Local Lib Dem MP, Norman Baker, has slammed Tesco's bid to expand their Lewes outlet by a third and has given his backing to local traders who have vowed to campaign to stop the planned expansion.
Local traders fear that the expansion of the local branch of the supermarket giant will mean an increased stock of cut-price, non-food items which will undercut the town's smaller, independent retailers. Lewes traders also fear that Tesco's free car park will pull customers away from the town's main shopping area.
Tesco in Lewes has proposed to increase its premises by 1,614 square metres from its current size of 4,903 sq metres.
Commenting on the planning application, Norman Baker said:
"An expanded Tesco store is certainly not what Lewes needs or wants. The Lewes branch is quite large enough as it is but the company nevertheless appears to be dead set on an expansion proposal which will squeeze the life out of the town's small traders. We are very lucky in Lewes to have an abundance of small independent retailers who are vital to the character of the town. This proposed development now threatens that.
"For all their politically correct talk, Tesco is just an ungainly, monopolistic company with a lazy environmental record and a lack of community spirit. They give nothing towards the town's Christmas lights and even forbade the local scouts from using a power-point for a charitable fund-raising activity on the river bank as well as attempting to stop a breast cancer screening van from using their car park. Now they are doing their best to put local traders out of business. They have shown little sensitivity to the situation in the town and this is why I will be giving my very strong backing to Lewes's Chamber of Commerce in their campaign to stop the proposed expansion. I ask the District Council to reject this application."
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Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
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