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I hope this, other articles and pressure groups put paid to this unecessary development. The Tesco development will destroy the West End way of life.

Why all the fuss over a disused railway station. It had lain virtually derelict and abandoned for years. Thanks to Tesco one eyesore has been removed from the area.

It's important to make a stand about this ridiculous proposed development. Does Partick really require another supermarket complex when in a 1mile radius there are already a Morrison's, Sainsbury's, Somerfield, Marks and Spencer not to mention many independent retailers? And do Tesco really need another store to coin in more money from the British public? To both questions - I think not!

Derek, it's not just the railway station, it's the proposed 100,000 sq foot hypermarket and 1200 flats. As a Partick resident surely you appreciate this will decimate the mix of independent shops along Byres and Dumbarton road. It will turn Partick into a ghost town aside from fact that thousands of out of town shoppers and lorries will come and go at all hours of the day and night on the entirely new road system they will have to build to cope with the traffic. Think about it.

How about we bin Tesco and convert this into a massive Park & Ride with links to Partick Subway, Rail and Bus Station ? Also it could provide parking for staff and visitors to the Uni, Western Infirmary and Queen Mothers/Sick Childrens Hospital. Easy access could be provided via the Expressway and Glasgow Harbour.

How about we bin Tesco and convert this into a massive Park & Ride with links to Partick Subway, Rail and Bus Station ? Also it could provide parking for staff and visitors to the Uni, Western Infirmary and Queen Mothers/Sick Childrens Hospital. Easy access could be provided via the Expressway and Glasgow Harbour.

Tesco is all about stack them high, sell them cheap. I beleive the flats are going to be poor quality with a very short lifespan... and let's face it, your local Tesco Extra isn't exactly pretty to look at. Why does Partick need a development like this? There are plenty of other uses, this site can provide.

[quote]The old ticket centre wasnt demolished, it was set on fire.[/quote] Sorry g, you will find an article with photos of the demolition if you do a search of the Evening Times archives. Tesco would do all they need to in order to push through their developments.

The idea of a giant car park in the Proposed Tesco Partick Site totally defeats the idea of taking traffic and cars out of the area,and having car parks on the periphery of the city. There is also the issue of a "One Way Gyratory System" proposed by Tesco to manage the excess traffic projection of over one thousand cars into Tescoland, and one thousand cars out. With a one way system up Byres Road to Church Street,and down Church Street.And a bus route going north up church street,turning left into Dalcross Street, and right into Byres Road. The mere idea of buses being able to negotiate a left turn into Dalcross Street is ludicrous. The area is already far too congested at peak times, this will also add to the level of noise and pollution for locals. All the proposed traffic plans of Tesco will do is push the bottleneck further up the chain. i.e The top of Byres Road / Great Western Road will become intolerable for drivers,residents, pedestrians,and shop/restaurant owners alike. This is far from just a Partick issue. This store will have implications for residents and retailers of a far wider area than just Partick. for more info visit: www.stoptesco.info/ Attend the Public Meeting - April 16th, at Partick Burgh Halls ( 7:30pm) And sign the S.T.O.P. (Stop Tesco Owning Partick.) online petition to the Scottish Parliament opposing this Tesco Development from going ahead.

I'm in favour of there being at least one decent supermarket near to where I live – none of Morrison's, Sainsbury's, or Somerfield cut it for me. I think Tesco's traffic scheme for the bottom of Byres Road is patently stupid, but apart from that, I support this plan.

Oh, meant to say that petitioning Tony Blair really is a pretty dumb idea. Tony Blair and his government in London has neither the interest, nor the power to do anything about Tesco's plans.

Who do you suggest we petition Duncan? Glasgow City Council stands to financially benefit from the development and no doubt councillors will also get a backhander from Mr Tesco. With Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Somerfield, M&S Food x2, Iceland and the numerous butchers, green grocers, convenience stores and a farmers market every fortnight there's plenty of choice. I think it's time we said no to ugly capitalistic developments like this. We're talking about 1200 flats, 14 stories of zinc, white render, glass walls, thousands of more car journeys and 100,000 sq feet of retail space. A one way system to support the traffic and the decimation of local traders. Hardly in keeping with the west end.

The Partick Central/Kelvin Hall station site (and its old rail solum) could have been reused as part of the regeneration of the north Clydeside corridor. This old "Glasgow Central Railway" route passes virtually underneath the present (currently being rebuilt) Partick Interchange but has been further obliterated (westwards) buy the Clydeside Expressway renewal! What a waste of a re-usual route. IT'S OLD RAIL ROUTE LIKE THIS that will form a MAJOR part of the proposed Subway extension in the east end at Parkhead & Dalmarnock.

It is not simply about the jobs brought into the local area.What about jobs lost locally ? It is about the bigger picture. . . . . . The damage done to the local shops, butchers, fishmongers, electrical retailers, post offices, chemists. The damage harm done by the excess traffic on the surrounding roads. The noise and pollution caused by the articulated refridgeration lorries that deliver at all times of day, and for those without double glazing! Not to mention the way in which the sheer weight of these lorries shakes surrounding buildings as they drive along roads not designed for such heavy vehicles. The arguement comes when an area is already over provided, in terms of supermarkets. Not to mention the way in which Tesco gets away with changing the entire lay out of the roads network around its store, to supposedly manage the traffic. Whatever way you look at it unless those who have the slightest objections to this act now, their will be no room for come back or regrets later: The options of which are many: 1.) Sign the (S.T.O.P.)petition to the Scottish Parliament. 2.) Address letters of objection to Planning applications No: 06/1972/DC and 05/03143/DC- to Ms Elaine Murray, Development & Regeneration Services,Glasgow City Council. 3.)Rally at the Public Meeting organised. 4.) Write to their local MSP / Councillor 5.) Write to the papers with their views or 6.) start shopping more ethically and locally despite Tesco's or any other chains advantages nothing will ever change. We all have it in us to see that Tesco is either refused planning permission with enough public objections and will. Or like London - pull out of this site,and give in to the pressure of the overall public feeling that they are not wanted in Partick.

It's none of Tony Blair's business and I don't know what this chap wants to achieve. But wait a minute - what's so great about the Partick shops? Most of the wee ones are charity shops and tat merchants. The Morrison's and the Sainsbury are horrible too and quite high priced and poor choice for what they are. Partick Post Office is particularly manky. Maybe if they raised their game I'd sign but not to stick up for what we've go now.

The building of this still proposed Super-sized Tescotown on the vacant site of Particks scrapyard will do nothing for existing local shops. In fact many more will potentially be squeezed out by such a huge competitor. Do we really want to run the risk of far more empty, fly-postered shop units,up for sale, and the potential for yet more rent free charity shops ? With the increase in estate agents, pound shops and tanning parlours in Partick Tesco can only make this situation a whole lot worse. If we want existing retail units in Partick to last, stay and survive - despite their lack of a fancy designer image on the outside we must continue to support them. It's about the friendliness of staff who run local independant shops too, and the sense of community they bring, where existing retailers all know each other so well, and enjoy a blether to their regular custom. Keeping that variety of local shops, and level of choice to the people who use them is key. You'll never get that intimate, friendly environment in such a huge proposed development such as Tesco. The size and scale of the plans are completely out of proportion with the surrounding buildings. i.e. - 5 storey tower blocks, compared to existing 4 storey tenements, and 2 storey villa's running the length of Beith Street right accross the road from the site. Tesco will forever cast a shadow over Partick and it's damage done could be irreparable. Now, how can it possibly improve Partick ?

i dont live in Partick, but i can understand the residents etc, how it will change partick and the local shops etc. I live in east end, we have a tesco extra, they put in planning permission and like partick residents local residents refused, but, like you say the planning departments of G.C.C like companies like MR Tesco,their pledge the unemployement levels etc will benefit...... yeh right, Ok it took away a large piece of derilict land, but surely would have been better spent on something else, Tesco are building everywhere, its only making Mr tesco money and not the local community. good luck with your meetings and I do wish you well, but to be honest I dont think it will do much.

I totally agree with you Margaret. Tesco are closing in on every spare piece of retail space, and buying up landmass at a worrying rate, despite waiting years to be granted planning permission. In the case of Partick, Tesco have been refused planning permission once already. They have also owned the proposed site / land for four years now. The problem Margaret is though, and this is where I have to disagree with you: [italic]"I don't think it will do much!"[/italic] people can be way too apathetic, and disinterested in local issues, political, and in this Campaign case (S.T.O.P.) - apolitical. We all have a role to play, and if everybody plays a part, and takes an interest we can make positive changes. Having the belief that we have it within us to enpower ourselves is something else. But to sit back and do nothing, and yet complain behind closed doors does little to help campaigns like this. People power makes all the difference, and with enough Public Support at our coming meeting, in our petition to the Scottish Parliament and letters of objection to the Planning Department of Glasgow City Council, combined with the media backing us we will win this fight!

Jill - With the increase in estate agents, pound shops and tanning parlours in Partick, Tesco can only make this situation a whole lot BETTER. also - turning left into Dalcross Street? did you mean Torness Street?

Why do so many people thing that Partick's "local" shops are worth keeping? Given the choice between the local shops that open 9-5, and a larger shops that employs more people and opens 24 hours a day, why should I care about "local" shops? Tesco will employ local people and serve the local community. So what am I missing?

Thanks for that James. Mistake acknowledged - I did actually mean Torness Street. As for Tesco making the shops of Partick any better - it will simply drive electrical retailers like comet out, that along with the Post Offices which are already under threat of closure. And chemists. ( if it gets a licence to dispense at any in store Pharmacy.) What possible benefits can Tesco have for local shop keepers, that are already struggling with the volume of supermarkets ? Tesco will not eradicate or illiminate the pound shops or estate agents - it will only increase them, as the self employed, higher quality businesses affected by Tesco's undercutting are priced out the market.

I have just turned one and my mummy and daddy have told me about this massive new shop will sell lots of things that are no use to me. I think that the site should by converted to a swing park, a toy shop and a sweetie shop where I can get lots of swedgers bought for me by doting relatives. Hurrah!![bold]bold[/bold]

Why should I protect Comet? Comet have a monopoly round here.

STOP are trying to monopolise this issue. STOP are not interested in hearing there are thousands of people in Partick looking forward to Tesco opening.

Why should anybody want to protect Tesco ? With its profit margins,and far from fairplay in its monoply of the share of supermarkets accross the UK - I definately don't think we need any more Tesco's, now or in the future! Comet do also have a monopoly of sorts, only as it's the only bigger electrical retailer in Partick. But, having a range of shops on the main street that do not degenerate to pound shops and tanning parlours is surely better than it all being under one brand, and people having no choice. The Consumer choice is what matters here, and what is happening is that is gradually being taken away, by multi-national companies like Tesco selling everything under one roof. I for one would far rather shop around, and use various retailers for different services, and products. And if keeping a variety of electrical, and pharmaceutical retailers amongst others on the high street is giving us a choice then I'm afraid I'd rather have comet. You might also be aware Robertstons electrical shop also closed, with the unit / shop being empty for months. If the same happens to Comet theres no guarantee anyone will buy / rent such a large store in the near future. Another empty unit / shop on the main road. I don't think so!!!

Those who are for the proposed Tesco are only seeing the glossy, glamourised picture painted to them of how Tesco will operate, and how beneficial it will be to the area. Or more importantly to all those in the Harbourside Flats,which it's typically aimed at. The reality is entirely different. And once built, we can never go back to how Partick used to be, in terms of volumes of traffic, congestion, pollution, noise, light pollution ( from lit stairwells) the blocking out of sunlight,over shadowing of surrounding properties. And the inconvenience of having the whole layout, and direction of existing roads changed to suit Tesco. The way in which Partick is becoming more imbalanced by the provision of supermarkets is being overlooked. Also, the 900+ student flats as part of this proposal - A sure way of luring Glasgow City Council into seeing this so called "Mixed Development" through rose tinted spectacles! Where are the affordable rented properties that so many people look for when first joining the property ladder? Those on low, or in come cases, no incomes. This is not just about the services or food Tesco sells, it is about the damage such a large store, out of scale with the area will do to Partick. And Glasgow City Council are determined to undermine the planning process, and rake in as much money as they can, despite public feeling, or objections,the long term damage done.Or the ludicrousy of this Tesco proposal. Those currently in favour of Tesco should be fully aware of the full picture, when their caught up in traffic, and congestion caused by the Tesco, running late for a meeting, or simply trying to get home after a stressful, and busy day maybe the disruption caused by this Tesco following its potential completion? will change their mind.

Jill - I won't be caught up in congestion getting to Tesco because i'll be walking!! There will NOT be 900+ student flats as STOP have been happy to propagate. There will be places for 900 students, probably around 180 flats (5 students per flat).

Ach, Partick shops are mostly tanning shops and pound shops and the staff aren't particularly friendly. Also people's lives have changed. In the sixties my mum and I would walk Down Hayburn Crescent and Peel Street to Dumbarton Road, along to Partick Cross, up Byres Road and back down Highburgh Road, going to wee shops and to Masseys and Coopers - the big shops - on the way. That lifestyle - no money, mum not working - has gone. If the wee shops won't stay open when we get back from work we don't use them. And is there anything more middle class and smug than the farmers' market? What is interesting is the opposition. They are people who in the past would have been active in party politics and trade unions but now plunge their energies into hopeless single issues. Tesco is a big bogeyman but the campaign won't change anything fundamental.

We don't want three lanes of fume spewing cars slowly winding round a loop of roads that takes them twice as far, to stiffle every pedestrian around Partick Cross. Intead we need a good broad river walk, with trees and a cyle path by the Kelvin, where the land is at flood risk anyway and buildings are unsuitable. The rest if the site, including the parts owned by Tesco and the parts owned by the City can be low rise low cost family acommodation with room for children to play. These people will reinvigorate the local shops and cafes, they will be ideally placed for transport links for their travelling needs. No more 300,000 boxes in the sky like at Glasgow Harbour. We need a mixed community, mixed family types and mixed shoping and entertainments, and a good view of the river.

[italic] "What is interesting is the opposition. They are people who in the past would have been active in party politics and trade unions but now plunge their energies into hopeless single issues. Tesco is a big bogeyman but the campaign won't change anything fundamental."[/italic] In response to that - obviously not in the short term. Tesco's devious ties to civil servants, and politicians is a clear ploy to increase their chances of winning over planning Departments, and Councils alike. Also, if the fairplay commission continues to investigate Tescos monopoly of the market things will hopefully gradually change, or at least be re-balanced. Tesco aren't cheapest its just there marketing is very good. They are very good at conning people. They believe they are cheaper for everything and not the case. You can get things in other shops which are ok short coded but even cheaper than Tesco. Tesco are con artists and the people believe them. The whineing by the vast majority is a cover up. Get up in arms at anything and just want to complain when in actual fact they love Tesco. There are many other Supermarkets or local shops that are better than them. They have 31% of the grocery market which is more than double Asda, so surely they have a monopoly.

This is an outrageous proposal, & will ruin an otherwise low Victorian skyline, to say ZERO re the many small multi-ethnic shops it will kill-off. Furthermore it will dwarf the listed St.Simons, Glasgow Polish Chapel - currently being restored by Scottish Heritage funds. Finally, the wanton demolition of the historic Partick Station was little short of vandalism

When Tesco announced that they were planning to open a build a new store on a Shettleston brownfield site all the local shop keepers complained they would go out of business (the same argument that they used to try and stop the Parkhead Forge from opening 10 years eariler) and that congestion would increase in the already over-congested Shettleston Road. Tesco has been opened for a couple of years now and has expanded to become a Tesco Extra. Shettleston may still be a bit run-down but the Tesco has improve it. It’s redeveloped a big brownfield site, it brought jobs into Shettleston, one of the poorest areas of Scotland, and as far as I can see, congestion in the area hasn’t significantly increased. As for the local shops, I never used them before Tesco. Now, I go down to the butchers, green grocers and deli in Shettleston Road after I’ve been to Tesco. Before Tesco opened I’d spend all my money in Baillieston. The only shop that I’m aware of that closed down after Tesco opened was Kwik-Save, and I think all Kwik-Saves in Scotland are closed down so that’s not unique to Shettleston. The Co-op and Spar are still open and going by how busy the small independent traders are it looks like they are doing fine. I agree that the Partick Tesco might increase local congestion so a traffic management plan should be part of the building process (and Tesco should pay for it). At least the Partick Tesco is a nicer building than a typical Tesco with an underground car park and flats. It’ll bring jobs to Partick, affordable place for students to live (that’ll spend their money in Partick bars) and redevelop one of the last remaining brownfield sites in that part of the city. Besides, small independent traders in Partick aim for a different type of market than Tesco. People who like going to local shops and the Partick Market will still shop there I don’t think Tesco will change that and if traffic congestion increases like everyone thinks then traders will get more passing trade. If shops in Shettleston can survive a Tesco and the introduction of bus lanes then I’m sure Partick will do fine.

[italic]"If shops in Shettleston can survive a Tesco and the introduction of bus lanes then I’m sure Partick will do fine."[/italic] Sorry - Kevan, but Partick, and Shettleston are not compareable. Partick is already over provided with supermarkets, and risks being dwarfed further by the Tesco development. Fully agree with you Proffessor K - St Simons actually has a Soup Kitchen for the homeless within it, and the cost of work carried out on it will be wasted, if it is dwarfed by Tesco's. Kevan: Unlike Shettleston,this Tesco is out of scale with the area, and its existing residential developments.Shops will suffer from Tesco undercutting them, and people will lose the range of choice when they are forced out! This Tesco also runs alongside the Banks of the River Kelvin, and the walkway/cycle path on Tesco's plans are far narrower than the acceptable width that exists already. Also, Particks local economy in terms of its pubs will not necessarily benefit from students, as many students currently go to the Queen Margaret Student Union, of Glasgow Uni, in Byres Road. A number of Partick pubs attract an older clientelle, pushing students up Byres Road to their more popular haunts. Also - there will be no provision of parking spaces for students, despite the fact many will potentially own their own cars. And Tesco's car park will have a time restriction, with any attempts to park longer seeing a ticket issued. To compare these two sites:(Shettleston & Partick) with entirely different road and retail infrastructures is misleading. Partick does not need any more supermarkets period! Tesco, Asda or any other stores. View: http://www.stoptesco.info or http://www.tescopoly.org to see the differences with Partick's proposal.

I have been living in the West End for 4 years now and I am constantly gob-smacked by people's unwillingness for the area to develop. We don't want a vacant bit of land developed into flats because it won't be exactly like the tennements next door. We don't want a new supermarket because we think it's still the 1960s and the local shopkeepers have our best interests. We don't want Partick turning into tanning shops and pound shops and amusement arcades.. Eh - have you walked along Dumbarton Road in the last 5 years? And for some reason we liked that bit of waste ground with the fantastic derelict Partick station on it. Get a grip people - Can't wait for Tesco on my Doorstep because I won't have to drive to someone elses doorstep to do my shopping!

We have to learn from past mistakes. Union St in Aberdeen has still not recovered from the opening of an all in one shopping center nearby. Inverness City Council have seen the light and refused permission for a 4th store there, quoting the threat to small businesses as the reason.A district of London has refused permission for a similar store to the proposed Partick one for the same reason. We cannot risk the loss of amenity in Partick for the sake of more profits for Tony Blairs favourite supermarket. Sign the petition to the Scottish Exec. if you agree! A si

To all the people that say they are looking forward to Tesco opening in Partick, good for you. If it goes ahead I'm sure we will all be grateful to you for giving us another huge supermarket, selling everything, 24/7. And doing its best to ensure we go nowhere else. After all, once you have been sucked into Tescoworld, as some of you obviously have, nothing else will do. For those of us who have not been brainwashed, like Jill, we must do everything in our power to stop this in its tracks. The time will come when Tesco, like Wal-Mart in the US, will put all the other local stores out of business. And then they'll move on to the next site, regardless of their customers. That's what they're doing in Argyle Street...

Thanks for that "Subway User" - some folk here just cant see the wood for the trees, and won't admit this is a terrible thing for Partick until the damage has been done! By then its too late! Lets not rest on our laurels here, or fool ourselves about who really profits from this kind of development. The local economy certainly wont see much of the money, it will be Tony's War Coffin, and Gordon Browns Taxation fund! Re-investement in the local economy is badly needed, but this Tesco is so the wrong way to go about it.

Time to bin the outdated attitude of knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing. How will getting the cheapest price for a pint of milk compensate for the loss of the value of Partick as a community?

Couldn't have put it better myself :)

whilst i live in brisbane queensland but in regards our supermarkets mainly two re woolworths not linked to f.w.w. then there is coles. between them they own massive % of our pubs and hotels and our petrol stns and go out of their way to get rid of any opposition fortunately we now have aldi s/m the price of fruit/vegies in the s/markets just horrendouse due to .now no opposition. those s/markets make sure of this and they have been fined heavily in their ways in getting rid of oppositon we are lucky if near the fruit/vegie growing areas then such is dirt cheap and we have a few family run f/vegie shops of very low prices ..actually it seems our australia wide coles supermarkets could be going up for sale and it has been mentioned tesco is showing interest in coles and walmart also, only recently shopping centre owners with coles s/market, had a big new commercial development put on hold to stop competition and this was app 2 miles away but state gov stepped in and told the applicant to get lost. yes our two main s/market chains stopped at nothing to stop or prevent competion with in their area

Those that are keen to shop in Tesco need only pop up to the large one in Maryhill. Everyone else is very well served already. The several hundred student flats proposed will place a strain on Council Services and the residents will pay NO COUNCIL TAX. The rates income from Tesco will be offset by the many shops that will close and lie empty in the surrounding area. The students won’t be able to get their beauty sleep because of the 24 hour traffic noise. This development is completely out of context to the surrounding area and will bring traffic chaos to the already peak-time gridlocked Partick Cross. Having spent millions of pounds of taxpayers money on the Partick Travel Interchange (building site)perhaps the City Council could use some joined up thinking and exercise their ownership of part of this site to have a (small) multi-storey car park linked into the shiny new transport hub.

I don't think anyone is saying the site should not be re-developed. We just don't want a mega-tesco and cheap ugly student flats. You just have to look at the new student flats on High Street in the city to see the sort of flats we can expect: cheap, ugly, unsympathetic to their surroundings. All those who are in favour of Tescoworld need to have a think about the legacy we will leave our children if this goes ahead: a Partick where the only place to buy anything is the mega Tesco with shop fronts along Byres and Dumbarton roads boarded up.

[italic]'Get a grip people - Can't wait for Tesco on my Doorstep because I won't have to drive to someone elses doorstep to do my shopping!'[/italic] - Thank God Alan, i thought i was taking crazy pills! For those of you who can afford to shop in the overpriced surrounds of Partick/Hyndland, then Hurrah for you, and by all means protest to hilt, but for normal people like myself who dont think it's fair we should have to pay more than everyone else just because we live in the west end (that's what council tax is for, after all), Hurrah for Tesco! Hurrah for convenience! Hurrah for the 21st century!

Jill! And any other person here who actually understands what is "Really" happening,Then I say you guys are heros! I back you 110% because I understand too. These people who have want for tesco or any other big supermarkets are very much brainwashed and mislead,I fear it's too late for these people and there is no point trying to explain to them, they won't believe you which is sad. But however there are lots of people like me and you who want to hold on to those special little things in life. I support local retailers only and yes it's cheaper but hey,the quality is superior and thats what a lot of people have forgot when in those clean looking steel sheds,I don't go into an independant to buy the dirt from the shop,I contribute to community and in return buy a quality product, ask how the shop owners family is getting on and so on, My contribute to "real" society. At the end of the day it is obvious that supermarket shoppers just don't see the long term effects coming,or do they care for the future? For me it's kind of worrying to say the least. I don't want these clonetowns and I certainly don't want to support an organisation that is not scottish either leeching off of our communities, whatever happened to the william wallace attitude?lol. but seriously it's no laughing matter and people need to know whats happening and more importantly what is going to happen. I recall someone saying that this is not the 1960s? Well if this is the millenium and this is progress, ask yourself, where are we all going? The long term effects are going to be catastrophic,butchers don't sell water pumped meat,why is there so many allergies now? why this why that? there is too many things happening in todays day and age and it's worrying. Just think, for some people might say "who cares" hmmm you might be in a job just now that does not affect you but if anymore money is taken out of our communities it's going to come back and bite us, supermarkets DO NOT create jobs, average 276 jobs are lost in ever community and others are simply "shifted" profits dont circulate and then they have us by the nuts pardon the pun. As for tesco being a nice kind organisation, yes computers for schools, how kind, ever think of the dirty marketing used, making teachers force their kids to get mum and daddy to get those coupons? more calous of all is brainwashing tesco into a young childs mind at a very early age! hmmmm this scares me. I could go on and on until the cows come home about whats happening. My shop is going to come under threat soon thanks to supermarkets and I have a baby on the way, they are building them everywhere,it's time we joined hands together as a community in one and stop all this before it is far too late, I don't want an armagedon of industry, I just want to go home at night,have my tea see my future baby and take my lovely wee dog for a walk along the beatifull coastline;-)Thats all I want. Partick I support your petition 110% and will be right behind you, good on you guys. Common everyone! Join In!!! Keep our independence! For Scotland. Stephen

This is an article or one of the many examples for the people out there who either don't care or understand and this is why its so important to keep out communities from going under, please read: http://www.catalystmedia.org.uk/issues/nerve6/rise_of_supermarkets.htm The Rise of Supermarkets: Everyone Suffers Except the Shareholders By Kenn Taylor How can supermarkets continually cut prices yet still declare ever-increasing multi-billion pound profits year on year? In the 1960s, supermarkets offered the UK consumer convenience and choice never seen before. But as the years have gone on they have become ever more powerful and have slowly eliminated the competition, leaving us with very little choice other than to shop there. In the process, they have caused untold damage to everything from our local high street to the rainforests. Recently, much has been made of Tesco's record £2 billion profits. 2003 sales for Asda’s parent-company Wal-Mart were $249 billion. These companies are not just interested in making money, they need to make more money every year, while their brilliant marketing machines try to brainwash us into believing they are champions of the consumer. So who suffers? Farmers suffer. Despite providing the nation's food they have been resolutely crushed by the ever-expanding buying power of just a few big retailers. This means they must supply produce at a lower price or face 'de-listing'. Many now sell food for less than it costs to grow, but the supermarkets command such a share of the market that they have no choice. Every week eleven UK farmers go bankrupt and one commits suicide. Those that remain are sometimes forced into employing illegal immigrant labour on slave wages to keep costs down. Dealing with small UK farmers is often considered too costly. It is usually cheaper for supermarkets to import produce half way around the world, even if the produce could be grown in the UK just as successfully. This means many developing countries only encourage agriculture for export rather than to feed their own populations. The situation for these farmers in the third world is even worse than in the UK. A plantation worker receives just 1.5p out of every £1 we spend on bananas, while the retailer will take around 40p - not exactly passing on the savings of their buying power to us. Although supermarkets are currently making a big fuss about stocking fair trade and organic products such as coffee, only the Co-op has stopped selling non fair trade; and it was supermarkets' insistence on guaranteeing low costs that caused much of the damage in the first place. The environment suffers The massive logistical operation needed to keep supermarkets running 24/7 involves massive pollution; supermarkets are responsible for 40% of lorry traffic on our roads. They fly otherwise out-of-season produce around the world, burning a lot of aviation fuel, one of the worst contributors to greenhouse gases and climate change. Not to mention the distance that cars must travel to out-of-town supermarkets, often built on green belt land and using massive free car parks to tempt people away from local shops. Now that is being stopped, supermarkets are expanding to brownfield sites in built up areas - causing more traffic problems and noise pollution. In addition, the intensive farming methods required by supermarkets cause massive damage to soil and the eco-system in general. Supermarkets who are only interested in buying the most popular and best-looking kinds of meat and fresh produce threaten biodiversity. The reason that nature has so many different varieties of plants and animals is to protect against disease in one type of plant or animal, meaning that even if one branch of the species is decimated there will be another to replace it. It was partly this messing with bio-diversity that led to the potato famine in Ireland. Workers suffer Despite the chains claiming to be major job creators, a survey by the National Retail Planning Forum found that for every supermarket that opened there was a net loss of 276 retail jobs in the local area. The jobs that supermarkets do create tend to be low skilled and there is rarely any training that could help an employee move on to better things. Pay and conditions also leave a lot to be desired. Since Asda was purchased by US giant Wal-Mart, the company has pushed most staff onto poorer contracts with more working over weekends, bank holidays and unsocial hours. Supermarkets specialize in employing students, the elderly, and disabled and long-term unemployed. Is this part of some great social mission on their behalf, or rather a search for a compliant workforce that will not 'rock the boat' - staff grateful for any sort of work that they can get. Most retailers attempt to indoctrinate staff about how good an employer they are while discouraging union involvement. On below average pay and terrible conditions, many workers and managers become so stressed that they become ill. Shop assistants are usually on just above the minimum wage, while Tesco chief executive, Liverpudlian Terry Leahy, took home a package of £4,330,000 in 2003. The community suffers. Supermarkets routinely get around planning laws by proposing 'mixed-use' developments, promising a new playground next to a massive megastore. Locally, this is now being tried on Great Homer Street, where the historic indoor market is to be bulldozed for yet another supermarket. The planners are sweetening the pill with the promise of including new 'community facilities'. When such schemes have been planned in other towns these community improvements get reduced in size and expenditure if they even materialize at all. Alternatively, they simply bully town planners into submission by launching appeal after appeal until council resources are exhausted. In addition to the traffic and noise problems in local areas, supermarkets are slowly trying to take over the community by stealth. Many foyers contain charity collections, carol singers, political surgeries and even citizen advice groups. Supermarkets promote this as 'helping our communities', but in reality it is an attempt to humanize the giant inhuman sheds that are supermarkets, replacing the public square with the shop foyer. They are trying to create false communities and a sense of homeliness, hence the likes of the fake 'Market Street' found in Morrisons. But if you want to hold a protest, get signatures for a local petition, or even hand out flyers for your band, security will have you out the door in seconds, along with any other 'undesirables' such as kids, beggars, buskers, anyone who may distract you from spending your money. Supermarket bosses envisage a time when we won't go out for a day trip to the park or the beach but to the supermarkets. While the kids play in the play area you can go shopping and maybe spend even more in the store café afterwards. Still not convinced? Well we the consumers all suffer in the end too. Many long-standing local shops - and even small supermarkets - have been put out of business by the power of the big players. Now the supermarkets have local pharmacies and newsagents in their sights. Tesco is lobbying the government to break down the regulations that protect local businesses in these industries. Even the paper shop could disappear from your street. Many products like milk and bread may seem cheaper at supermarkets, but both the producers and we the consumers are being ripped off; supermarkets may sell cheap but buy even cheaper. The chains also make massive margins on 'prepared' goods. For instance a Marks & Spencer beef casserole that costs £5.58 in the shop could be made at home for £1.50. Food quality suffers too. Most fresh products are chosen on the basis of how they look and fit on the shelves - not on taste or nutritional value. Most chefs would laugh at you if you handed them fruit and veg you might buy in your local Sainsbury's. There has been a slow downgrading of the food we eat, so that items such as bread and meat that a few years ago would have been considered standard can now be sold at an inflated price as 'Finest' or 'Extra Special' with expensive looking packaging to complete the illusion. The lowest grades of meat and bread have virtually no nutritional value; you might as well eat sawdust rather than many 'value' products. Supermarkets will do anything to keep food lasting longer, so it is chilled to sub-zero temperatures, killing many of the nutrients. Some foods are even irradiated to keep them preserved. Supermarkets claim they only give us what we want, yet in a recent Radio 4 poll 71% of listeners agreed that 'We would all be better off without supermarkets'. It doesn't have to be this way, regulation has curbed the power of retailers in Ireland and France and it could be achieved here too. What will happen if we don't take any action? Those in charge of supermarkets envisage a world where just a few major chains look after all our needs from cradle to grave, from pet food to legal advice. There is already an Asda in York that contains a birth registry office and one in Scotland that is licensed for marriages. Meanwhile supermarkets are now being planned that are surrounded by their own housing estates, new towns where the residents' entire lives are based around a shop, providing they can afford it of course. Many areas have already lost the choice of going anywhere else and many people simply cannot afford to shop anywhere else, especially those on low incomes. But if you can and you still have a high street then you still have a choice: use it or lose it.

If i lived in Partick i would be very happy to hear that an old site is being developed into something most people would use. At the moment my town centre is a bomb site.The redevelopment was meant to be completed last year but hasn't even started.Our council is a waste of time.I know some of the ideas put forward by tesco's are silly. But face it people will always need supermarkets.Reading some of your comments about your other supermarkets, Tesco's provides more than most. The plans even include housing which benefits.

Cameron Kelly, Our area isn't a bombsite, most of it is pretty decent with the exception of this one site (which Tesco have been blighting for years). We don't need to be grateful for just any development: developers would happily do something much better with this site except that Tesco won't part with it- at least not while they hope to build a huge megastore, hundreds of cheap student flats and swamp the area with traffic (it is already an air quality blackspot). Of course there are benefits too - planning decisions are usually about the balance of costs-v-benefits. In this case, and having studied the planning application, I believe that the costs attached to this proposal far outweigh the benefits.

(((((Posted by: Cameron Kelly, St.Austell on 12:01pm Sat 7 Apr 07 If i lived in Partick i would be very happy to hear that an old site is being developed into something most people would use. At the moment my town centre is a bomb site.The redevelopment was meant to be completed last year but hasn't even started.Our council is a waste of time.I know some of the ideas put forward by tesco's are silly. But face it people will always need supermarkets.Reading some of your comments about your other supermarkets, Tesco's provides more than most. The plans even include housing which benefits. If i lived in Partick i would be very happy to hear that an old site is being developed into something most people would use. At the moment my town centre is a bomb site.The redevelopment was meant to be completed last year but hasn't even started.Our council is a waste of time.I know some of the ideas put forward by tesco's are silly. But face it people will always need supermarkets.Reading some of your comments about your other supermarkets, Tesco's provides more than most. The plans even include housing which benefits.))) Cameron, Please read the posts again and again and again. You people just don't get it! If you honestly think that the place looks like a bomb site,don't you think that it was supermarkets that made places look like this in the first place!!! WE DO NOT NEED ANYMORE SUPERMARKETS! Sorry for insulting your intelligence but you must be as thick as two planks. Everytime you support a multi national store, you are doing yourself damage, the money leaves the town, it might not affect you right now but in time, every job in every form will suffer, don't say i didn't warn you! Anyway,Im too long in the tooth now about what is happening and trying to explain this to people like you is like talking to a brick wall. Support local!