Council questions Tesco over threat to local traders
BLANDFORD Town Council has challenged superstore Tesco to defend its decision to introduce retailing which they view as direct competition to a number of sole traders in the town centre.
In a letter to the company, the council has invited a senior Tesco representative to address a public meeting and asked whether any business impact assessment was carried out before a key cutter, dry cleaner, locksmith and butchery were added to the in-store facilities at their supermarket in Blandford St Mary.
Members were advised by district councillor and former mayor Cllr Esme Butler that there was nothing in the company’s existing planning permission restricting the non-food goods sold in the store, other than a blanket restriction on total percentage.
They were also reminded by Cllr Steve Hitchings that they had not objected to the proposals to extend the store, which are now awaiting final planning approval, on the grounds of the increase in that percentage.
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Category: Council News
