Impact of new Thame supermarket to be studied

FOLLOWING representation from a group against a proposed superstore on the edge of Thame, Thame Town Council has voted to support an independent study of the impact of a supermarket on the viability of the town’s High Street.

Thame Town Hall – Image Courtesy of Mark Percy

Clare Nickless, speaking on behalf of the recently formed ‘Thame Centre First‘ group and Thame4Business, told a meeting of the full council last night (24/02), that the independent retailers in the town were ‘overwhelmingly against’ the proposed large supermarket on the DAF site, fearing that it would have a major impact on the vitality and viability of Thame Town Centre. Both the Thame Centre First Group and Thame4Busniness had carried out informal surveys among the independent retailers, she said, and read out some of statements that they had made in response to survey questions about how they thought an edge of town, superstore would affect their business:

“…..detrimental impact on the town and would cream off our trade”; “We would seriously look to relocate”; “I will have to close”; “Proposed site to far from town centre to keep shoppers in Thame”; “A negative impact onThame, I have seen it in Buckingham where small business suffered due to a Tesco opening”; “It will destroy the sense of community”; “An out of Town store would kill off the Co-Op and negatively effect business in the town”; “Thame would die, look at Abingdon, Princes Risborough and Gt Missenden”

“There is already uncertainty in the High Street, with some shopkeepers wondering whether they should be renewing their rental agreements,” Clare told councillors, “They need our support.”

She continued: “Can we work together to produce a Thame-lead, independent assessment; one set of data to support the Neighbourhood Plan, to support and endorse Town and District planning policy, and to use for the whole of the High Street going forward?”

Cllr Don Butler congratulated Clare Nickless on the work her organisations were doing and her presentation, adding: “Great job! Keep up the pressure!”

THE THAME NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

Clare reminded councillors what the Neighbourhood Plan states: “A large superstore on the edge of Thame would undermine the town’s vitality and the viability of town centre shops. This would be detrimental to the overall sustainability of the town and would reduce the accessibility and choice of services and facilities available to the community.”

And the SODC Local Plan 2031 refined options – “..a town centre first approach, directing new supermarkets and other shops to town centres rather than out of town sites, is government policy and is important to help retain the vitality and viability of the town centres.”

‘TIPPING POINT’

The Town Clerk, Helen Stewart, said that the subject of carrying out such a study came from discussions with the council’s Neighbourhood Plan group, with regard, not only to Tesco, but from worries about when would be the ‘tipping point’ that another supermarket would be needed, and to look at all suitable sites. Other studies may need to be carried out, including one on parking, she added. In answer to a question about time scales from Cllr David Laver, the Clerk said that there had been pre-application discussions between Tesco and SODC, but that because of personel changes at Tesco there was some uncertainty over when and if an application would go forward. “A decision would be unlikely before the election,” she added.

It was pointed out during the discussion that followed that if it were to submit a planning application for a supermarket, Tesco would be likely to submit its own version of a Town Centre Impact Assessment to the planning authority, who would then ‘test’ it. “Tesco’s version will say what Tesco wants it to say,” said Cllr Mike Dyer. “Our’s needs to be an independent study,” added Cllr Champken Woods, so that we can make an informed decision.”

Cllr Vaughan Humphries said: “It is the integrity of our Neighbourhood Plan that is at stake here.” Cllr Helena Fickling said: “This is not just about a supermarket. We should have an idea about what retail we need and have a strategy so that we can be pro-active in supporting the town centre.”

The council voted unanimously in favour of an independent study ‘of the impact of a supermarket development’ on the town centre, to be carried out.