Tesco at Herne: villagers fight, councillor gives in

The Herne villagers fighting Tesco are being stitched up by Cllr Vickery-Jones. The villagers and the parish council are refusing Tesco's "cash contributions", but the councillor is happy to take the money on behalf of CCC, contrary to the wishes of his constituents.

The Council is perfectly well able to make life difficult for people using the planning process, but Cllr Vickery-Jones seems very willing to throw up his hands in surrender when it comes to Tesco. It wouldn't be the "cash contributions", would it?

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Tesco opponents vow to keep up their fight

Herne villagers have vowed to continue fighting plans for a supermarket after bosses said public opinion was no barrier. Campaigners are battling supermarket giant Tesco, which wants to open an Express store on the site of the former Upper Red Lion pub.

The Herne Against Tesco committee vowed it would make a difference after retail bosses said the opposition was no obstacle to their plans. Committee spokeswoman Tina Rackham said:

"There is vehement and reasoned opposition to Tesco's proposal throughout the majority of the village. Communication, and indeed consultation, is a two-way exchange of views and information, not the presentation of a fait accompli, compounded by an apparent total disregard and inaccurate recollection of points discussed with third parties. It is our 'Express' wish that Tesco recognises the unsuitability of the site and moves on. We can and will make a difference."

The statement came as Herne and Broomfield city councillor Peter Vickery-Jones told the Times that, despite the parish council voting to reject any cash contributions from the supermarket as part of its planning application, the city council would be keen to use the money for a training and education project in Herne. He said:

"Councillor Jean Law has helped to set up some very successful training classes for people not in education, employment or training around the town that teach people how to make job applications. I know it won't make me very popular with the parish council but I want it in Herne and Broomfield as I think it would be very helpful. Short of civil disobedience, there's nothing we can do about Tesco coming."

HB Times 3rd Feb 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.