Hadleigh's Great Retail Battle

Tesco meet with Chamber of Commerce 

Six representatives from Tesco have met with around 20 members of the Chamber of Commerce to discuss their plans for a store in the town.

The meeting organised by Cyndy Hilton, President of the Chamber, took place at Priory Hall on 14th September.  The members of the Chamber are split over the Tesco proposals with some worried that they will lose trade whilst others envisage more shoppers in the town.

Tesco believe that of every £1 spent by residents on household goods, 85p is spent outside the town.

18th September 2004

Tesco's sick scheme 

Having just announced an annual profit of £1.7 billion, Tescos have decided to tackle absenteeism in the workforce by cutting pay for short term sickness.

The policy, which is only being introduced into new stores, means that staff will not receive sick pay unless they are absent for four days.                        

17th May 2004 

Lidl interested in Buyright site

Buyright may be targeted by the cut-price food chain Lidl.  However, the managing director of Buyright's owners QD thinks that there may be a number of store groups interested in the site as there is 15,000 sq ft of floorspace and planning consent to expand the store.

Tesco has indicated that going head to head with discount stores would not be a problem and the Brett Works site is still their number one objective.

9th May 2004

Hadleigh Councillors take on Babergh

Hadleigh's Town councillors are on a collision course with their counterparts at Babergh.  The Planning Committee rejected the latest Tesco plan for the Brett Works site.  Only one of the six councillors, Keith Grimsey, supported the scheme.

Four reasons were cited for rejecting the plan: traffic problems, environmental damage, dangers to pedestrians on Bridge Street and the effect of heavy traffic on the historic buildings adjacent to the site.

Meanwhile, Suffolk Wildlife Trust has joined the Suffolk Preservation Society in demanding further investigations of the site.  Amongst the Trust's concerns are that reptiles may be present.  

13th March 2004

Tesco win first major battle of latest campaign

Babergh councillors, following advice from the Strategy Committee, has agreed that the Brett Works site can be used for retail development.  This decision will now considered as part of the Local Plan Inquiry in the Autumn.

Tesco submitted two planning applications before Christmas and these will be examined by a development committee.

The Suffolk Preservation Society has requested that Babergh consider other community uses for the site and the Hadleigh Society has collected 1,262 signatures opposing the Brett Works development.

Tesco has claimed that over a 1000 people have visited their website since its launch!

29th February 2004

Tesco - they're back and they've got a website

The battle is on for the hearts and minds of Hadleigh residents. Tesco's PR machine has sprung into life ahead of the expected battles in  Babergh's planning committee. 

A website has been launched, with a half-page advert in the EADT, which aims to put Tesco and Raven Retail Partner's case. The site, www.brett-works.co.uk, reveals how Hadleigh and its residents will benefit from the construction of a supermarket on the derelict land between the High Street and the river.  Apparently, the supermarket will create 200 jobs, boost trade on the High Street, solve the town's car parking problems, increase choice for shoppers and save the environment.

The Hadleigh Society has marshalled its forces in response and has so far generated 600 signatures opposing the supermarkets plans.

24th February 2004

Tesco - they're back and it's like they've never been away

Just when the anti-Tesco lobby thought the battle was over, the retail giant reappears and launches another planning application.  Babergh received the present one day early - Christmas Eve.

Tesco has always favoured the Brett Works site, close to the river and within sight of a Grade 1 listed building, Sun Court.  Those who want a supermarket but have concerns about this location would rather Tesco construct on the Buyright site.

Tesco's preferred site,  Brett Works, now the favoured site of BDC's strategy committee

There are other camps: those who want Tesco in any location and those who have no truck with Tesco and claim that it will ruin the retailers of the town. 

The Tesco at Buyright group won the last round and managed to persuade Babergh to alter their Local Plan accordingly. However a Government Inspector, following a Public Inquiry, overturned the Brett Works and the Buyright options.  The Government Office also rejected the Buyright site.

The next stage of the Local Plan Inquiry will be in September.  Significantly, Babergh's Strategy Committee has changed its position on the location of a food store.  It now favours the Brett Works site.  This recommendation will be considered by Full Council on February 26th.

If Tesco has its way will it be the end for their little vans?  Will the housewives of Hadleigh abandon their pcs and once more pick up their shopping baskets?

Tesco claim now to have altered their plans and take into account the Inspector's comments about access to the site and the design of the store.  Tesco favour Bridge Street as an access rather than the High Street.  

This would mean a new road through Babergh's car park, the Town Council's allotments and some poor couple's retirement bungalow..

The Hadleigh Society is promising a fight and Pro-Tesco group is delighted.

Tesco is promising 200 jobs and presumably an end to their little white vans clogging up the streets of the town.   

Meanwhile, the Co-op's extension carries on a pace and with the disappearance of Alldays, shoppers are able to get their divvy on both sides of the High Street. 

Coming soon - the story of Tesco and the Town