I’VE just returned from the well-attended meeting at the Swan against the Tesco and Sainsbury’s development. I want this opportunity to reiterate a number of points I made at the meeting.
Firstly and most importantly it is crucial to see the two developments in Leek not simply as a parochial issue, but to see it in a national and a supranational context. What is happening in Leek is happening in other communities around the country and in other countries.
There have been successful campaigns against supermarket developments in France and Poland, for example, but it is in the UK where the majority of David and Goliath battles ensue.
It is important the people leading this campaign realise this and it was a point that I was keen to make at the meeting.
This is an opportunity to build alliances with local shops and people and it is an opportunity to look at other parts of the country which have successfully challenged the deadly embrace of corporate blandness that has destroyed the individual character of many towns.
Take a town that I have lived in — Hereford. In response to a Tesco application for a town centre supermarket, Hereford Against Supermarkets Squashing Local Enterprise was born.
The aims of HASSLE are to educate the public as to environmental and economic effects of supermarkets on the local economy, highlighting practical ways in which shoppers can reduce their supermarket dependence and increasingly support their local community instead; to oppose plans for the development of a further or relocated supermarket in the town centre and stimulate debate about more innovative and relevant ideas, which will compliment rather than compete with the historic city centre, and provide a solution that will last for many years.
I rather like the name and have suggested for our town the moniker of Leek Against Supermarkets Squashing Independent Enterprise (LASSIE), which could lead to all sorts of interesting headlines such as ‘Lassie barks against supermarket plans’.
However, it is important in opposing the supermarket plans that campaigners use this as an opportunity to map out an alternative vision for the town, in which the uniqueness of the town can be preserved and enhanced for future generations.
I suggest that the next meeting in March take the opportunity to generate some ideas with as wide an input as possible on this theme that can win popular support.
BILL CAWLEY
Broad Street, Leek