Marchers say no to supermarket
DEMONSTRATORS took to the streets with a clear message for Tesco to keep its hands off their town.
The campaign to prevent the supermarket building a new store on the former Brett Works site in Hadleigh saw more than 300 people march through the town on Saturday.
Jan Byrne, Hadleigh town councillor and member of the Hands Off Hadleigh group, said: “This demonstration continues to prove that people do not want Tesco and Babergh need to realise this.
“We are still waiting for the planning application to be decided by Babergh District Council. Despite being told it would be in the summer no-one has told us when this will take place.”
She said the group was in buoyant mood after Tesco’s plan to build a store in Sheringham, Norfolk, was rejected earlier in the week.
Police managed to keep traffic disruption to a minimum while the march snaked down the High Street.
Mrs Byrne said: “The police were marvellous and only had to stop traffic for six or seven minutes. It was enough to ensure Babergh and Tesco understand exactly where the town stands on this issue.”
But Nick Gellatly, corporate affairs manager for Tesco, said it was usually the same people protesting and it did not necessary reflect the views of the town.
He said: “Generally people do not march up and down streets if they are in favour of something. If we were to get the opportunity to open a store I’m quite sure the vast majority of people would come and shop with us.”
He said there was no evidence that local shops suffered when Tesco came to town.
“We know that people in Hadleigh are shopping elsewhere – if we provide a supermarket this will keep them in the town and attract others to come,” he added.
A Babergh spokesman said a date had not been confirmed for a decision on the planning application.
He said: “It’s not unusual with a development like this for there to be further information required. We have asked the applicant for very detailed information and this must be assessed before any dates can be given.”
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Weather for Sudbury
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -2 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light sleet showers
Temperature: 0 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: West
