165 replies to this topic

[angieh]

Fact the above will be there within 2 weeks to complete the global domination and destruction of the town centre.

[Fran]

Fact the above will be there within 2 weeks to complete the global domination and destruction of the town centre.

In Amersham on the Hill?
Opening in 2 weeks?
How come there haven't been any planning applications listed for it?

[struthie]

Someone told me yesterday that Tescos have bought choices and that its closing in 2 weeks although she didn't know what it is re-opeing as.

[Fran]

Someone told me yesterday that Tescos have bought choices and that its closing in 2 weeks although she didn't know what it is re-opeing as.

Aha - closing in 2 weeks sounds more plausible.

[roob_the_doob]

Aha - closing in 2 weeks sounds more plausible.

The signs in the window saying "closing down sale" would seem to confirm this part of the story.

[Fran]

Fact the above will be there within 2 weeks to complete the global domination and destruction of the town centre.

For all that I am not a fan of Tesco, and don't see the need for Tesco Metro on the hill, I don't really see why having one would destroy the town centre (though it would clearly be a problem for Londis next door) - or am I missing something? If anything, having too many estate agents is possibly worse.

[roob_the_doob]

For all that I am not a fan of Tesco, and don't see the need for Tesco Metro on the hill, I don't really see why having one would destroy the town centre (though it would clearly be a problem for Londis next door) - or am I missing something? If anything, having too many estate agents is possibly worse.

Off the top of my head, here are some problems with having a Tesco in that location:

Customer parking
Deliveries
Growing Tesco monopoly in the locality (including OneStop, there are 2 other stores within a mile or so, plus another in Little Chalfont)

In particular, being so close to the roundabout junction, I can't see how deliveries could be done without causing major traffic disruption and/or safety hazards.

[David P]

Off the top of my head, here are some problems with having a Tesco in that location:

Customer parking - that's what people have legs for!
Deliveries - I've never noticed any problem with Londis, which is a comparable sized shop
Growing Tesco monopoly in the locality (including OneStop, there are 2 other stores within a mile or so, plus another in Little Chalfont) - it is a successful business that is well supported by its customers. If you don't like it, vote with your feet.

In particular, being so close to the roundabout junction, I can't see how deliveries could be done without causing major traffic disruption and/or safety hazards. - see above.

Several contributors to this forum have bemoaned the closure of Budgens, noting that there is nowhere for people without transport in AotH to buy toilet rolls and soap powder. Now that an obvious replacement is opening we get comments like 'I see no need for it'.

[Matthew (MPJ/Admin)]

Several contributors to this forum have bemoaned the closure of Budgens, noting that there is nowhere for people without transport in AotH to buy toilet rolls and soap powder. Now that an obvious replacement is opening we get comments like 'I see no need for it'.

I think it good for AotH. My only concern is the location, not from any logistic reason, just because it is too close to Londis, it would be better (for me!) if it was more central. On the other hand, it will make the area around the station livelier

[barbara]

Several contributors to this forum have bemoaned the closure of Budgens, noting that there is nowhere for people without transport in AotH to buy toilet rolls and soap powder. Now that an obvious replacement is opening we get comments like 'I see no need for it'.

Hear hear David P. My thoughts entirely. It is Ok for peple with cars to get to the old town,and perhaps walk if you are young. But please remember those of us not able to get further afield through lack of transport,and age.I miss Budgeons,and to have more choice on the Hill will be great.

[roob_the_doob]

It is Ok for peple with cars to get to the old town,and perhaps walk if you are young. But please remember those of us not able to get further afield through lack of transport,and age.I miss Budgeons,and to have more choice on the Hill will be great.

This rather presumes that, long term, the presence of a Tescos will improve choice. Experience across the country is that the opposite is the case.

Budgens certainly filled a niche, and its loss may have meant that there are a handful of products which are harder to get from AotH shops (what are these products, by the way?), but is a Tesco really the solution?

[David P]

This rather presumes that, long term, the presence of a Tescos will improve choice. Experience across the country is that the opposite is the case.

Budgens certainly filled a niche, and its loss may have meant that there are a handful of products which are harder to get from AotH shops (what are these products, by the way?), but is a Tesco really the solution?

It's got nothing to do with choice. The point is that, now that Budgen has closed, there is nowhere to get many day to day necessities in AotH. Eg. soap powder, loo roll, reasonably priced groceries. M&S won't be selling these. Londis may do but I'm pretty sure Tesco will have a bigger, better selection.

[struthie]

Does anyone actually know if its true that Tescos have taken over the site,have they applied for any sort of planning permission?

[bluesbrothers]

Tesco bought the lease some time ago. They do not need to apply for planning permission as it is the same class of retail use under planning law. Planning law does not, of course, consider the effect on other shopkeepers. That is a moral decision for the aspiring retailer who, in this case, has no morals: only greed for further wealth. Planning law does not also include "need" which is estimated and, to an extent, created by the new retailer.

I've known, on a casual basis, the owner of the Londis franchise for over 30 years - which is how long he has been trading in Amersham! He has recently made a substantial investment in the shop which involved putting his house on the line. That is a normal business risk but, when the big supermarkets enter the scene, the old rules go out the window. Look at C......n cards approach to competition - goodbye to the retailer who risked all to be first - they will get squeezed out by a purposeful loss making newcomer. Goodbye, Cardella; the only card shop I liked.

The likes of a Londis franchise will always be a little more expensive than the bigger chains and, unfortunately unlike the specialist shops, they cannot even compete on organic, local etc very effectively. So they will get eaten up by the bigger boys because we all want "convenience", "reasonable" prices - we want it cheap, here and now. So we get Tesco - everywhere. Market forces.

If you want to change that pattern, you will have to make a sacrifice or three and I really do not think that most people wish to do that. There is very little to be gained by bemoaning the rise of the megastore as it is only a logical progression from mega populations of mega greedy and lazy humans! So long as we look at the surface phenomens and ignore the fundamental causes, the process will continue until it reaches a very substantial adverse reaction.

Meanwhile, please don't be surprised by a bland same-as-everywhere-else AoTH - it's what we get for cheaper loo rolls and loyalty points.

[Alan]

Sadly we only have ourselves to blame, from my point of view it is economics 3 teenagers in education, but not poor enough for help, bottom of the middle class group!!!!!!!!!! No help, just where some slightly lower get help and are better off. Ouch.
It still isn't right.

[Fran]

They do not need to apply for planning permission as it is the same class of retail use under planning law.

Are food outlets in the same retail class as video shops? Maybe, but that doesn't mean there won't be any planning issues. M&S has submitted several planning applications for the former Budgen site and that's one supermarket switching to another, although I seem to recall that most, if not all, related to signage. For a video shop becoming a supermarket there could be similar signage issues, but they may also want a licence to sell alcohol (I realise that is separate from planning permission) and drop kerbs etc.

I've known, on a casual basis, the owner of the Londis franchise for over 30 years - which is how long he has been trading in Amersham! He has recently made a substantial investment in the shop.

As for Londis versus Tesco, my only hope is that with them being absolutely next door, they will be equally convenient (or inconvenient) location-wise and that at least a few customers will stay loyal to a longstanding local business (a franchise is a very different thing from a conglomerate - as you say, they put their own money in). However, that may be easier for those of us who only do top up shopping there (where small price differences may matter less) than for those who do a whole weekly shop.

[David P]

That is a moral decision for the aspiring retailer who, in this case, has no morals: only greed for further wealth.

Success = immoral ????

Look at C......n cards approach to competition - goodbye to the retailer who risked all to be first - they will get squeezed out by a purposeful loss making newcomer. Goodbye, Cardella; the only card shop I liked.

I think it was Clock Cards who were first - the only one that's not full of sentimental tat, and still there.

[bluesbrothers]

Success = immoral ????

Depends on your vision of success. As for morals, my view is that businesses of that size have little or no regard for the welfare of others. Do as you would be done by is applied as do it first before someone else does it to you. Rather a warped version of the concepts of empathy and compasson. Tesco are, of course, hardly alone in this but also fully guilty of it. Power and wealth allow the grace of better values - which in turn generate respect and loyalty from understanding of aim. Abusing that power and wealth, as business does so expertly, creates resentment and envy etc.

I make these comments as a dyed-in-wool entrepreneur not a slothful dreamer. So I see a little tesco in me too! It is easy to make money by neglecting all feelings for others; considerably more difficult to achieve with any degree of "morality" - a little thought for what your actions reap. So, success, certainly, if you deem that to be purely getting to the top of the material pile.

There is absolutely nothing immoral in success, David, and maybe some excuse for "the end justifies the means" but what end? That may, in this case, be rather a hollow success.

I think it was Clock Cards who were first - the only one that's not full of sentimental tat, and still there.

I'm happy to bow to your memory on that - but their belgium chocs were welcomed rather than their cards - I tend to make my own anyway where time allows!

[a t o m i c]

As for Londis versus Tesco, my only hope is that with them being absolutely next door, they will be equally convenient (or inconvenient) location-wise and that at least a few customers will stay loyal to a longstanding local business (a franchise is a very different thing from a conglomerate - as you say, they put their own money in). However, that may be easier for those of us who only do top up shopping there (where small price differences may matter less) than for those who do a whole weekly shop.

I'm stunned that anyone would prefer a Londis to a Tesco Metro. When Tesco destroyed all of our lovely local grocers (Harts, Europa) in central London it was real shame, but LONDIS?

[Alan]

I'm stunned that anyone would prefer a Londis to a Tesco Metro. When Tescor destroyed all of our lovely local grocers (Harts, Europa) in central London it was real shame, but LONDIS?

I agree with you on that one, although it is a worry that there seems to be nothing to compete with Tesco's.

[Fran]

I'm stunned that anyone would prefer a Londis to a Tesco Metro. When Tescor destroyed all of our lovely local grocers (Harts, Europa) in central London it was real shame, but LONDIS?

I agree with you on that one, although it is a worry that there seems to be nothing to compete with Tesco's.

Well you guys can't have it both ways. If you don't like the domination of Tesco, you need to support the competition; if you prefer Tesco, fair enough, but you have to accept that it drives out the alternatives.

As for Londis, it's hard to generalise. Because each one is a franchise owned by different people, some of them are very good and some less so. I wouldn't ever do a weekly shop at Londis (or a Tesco Metro, for that matter), but for mid week topping up, I'd rather go to Amersham Londis than a Tesco Metro.

[Alan]

Well you guys can't have it both ways. If you don't like the domination of Tesco, you need to support the competition; if you prefer Tesco, fair enough, but you have to accept that it drives out the alternatives.

As for Londis, it's hard to generalise. Because each one is a franchise owned by different people, some of them are very good and some less so. I wouldn't ever do a weekly shop at Londis (or a Tesco Metro, for that matter), but for mid week topping up, I'd rather go to Amersham Londis than a Tesco Metro.

Thats the choice we make and I have to. I think Atomic & my self were choosing between Londis & Tescos, not the wish to have an other Tesco, I wish Budgens was still there as I did use it for some things, now the wife will want to blow good money in M&S for something any one can do themselves, but for the convenience.

[a t o m i c]

Well you guys can't have it both ways. If you don't like the domination of Tesco, you need to support the competition; if you prefer Tesco, fair enough, but you have to accept that it drives out the alternatives.

As for Londis, it's hard to generalise. Because each one is a franchise owned by different people, some of them are very good and some less so. I wouldn't ever do a weekly shop at Londis (or a Tesco Metro, for that matter), but for mid week topping up, I'd rather go to Amersham Londis than a Tesco Metro.

I prefer Tesco to LONDIS, but it's Hobson's choice as far as I'm concerned. Tesco are a very intelligently run organisation, and they've shown time and time again that they know how to identify and exploit a good retail site - I think Choices is just that - Tesco Metro will be the first shop you see on leaving the train station, and the last you see on the way to work/school. The passing trade alone should be excellent.

[Eaton]

I may be wrong, but I thought that Tesco, Sainsbury's etc were not allowed to open a store within 1 mile of another of their stores. If this is the case, then I think that they are just about outside that mile.

Personally I would use it for those forgotten items, however how convenient will it be? We all know how dreadful the parking at Tesco's in Old Amersham is, but how will they cope with people wanting to park outside the new smaller store?

[Fran]

I may be wrong, but I thought that Tesco, Sainsbury's etc were not allowed to open a store within 1 mile of another of their stores.

I don't think planning law, or even guidelines, are that simplistic. And in central London I'm sure there must be stores closer together than that. Nevertheless, I imagine that in general it wouldn't be in the stores' own interests to have two branches competing with each other so close together (unless they get really Machiavellian and buy up small rivals, run them as their own for a bit and then close them down)

[struthie]

I was told by a customer at work last night that the owner of Londis is pulling out.

She knows him and said he is going in a couple of weeks.

Not sure how true it is.

[Fran]

I was told by a customer at work last night that the owner of Londis is pulling out.

They've only just finished a big refurb!

[struthie]

I know thats why I wasn't sure if I believed it or not.

[gazza13]

I wouldn't blame him tohugh, you just couldn't compete. Tesco Metro will just price him out of town. They did a similar thing when they started the big store. They bought the local pharmacist out, put him in their store as their pharmacist and then he eventually disappeared. Not sure if that was his choice or not.

[Fran]

They bought the local pharmacist out, put him in their store as their pharmacist and then he eventually disappeared.

Tesco don't always win on that front. Many years ago, they built a big new store in Hemel, complete with pharmacy, but they couldn't get a licence/permit/whatever because the local council wanted to protect local chemists. They still had the pharmacy counter, but couldn't issue prescriptions. That was true for many years (and may still be).