Campaigners say town centre has ‘vital role’

A CAMPAIGN group that opposes a proposal for an edge of town supermarket in Thame, now has over 1,000 signatures to its on-line petition of support for its cause, and has been analysing where that support is coming from.

Chris Wren (right) in his butcher’s shop in Buttermarket, Thame

Thame Centre First states that it is opposing an out-of-town supermarket development to keep shops together at the heart of Thame, and that it has evidence to show the valuable role Thame town centre plays as a retail hub, not only for residents of Thame but for the surrounding community in a 10 mile radius.

The group has analysed responses to the petition that has been running at various shops around the town in recent weeks, and now states: “Well over 1000 people have now signed the petitions which oppose the proposed Tesco development on the DAF site at Howland Road. Of these, 58% of respondents were from Thame town, while 42% were from other locations. These included villages such as Haddenham, Chinnor, Chearsley, Shabbington, Ickford, Cuddington and Tetsworth, and shows how vital a role the centre of Thame plays for shopping and other services in the local area.

Independent butchers have their say

“The success of the town centre as a retail centre is exemplified by the fact that it supports two independent butchers, Newitt’s and Wren’s,” continued TCF. Tom Newitt, MD of Newitt’s, said: “Our family business has been trading on our present site for 50 years and we are here for the long term. We live and work in Thame and provide employment in the town. We want to be around for the next 50 years and not considering shutting up shop because of reduced footfall and vanishing customers.

“We urge all our customers to support Thame Centre First.” Christopher Wren, MD of Wren’s, in the Buttermarket, said: “We’ve been butchers for over 40 years in Thame, 20 of these on our present site. I believe independent shops like ours are vitally important as we offer outstanding customer service and best quality meat at value-for-money prices. The disastrous effect on town centres is evident from other places where supermarkets have opened on the edge of town, leading to loss of business and shop closures.”

RETAIL IMPACT

Thame Centre First has commissioned a retail impact study from Strutt & Parker, the leading property consultants and have reported that the initial findings of this study show that: “…the proposed Tesco store will lead to a diversion of trade away from Thame town centre.”

Thame Centre First added: “The initial assessment carried out by experts we have instructed indicates that Tesco has understated the negative impact on the successful retail units in the town centre, which will over time lead to a reduction in choice for shoppers. The proposed Tesco store is inconsistent with the adopted planning policy set out in the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy and the Thame Neighbourhood Plan, which set out limited requirements for additional convenience shopping and nothing on the scale proposed by Tesco.”
For more information on Thame Centre First, visit http://www.thamecentrefirst.org/ or email info@thamecentrefirst.co.uk.

To sign the petition opposing the Tesco development, visit shops including Newitt’s, Wren’s, Glynswood, Robert Stanley, Planet Health, The Book House and others in Thame. Alternatively sign the petition online at www.thamecentrefirst.org.

To object to the proposed Tesco development, go to:

http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/services-and-advice/planning-and-building/find-application/comment-planning-application. The reference is P15/S1637/O.

For information about the group SUPPORTING the Tesco proposal, go to: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Say-Yes-to-an-out-of-town-Tesco-store-In-Thame/371463593034373 To read about the Campaign statement by Thame Tesco supporters, go to LINK https://www.thame.net/archives/20947