TRADERS in Petersfield claim their worst fears over the building of the Tesco supermarket on the edge of town are coming true.
Shopkeepers say they were always worried about the building of a major supermarket on the outskirts because it could lead shoppers away from the centre of town and affect the future of smaller businesses in the heart of Petersfield.
It was crucial, they claimed, that there was adequate parking for town centre shoppers in TescoÕs car park and that the store took part in the ticket refunding scheme operated by both Waitrose and Somerfield.
Town trader Jill Towner was angry when she discovered that Tesco had paid Hampshire County Council for bus improvements which had resulted in all the townÕs bus routes taking in Tesco.
Tesco made a developerÕs contribution of £120,000 for bus improvements and enhancements in the town as part of its planning permission
ÒTheyÕve done all this without consulting any of the other traders in the town. It is exactly this kind of thing that can have a direct effect on our vitality and viability and I find it hard to understand why we were not consulted.Ó
Her husband, Trevor, added: ÒIt is another example of Tesco using its power and money to make changes for itself which do not benefit the whole town. They have ridden roughshod over us all.Ó
Mr Towner, as chairman of the towns retailersÕ group nine years ago, was responsible for the parking ticket refund scheme which was introduced to combat the new shopping development at Rams Walk and disruption in the town due to the bypass demonstration project.
It meant that both Somerfield and Waitrose supermarkets agreed to refund the cost of parking tickets for the first two hours when shoppers spent more than £5.
Mr Towner said Tesco had refused to co-operate with the scheme and make refunds to shoppers who walked to its store from the central car park.
ÒThese are examples of what we all feared Ð that Tesco will not be part of the town. It is out on a limb.Ó
Tony Smale, Hampshire County CouncilÕs transport officer for South East Hampshire, said he was aware that the new bus routes had caused problems for some Petersfield residents from the Moggs Mead area who wanted to travel towards Chichester.
But he said the bus services in Petersfield were to be re-examined next year as part of the four-yearly re-tendering process.
Mr Smale said he would welcome comments from the public and it was possible there would be local meetings organised by the county council to discuss bus routes.
Hampshire County CouncilÕs operations manager Andy Berncastle said all the current bus services took in the town centre and were as frequent or more frequent thanks to Tesco money.