwhelming opposition Tesco decided to totally ignore the wishes of the majority of the community.

Justice undermined through the planning system

We painstakingly navigated the planning system and presented an overwhelmingly strong legal case for the Council to refuse Tesco planning permission to open. Yet Planning Officers ignored our objections and refused to engage with us. We insisted an impact assessment was needed around the threat over 40 deliveries to the store would pose to our community’s safety. Planning Officers told us this would be illegal and so refused. We pointed to the fact that Cambridge City Council had refused permission for the same application on the grounds of deliveries. Again we were ignoed. Various legal experts confirmed we were correct. Yet still Planning Officers refused to discuss this with us. Yet just minutes before permission was granted, the Council’s solicitor finally admitted they had got it wrong and the threat posed by deliveries to the store was in fact a ‘material consideration’. However, but this stage Councillors were thoroughly confused and so granted permission anyway.

Judicial Review

We are currently pursuing a Judicial Review of the Council’s decision because we are of the firm belief that Planning Officers failed to follow proper procedure regarding deliveries to the store and subsequently wrongly granted permission for Tesco to open. Watch this space for updates.

Where now?

We think it is essential that Tesco does not reopen on Cheltenham Road. We do understand that they feel it is important to not be seen to give into violence. However we feel strongly that their withdrawal would simply be a long overdue recognition that they are not wanted in our community. On their website and in their Corporate Social Reponsibility report Tesco claim to listen to the local community as soon as they identify a site. We are calling on Tesco to remain true to this. To recognise that they are not a positive contribution in our community and that the only fair thing to do is leave.

We are soon to begin mediated negotiations with Tesco and other key stakeholders. We look forward to being able to discuss this with Tesco and can only hope that they come to the table as human beings with their hearts wide open, rather than as representatives of their corporation who have left their moral values at home with their spouse and children.

By Claire Milne, campaigner

Within a week of Tesco opening its doors Stokes Croft has found itself the focal point of serious violence and confrontation. Over the last few years our beloved community has undergone an amazing home grown resurgence. We are therefore devastated that Tesco’s refusal to listen to what the majority of local people want has resulted in our vibrant, peaceful community being subject to such a sad state of affairs.

We are also deeply saddened to witness the reality that we live in society in which young people feel the only way to see justice done is to throw rocks. The reality is the government / corporations / media have created this society and are now trying to blame young people for the mess they have created. What future can we hope for if corporations are allowed to continue to dictate governments; if their insatiable appetite for profit is allowed to reign supreme?

Yearlong peaceful protest

For over a year the majority of the local community have campaigned peacefully to stop Tesco from opening. 2500 people sent postcards to the Council, thousands more signed petitions and 96% of 700 people surveyed said they don’t want a Tesco. Despite such overwhelming opposition Tesco decided to totally ignore the wishes of the majority of the community.

Justice undermined through the planning system

We painstakingly navigated the planning system and presented an overwhelmingly strong legal case for the Council to refuse Tesco planning permission to open. Yet Planning Officers ignored our objections and refused to engage with us. We insisted an impact assessment was needed around the threat over 40 deliveries to the store would pose to our community’s safety. Planning Officers told us this would be illegal and so refused. We pointed to the fact that Cambridge City Council had refused permission for the same application on the grounds of deliveries. Again we were ignored. Various legal experts confirmed we were correct. Yet still Planning Officers refused to discuss this with us. Yet just minutes before permission was granted, the Council’s solicitor finally admitted they had got it wrong and the threat posed by deliveries to the store was in fact a ‘material consideration’. However, but this stage Councillors were thoroughly confused and so granted permission anyway.

Judicial Review

We are currently pursuing a Judicial Review of the Council’s decision because we are of the firm belief that Planning Officers failed to follow proper procedure regarding deliveries to the store and subsequently wrongly granted permission for Tesco to open. Watch this space for updates.

Where now?

We think it is essential that Tesco does not reopen on Cheltenham Road. We do understand that they feel it is important to not be seen to give into violence. However we feel strongly that their withdrawal would simply be a long overdue recognition that they are not wanted in our community. On their website and in their Corporate Social Reponsibility report Tesco claim to listen to the local community as soon as they identify a site. We are calling on Tesco to abide by this claim. To recognise that they are not a positive contribution in our community and that the only fair thing to do is to leave.

We are soon to begin mediated negotiations with Tesco and other key stakeholders. We look forward to being able to discuss this with Tesco and can only hope that they come to the table as human beings with their hearts wide open, rather than as representatives of their corporation who have left their moral values at home with their spouse and children.

Claire Milne

We currently use Paypal, but will be looking at other ways of allowing you to donate.

It’s great that people have been using the comments section of this blog to air their views, both for and against the proposed Tesco. That was the whole idea of this campaign: to try to conduct the consultation of public opinion that was unfortunately passed over by the local council.

However, can we please keep our discussion civil and polite, and refrain from writing personal and insulting remarks. Of course we all have different opinions and views on this highly complex issue, and trying to collate the many varying stances of the local community is obviously paramount to gaining a real understanding of how we should move forward, (which is why we are conducting the survey). But, getting into personal battles of ego using internet personas is just pointless, and discourages other people from getting involved.

What we need is constructive dialogue! Still don’t understand why we are opposed to Tesco opening their sixth store within a one mile radius? Then ask a question in the comments section in a polite and adult way, and no doubt someone will answer it in the same manner. Think we’ve got the wrong end of the stick completely? Then explain why in an objective way and be prepared to back up your views with evidence! We all have a lot to learn from one another, regardless of age or background!

We don’t have the time or people-power (yes, we all have jobs!) or indeed the inclination to “police” this site and remove offensive comments, so how about we just try to be civil, and ignore anything that is not written in a polite and constructive manner?

Thanks!

Billy.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/W5KYDBY

Please feel free to forward the link to your friends and neighbours from the area.

Also, a huge thankyou to the hundreds of people who turned up to demonstrate on Saturday! The demo was a huge success and sent a strong message to the powers that be that Stokes Croft residents want their voices heard.

Keep checking back for updates, or subscribe to the RSS feed of this blog.

A celebratory demonstration is going to be held this Saturday 13^th February outside the proposed Tesco site on Cheltenham Road to raise awareness about the campaign and the impact that Tesco would have on the local area.

Meet at Canteen in Hamilton House, 80 Stokes Croft (Co-exist building) at 1:30pm to head to the old Jesters site for 2pm – see you there! We’ll be at the proposed Tesco site (on Cheltenham road) for a couple of hours so come and join us for as long as you can.

Why not make a banner or a poster to make your voice heard! Fancy dress! Be creative! Let’s celebrate the strength of feeling and bask in local solidarity for a few hours! Bring music, whistles, drums and your finest singing voice!

We need lots of people to hand out campaign postcards and surveys and talk to people about our concerns.

Spread the word and see you there!

Video of Monday’s meeting

Check out footage of the amazing meeting on Monday

http://bit.ly/bQwkFw

First meeting 300 strong
Massive thanks to the some 300 people who turned up to our last minute meeting last night (Monday 8 February). The turn out and positive energy was overwhelming and spoke volumes about the appetite of Stokes Croft to shape its own community and not be disempowered by corporate power.

Stokes Croft is special.
As a community we have worked hard to create a local culture we are proud of. A Tesco in Stokes Croft would seriously undermine Bristol’s cultural capital and threatens to wipe out local shops and traders. Supermarkets notoriously drain local economies, siphoning profits to remote shareholders instead of supporting the local community. Deliveries will add to congestion in the area and local heritage will be seriously jeopardised.

Bristol City Council fail to consult local community
Consultation to date has been entirely inadequate, with the local community completely unaware and therefore unable to feed into the process. Bristol City Council’s decision to grant Change of Use planning permission with little if any feedback from the local community suggests it does not care about our needs.

Positive alternatives
Numerous alternatives exist that would better serve the local community and strengthen its economy in these tough financial times. With five Tesco already within a mile we do not need another. For example, a community owned greengrocers with affordable local, organic produce that supports local farmers and is good for our health and the planet or a fishmongers.

Get involved!

* Send a campaign postcard to Bristol City Council demanding they meaningfully consult the local community.

* Display a ‘No tesco in Stokes Croft’ poster in your home or shop window

Free postcards and posters are available from PRSC HQ at 35 Jamaica St. Please distribute far and wide.

Watch this space for more information and updates and to find out how to get involved.

Behind closed doors
We the local community only got wind of this a week ago and so we are working tirelessly to ensure this injustice does not go ahead. An amazing bunch of volunteers are beautifully sharing their abundance of skills, ideas, time and energy. So please be patient whilst we get this site up and running and keep watching this space for daily updates.

“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day I can hear her breathing.”
Arundhati Roy