The Tesco backlash

Unease is surfacing about Tesco's planned move into West Hampstead. It's taking over the premises of the Woods & Woods furniture shop on West End Lane.

 

Tesco will open here in the summer

 

Two groups have been started on Facebook to oppose the move. (If you're a Facebook member, you can find them here and here.) And there's a bit of a discussion taking place on Cityneighbours.

Over on the new blog about West Hampstead, Alisa says:

"We do not need another convenience store and we have long liked the fact that we were not another high street. Our shops (if not our coffee ones) are unique and local to our area and what makes West Hampstead what it is. Realistically there will not be enough custom for those shops and the lower prices of a new multi store chain."

This negative sentiment is not shared by all, however. One of the contributors to Cityneighbours says:

"There are too many independent food stores selling rubbish on WEL (West End Lane), so maybe Tesco would keep them honest."

And comments left on this site were enthusiastic - including this one from Grumpyboots:

"At last we will have something other than crappy corner shops and rip-off organic shops."

It's not entirely clear at whom campaigns trying to stop Tesco's arrival are directed. Since Tesco doesn't need planning permission to take over existing retail premises, there's no particular role for the council to reject or approve Tesco's move into the area. Nonetheless, the development could add an interesting dimension to the Fortune Green by-election campaign.