According to recent research central Southern

England, including Hampshire, is now the third most likely area for

local government to approve plans for a new “Big Four” store.

Asda, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Morrisons, the 'Big Four', have

been given planning and advertising permission fifty three times here in the

last two years.  Local councils have been

approving planning applications at a great rate and even include a Tesco going

up inside a Methodist church in Bournemouth and two approved

applications where the supermarket chain was unknown!

According to this BBC report, Tony Kippenberger has been battling

against a new Sainsbury’s being built in Bishops Waltham, near Fareham.  He states, “We are a market town of 6,000

residents with 33 supermarkets within 10 miles, 9 of which are Sainsbury's.  It will kill our high street, the likes of

the butcher, fishmonger and baker”  

Then of course there’s the waterlogged building site in the

centre of town that one day aspires to be a Tesco.  Planning permission was agreed, work

commenced and then some bright spark noticed that something on the site’s land

had to be moved in order to continue building. 

That something was a substation belonging to Scottish and Southern

Energy – plans to continue the building have now been postponed until an

agreement can be reached between the two companies.

I know it’s potentially controversial but I want that Tesco built.  When you’re a cyclist it gets tiring dicing

with death on that Broadcut roundabout – to get to the nearest supermarket.  To have one within walking distance would be

great! 

Will it kill the high street?  I’ve no real idea what that means any more. Fareham

high street seems to be thriving.  The “traditional”

vendors of food that have managed to survive the out of town supermarkets, such

as Cripps the fishmongers and Soothills bakery, are doing a roaring trade

because they’re great local businesses who have worked damn hard to maintain

their reputation.