Renfrewshire branch of the Scottish Socialist Party have launched a "spirited" campaign against plans to build a massive new Tesco in Paisley that would see the Town Centre turn to a ghost town.
Two local activists Dougie Canning and Geoff Knowles were joined by National Secretary Pam Currie to brave the elements and march through the town dressed up as ghosts in Paisley Town Centre to highlight the danger of building the new superstore so close to the Town Centre, raising concerns about the impacts on small businesses
One local shopper, Wilma Ashe from the West End of Paisley said
"What about the impacts on small businesses. I get my butcher meat and my fish from the West End. Am I going to see my local shops shut? I want real answers from Tesco and the council. Not vague promises."
This follows closely on the heels of Tesco's local consultation in which concerns were raised by local cyclist and SSP Renfrewshire Secretary Gerry McCartney as to the pedestrian and cycling accessability of the new superstore. The local dad of two said:
"All I asked was how does a person walk or cycle to this new store. They pointed at maps in which pedestrians would have to cross several busy roads. I asked if this was safe and they had no answer. This is completely unacceptable."
Environmental concerns were also raised by the SSP. Local campaigns co-ordinator Jimmy Kerr said:
“The environmental costs of Tesco and other supermarkets are mind-boggling and there is not one area of the business which comes remotely close to being anything like sustainable. Food production alone is responsible for a third of our greenhouse gas emissions and the sole reason for this is the inefficient way that we grow our food. Currently we send it thousands of miles for processing, in which we add all kinds of toxins, then send it on for hundreds more miles for packaging, before throwing tons of it away. Tesco as the largest supermarket, is by definition the biggest culprit. This is before even considering, packaging waste, the car-centric nature of Tesco’s operations and it’s so called “developments” outside the UK”
The Scottish Socialist Party urges the public to look out for the plans in the local press and on websites such as Tescopoly etc and submit letters of objection to The Planning Department of Renfrewshire Council and their councilors, as soon as the plans surface.
for more information on the SSP or on Tesco Plans in Renfrewshire contact:
Jimmy Kerr 07856799449
ssprenfrewshire.wordpress.com
Re: Planned Paisley Tesco development criticised by SSP
Greetings,
In light of your recent "spirited" campaign against Tesco in Paisley we feel the need to speak out. You claim your actions are for the people but what about the people who are left wounded by your actions? Tesco employs a large number of people in the Paisley area and would generate more jobs; something which is needed in these dark times. We agree with your views of the death of the Paisley High Street being completely unacceptable, however, your actions are not without fault.
I personally witnessed one of your campaigners outside of a local Tesco store handing out flyers which read "Stop tesco owning paisley. Resistance Guaranteed." The rather "spirited" campaigner was quickly and quietly asked to leave. After he refused the police were called who turned up a short while after. All this campaigner managed to do was create a rather embarrassing scene for not only himself but your own party.
This same store is also very important in the local community, much-like a newsagents is. There are many elderly and disabled persons who depend on the store and its friendly employees to help them in getting their messages as well as working parents,with their busy lives, who use the store because of its convenience. Are these not the same people you wish to help?
We strongly hope that you reconsider your options, we believe that there alternative methods of breathing new life into the heart of our town.