Herne getting famous for beating Tesco

The sleepy village that  triumphed over Tesco as people power forces chain to abandon pub conversion

The charming village of Herne seems an unlikely spot for an awesome display of people power. But the extraordinary resolve of its residents has just seen off the might of Tesco. Villagers won a David and Goliath battle with the store chain over what they saw as a threat to their way of life.

Heart of the village: The pub, with church next door, that Tesco aimed to convert

At the centre of the struggle was the Upper Red Lion, a recently closed pub next door to the handsome 14th century church of St Martin. Tesco wanted to turn it into a store – and the villagers were appalled. For one thing, it would have ruined the view at weddings. For another, it would spell doom for their Village Stores, Herne’s only shop, which is on the other side of the pub and has been keeping the community on the Kent coast in bread, milk and newspapers for more than a century.

Soon after word of the proposal for the Tesco Express leaked out, an emergency meeting was called by the parish council at the community hall in January. More than 500 turned up – too many to fit in the hall so the meeting had to be moved to the church.

Fightback: The campaign leaders. Villagers vowed to fight the plans and formed a campaign group

The parish council vowed to fight the plans and campaign group Herne Against Tesco – HAT – was created. When rumours spread that Tesco was thinking of extending the pub at the rear, residents put a spanner in the works by getting the pub listed. Then there was a protest when, despite a downpour, 700 men, women and children marched through the village on March 4.

Five days later, Tesco, which had not even got as far as putting in a planning application, abandoned the scheme. St Martin’s celebrated by ringing its bells. Vicar Elaine Richardson had feared the church would miss out on the 130 weddings, christenings and funerals it conducts a year if the store opened.

Tesco signs on the store would also ruin wedding pictures and the atmosphere. Reverend Richardson said:

‘There’s something about the big boys just thinking they can push their way into the High Street or a village like ours. It’s awful.’

Thiruvalluvar Kumanan, 45, who runs the Village Stores, which includes post office, said:

‘If it was something the village needed, then fine. But we felt they were just trying to bully their way in.’

Chairman of the HAT campaign Frank Holden, 55, said:

‘We were preparing for a long fight. It’s a victory for the small people.’

Tesco picked Herne – which is distinct from the nearby town of Herne Bay – as potential site after analysing data from its Clubcard scheme and consulting residents. Pubs are attractive because they are already licensed to sell food and alcohol so do not require an application for a change of use.

Tesco said it felt there was ‘a demand for a shopping choice in Herne’ but added that ‘highway constraints’ meant it would not pursue the pub conversion.

mailonline 24th Mar 2012

Red Lion villagers declare war on Tesco

Campaigners have fired the opening shots in their fight to keep Tesco from taking over a former village pub. Protestors have set up Facebook pages and a website, nototesco.org, after almost 1,000 people packed a public meeting to discuss the controversial plans for the empty Upper Red Lion pub in Herne.

Villagers braved rain and freezing winds and kept coming even after the community centre filled, forcing the meeting to move to St Martin's church. The panel of parish, city and county councillors found themselves facing a row of packed pews. Conservative MP Roger Gale said:

"There is clearly a one-sided view here, but what we do has to be done within the law. We can make sure proper account is taken of the conservation area and the considerable highways issues."

The meeting was organised after Tesco announced that it had taken out a lease on the empty pub next to the church and would be opening a Tesco Express store on the site. During the meeting suggestions about the nature opposition to the application could take came thick and fast. The supermarket chain does not need official permission to change the use of the former pub, but bosses have applied to make changes to the rear of the building. Kent County Councillor Alan Marsh said:

"I want to give you an edge. Tesco says it has put a planning application in at the rear of the property. That is its Achilles heel. If it fails to get that it may make it commercially unviable. The war starts now."

Speaking from the crowd, former policeman Nick Biddiss said:

"This is a wonderful show of solidarity; I hope the councillors take note, go away and deliver."

In response to calls for the next parish council meeting to be held in the church, chairman Tony Day suggested the church might be already booked – but vicar the Reverend Elaine Richardson said they would be welcome. Life-long Herne resident and fine arts consultant Tina Rackham said:

"There has been a lot of concern that the community centre is too small and now we have seen that is the case. The Red Lion would offer a great community base. It would need to be commercially viable, but the upstairs could have business units and the downstairs be used by both the church and the public for functions. I think it would be feasible for the community to work together with the parish council to take over the Red Lion."

Mr Marsh plans to raise the issue at a meeting of Canterbury City Council's rural area member panel on Monday, January 16 at 7pm at the Guildhall in Westgate.

Tesco did not respond to the Times' request for a comment before we went to press.

thisiskent 13th Jan 2012

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The Tescopoly Alliance was launched in June 2005 to highlight and challenge the negative impacts of Tesco's behaviour along its supply chains both in the UK and internationally, on small businesses, on communities and the environment. The campaign also advocates national and international legislation needed to curb the market power of all the major British supermarkets.

Massive anti-Tesco protest rally at Herne

Villagers turn out in force to fight Tesco

Tesco was set to hold talks with councillors today (12th Jan) after 500 people piled into a village church to oppose a new store in Herne. There were incredible scenes as hundreds turned out to vent their anger at the supermarket giant’s plans to move into the Upper Red Lion pub. The public meeting attracted so many people it had to be moved at the last minute from the village hall to St Martin’s Church. Defiant parish council chairman Tony Day, who will meet with Tesco today, said:

“There will be no negotiation. It will be Tesco out of Herne and nothing but.”

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If you would like to join the campaign send your contact details to

tonyday@nototesco.org

Visit the campaign website:

www.nototesco.org

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A fiery public meeting over plans for a Tesco store in Herne attracted so many people it had to be moved to the village church. Almost 500 villagers attempted to cram themselves into Herne community hall to voice fears about a proposed Express store at the Upper Red Lion pub. More than 100 were left stranded outside before local vicar Elaine Richardson saved the day by offering St Martin’s Church as an alternative venue.

Traffic was brought to a stand-still as the crowds marched to the historic building and queued outside for a chance to have their say on the controversial plans. The meeting last Wednesday was organised by the parish council and led by chairman Tony Day. He opened by saying:

"I’ve been taken absolutely by surprise by the number of people who have turned up. We organised this meeting because we need to be informed of the feeling within the village about this proposal, and I don’t think we're in much doubt now.”

Just one person admitted to being in favour of the Tesco plans as a panel of councillors and Bay MP Sir Roger Gale outlined their concerns. Sir Roger said:

“Planning consent for change of use is not necessary as it’s already a retail premises, so we are restricted in what we can and can’t do. I’m not knocking the strength of feeling within the village, but the county council and city council have to act within planning law as it is, and not as we would like it to be. What we can do is make sure proper account is taken of the fact this is a conservation area, is on a very dangerous bend and there are serious highway issues in what is proposed.”

County councillor for Herne Alan Marsh added:

“I don’t think Tesco will start work on this building without the planning permission for the back of the property. If they don’t get it does it make their commercial ambitions unworkable or financially unviable. There’s also a moral issue about whether you can have a Tesco next door to a church.

When the pub was built it was part of the church’s identity. I don’t think Tesco would fulfil that same role. I can’t see for the life of me how they'll get round the highway issues. For eight years I’ve been racking my brains and trying to solve the problem of people coming down School Lane and wanting to turn right. The roundabout is too small and the road is too narrow. But nowhere in the Tesco letter does it say anything about congestion or parking.”

Herne city councillor Peter Vickery-Jones said:

“I didn’t expect so many people. It sends out a very strong message and will frighten the life out of Tesco. It may not stop them, but it will make them think. You have to ask yourself why they're not here tonight. They’re a corporate body and they think they’re too big to worry about us. But we need to say to them this is not for us, now go away.”

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Voices from the meeting

Dozens of locals expressed their fears about the plans after the meeting was opened up to the floor. Phil Eichorn, who lives in Herne Street, suggested protesting outside the pub with placards, adding:

“Tesco is a big organisation and they're counting on our apathy. When they see we don't want a shop there they'll think twice about it."

Wendy Dinley, of Greenhill Road, added:

“I've got a daughter getting married at the church next year and she doesn't want to get married on a Tesco forecourt."

Concerns were also raised about traffic problems already at the site and the dangers of increased congestion. Aaron Bishop said:

"We've got an infant school and a junior school in Herne and Tesco may be deemed an allurement to pupils. If they run across a busy road how many fatal accidents are there going to be?"

Retired police detective Nick Biddiss, who lives in the village, said:

"I really think this has been a wonderful night and a marvellous show of solidarity, so you councillors need to take it away and deliver."

Parish council chairman Tony Day has started a “Say No to Tesco" campaign. He is urging people to write to Tesco with their views, either to:

Tesco Stores Ltd, Corporate and Legal Affairs, New Tesco House, Delamare Road, Cheshunt, Herts, EN8 9SL or by emailing carol.leslie@uk.tesco.com

If you would like to join the campaign send your contact details to tonyday@nototesco.org

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Petition attracts almost 1,000 signatures

A petition against the plans has already attracted almost 1,000 signatures at Herne Village Stores next door. Owners Thiruvalluvar and Priya Kumanan fear they will have to shut if the proposal gets the go ahead. Mrs Kumanan said:

“If it happens it will be the end of us. You’ve only got to look at what effect they’ve had on smaller businesses elsewhere. gets the go ahead. If it happens it will be the end of us. But the support we’ve had has been wonderful. It’s amazing how many people have signed the petition and we’ve had so many since the public meeting that we actually ran out of pages.”

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Vicar criticises Tesco's "arrogance"

Herne vicar Elaine Richardson described the turnout as “absolutely fantastic" after the last-minute venue change. Recalling the start of the night. she said:

"When I arrived at the community hall there were hordes of people outside. I could see lines of heads inside the window. They were like sardines. I thought the best thing was to offer to hold the meeting in the church. We had about 530 for the nativity on Christmas Eve and it was more packed then, so I would say there were about 500 for the meeting. It showed the passion people have for the village."

Mrs Richardson echoed the views of those who turned up. Hitting out at Tesco's "big boy" mentality She said:

"I think there's a blatant arrogance about setting up next door to a family business There's something about the big boys just thinking they can push their way into the High Street or a village like ours. It's awful."

More than 130 baptisms, weddings and funerals are held at the church every year, but Mrs Richardson says this could be affected. She said:

“We're very worried about parking. As a church it's not only weddings and funerals we have to worry about. Just maintaining an ancient building for present and future generations requires almost constant building work. I've been told we're going to lose out on weddings, but I'm not sure if that's going to be the case yet"

Mrs Richardson had explored the option of converting the pub into a vicarage with community uses, but it was ruled out by the local diocese. She said:

“We really wanted to do that because we're strapped for space. To have the facility there would have been fantast c, but the diocese said it wasn't suitable because of privacy issues, but no doubt money came into it as well."

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Other villages had fears but are happy now

A committee to fight Tesco's plans was set up at a meeting on Tuesday, and talks were set to be held today with the company's corporate affairs manager.

City and parish councillors will meet with Carol Leslie, of Tesco, to discuss the plans. Parish council chairman Tony Day said:

"There will be no negotiation. It will be Tesco out of Herne and nothing but."

Ms Leslie says Tesco is currently putting together a scheme for the Express store. She said:

“Once this has been completed we said we will meet with the parish council to discuss this scheme and any concerns they have. We are aware there are people in Herne who have concerns about our scheme but there are also people who are in support of the idea. We have many Express stores in villages and many where people initially had exactly the same concerns but are now a popular and welcome addition to village life."

[sounds a bit like Invasion of the Bodysnatchers?]

HB Times 12th Jan 2012

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The Tescopoly Alliance was launched in June 2005 to highlight and challenge the negative impacts of Tesco's behaviour along its supply chains both in the UK and internationally, on small businesses, on communities and the environment. The campaign also advocates national and international legislation needed to curb the market power of all the major British supermarkets.

Parish councillors hope to derail Tesco Express

Village councillors have vowed to fight plans to build a Tesco in Herne "every step of the way". They were unanimously defiant this week against speculation of the supermarket giant taking over the empty Upper Red Lion pub.

Tesco is believed to be in talks with brewery Punch Taverns to turn it into an Express store, but the idea was given short shrift at a parish council meeting on Thursday. Cllr John Nicholson said:

"I would fight it every step of the way. I feel very annoyed at the prospect of a supermarket there as there are already plenty in Herne Bay. This is a village and we want to keep it a village."

Cllr Jennifer Taylor fumed:

"It's an historic village and that site is right in the centre, next door to an historic church. I'd be the first one down there with my placard if it happened."

Cllr Ian Sargeant added:

"My grandad had that as a pub and it should remain a pub or a restaurant."

Tesco has so far remained tight-lipped about the possibility of coming to Herne, but a number of sources claim there has been interest. Cllr John Moore said:

"Somebody who works for one of the utilities says they've worked on plans for the possibility of a supermarket on that site. I thought no, this can't be serious. Obviously there's loads of speculation, but nobody's admitting anything."

It's thought traffic issues surrounding the site will be a stumbling block to any possible move for Tesco. Cllr Andrew Brealy said:

"The highways issue will knock any application like this on the head immediately."

The Gazette revealed earlier this month that St Martin's Church vicar Rev Elaine Richardson had looked at the possibility of turning the pub into a vicarage but rejected it. Cllr Robert Jones said:

"It would have been great if it was used as a vicarage, keeping parking for the village. Let's put pressure on her [Rev Richardson] boss to reconsider it. It would be the perfect answer."

HB Gazette 20th Oct 2011 joewalker@thekmqroup.co.uk

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The Tescopoly Alliance was launched in June 2005 to highlight and challenge the negative impacts of Tesco's behaviour along its supply chains both in the UK and internationally, on small businesses, on communities and the environment. The campaign also advocates national and international legislation needed to curb the market power of all the major British supermarkets.

Holy Trinity pipped by Unholy Monopoly?

Herne turns out to be an unsuspected hive of activity. It transpires that the local vicar thought it would be a neat idea to re-establish the centuries old symbiosis between Booze and Pews by nabbing the defunct Red Lion as a vicarage.

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A vicar has revealed she asked her church to purchase a rundown pub and turn it into a new vicarage. The Rev Elaine Richardson tried to persuade the Diocese of Canterbury to buy the empty Upper Red Lion in Herne.

The vicar, who preaches at St Martin's Church next door, says it would have been the perfect spot for a vicarage with rooms for public use. But the Diocese considered the move "uneconomical and unsuitable" - paving the way for Tesco to start talks with brewery Punch Taverns.

The Rev Richardson said:

"It would have been ideal. It's right next door and is perfect for access and parking. It was looked at, but wasn't thought to be suitable. I would have loved to have bought it, but it needs a lot of work doing to it. The diocese didn't like the idea of having a Vicarage where half of the rooms were for public use. I may have put up with it, but I think the diocese didn't think they would find another vicar who would. Obviously, expense was an issue as well. The brewery put it up for sale of offers of more than £250,000, but I think they want a lot more than that. By the time you've bought this, done that, done this, it's not feasible."

Tesco is understood to be negotiating a move to buy the pub and turn it into an Express store, but a sale has yet to be confirmed.

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The Tescopoly Alliance was launched in June 2005 to highlight and challenge the negative impacts of Tesco's behaviour along its supply chains both in the UK and internationally, on small businesses, on communities and the environment. The campaign also advocates national and international legislation needed to curb the market power of all the major British supermarkets.

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