Machynlleth Tesco
April 7th, 2009
According to Richard Jones of the County Times and his regurgitated Tesco press release masquerading as “news”, 79% of the 600 Machynlleth residents questioned (there are about 2000 people in the area, so someone questioned about 20% of the local population) are in favour of a new Tesco store being opened in Machynlleth.
The article just goes to parrot Tesco’s message; that people currently have to travel a long way to do their weekly shop (18 miles apparently); that it will provide 140 new local jobs; that the new store is “environmental”; that it will play a significant role in the local economy; that they will provide free car parking in the town; and, best of all, that money spent in Tesco will be retained in Machynlleth.
All of these statements deserve to be challenged but don’t hold your breath for any local reporter to do that for you, all they will do is reprint the Tesco press release for Tesco, you are going to have to do your own research and think outside the box a little.
But then again, maybe sometimes the people will get the store they deserve.
http://www.tescopoly.org
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1381639014893922585
http://www.nochoicesnotesco.com/
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http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2009/08/10/tesco-opted/
And if you think there is anything even remotely environmental about Tesco’s greenwash then take a look at this – it ought to be an April fool but it is not, it is the retarded promotion of low energy light bulbs with air miles…
I’ve only just come across your (heavily biased) piece.
Nearly a year after you wrote it.
I have to tell you that most of the Machynlleth residents (and here I speak of people who have lived here all their lives and not people who have recently come here to escape their previous environment), most residents are very much in favour of a Tesco (or any supermarket) coming to Machynlleth. Other people like yourself, who perhaps haven’t experienced the nuisance of having to travel 18 miles to do their shopping, have written in various places about local food retailers losing business if Tesco come here. There are NO local food retailers. There is a Co Op convenience store but it is so badly managed that the word ‘convenience’ doesn’t really apply. And the local Butcher and baker sell such a superior product that supermarkets hold no fear for them. So really the only reason for objection seems to be selfishness or ignorance!
I do not mean to offend but I am somewhat peeved by well meaning commentators who have no idea of the problem objecting to people at last getting a chance of modern amenities that we have been deprived of for so long.
Regards
Idris Jones
Idris Jones
26 Feb 10 at 4:45 pm
Hi Idris, Thanks for your comment, I appreciate it.
My post was a critique of the County Times article where they parrot a Tesco press release and fail to question any of the “facts” in it. Tesco are well known for their propaganda and for distortion and manipulation of the truth, I feel it is the job of newspapers to question the information they are given for printing and if they don’t the very least they can do is call it what it is, advertising, and charge for it.
I have a number of criticisms of the anti-Machynlleth-Tesco campaign myself, however one thing they are not short of is facts.
You say that most residents of Machynlleth are in favour of a Tesco but where is your evidence? Most people I talk to are very much against it, maybe I’m just talking to the wrong people. They do all agree that certain local services are poor and that the Co-Op is poorly run but they do not see the solution as being a massive supermarket.
Where is your evidence that retailers like Wil Lloyd Williams (the butcher) will not suffer as a result of having a Tesco on their doorstep? You say his superior product will see him through, but is this opinion based on any evidence? There is a lot of evidence that where a large supermarket opens the local independent stores tend to suffer greatly.
As for the baker’s superior product… I must be thinking of a different baker to you.
Incidentally I am pretty sure Wil the butcher is himself not in favour of a Tesco in Machynlleth. Have a watch of this (heavily biased?) report:
Also, are you sure you wish to say that all of the opinions all people who move into any community where they were not born are not relevant to the indigenous community? If this were true then you would agree, I’m sure, that people from Wales who move to London should not be allowed to vote for London Mayor? Because when put it like that it sounds like racism to me.
Surly the strength of the collective knowledge of a community is in its diversity? The more diverse our backgrounds and experiences the more informed our collective decisions can be. Those people who you feel are in Machynlleth escape their previous environment may have some relevant experience to share with those who have lived in Machynlleth all their lives.
Where do you draw this “locals” line, anyway? I have lived in Machynlleth for one-third of my life, longer than anywhere else I have lived. I consider it home even though I don’t live there right now.
Where I do live right now is San Francisco. Here, unlike just about every other part of the USA I have been to, local planing and zoning laws keep out the big retailers. Also the diversity of cultures here is vast. The result is an extraordinary diversity of small shops and local amenities.
I’ll leave you with a quote I feel is very relevant; “Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it”. The lessons from the history of big supermarket chains moving into small tows, and specifically the lies manipulations of Tesco, are there to be learned if you would only look them up.
Jon
26 Feb 10 at 9:34 pm
Tesco opened a store in San Francisco. Fresh and Easy close to The Haight when I was there. It bombed. Jon, stop being silly. There are loads of big stores in SF.
Jack
11 Feb 11 at 11:10 pm