Convenience will win despite loyalty to small traders

Published: 11 February 2010 

• AS a resident in West Hampstead for over four years I will be directly affected by this development (Residents vow to boycott ‘absurd’ new Tesco Express, February 4).

I currently reside across the road from the new Sagar development. 

I was aware of this meeting but another engagement prevented me from attending. The points raised in your article are pertinent and valid. I, too, have concerns about the trucks making deliveries, not only because of the noise, but because of the volume of traffic that currently uses Fortune Green Road as a way through to Finchley Road, and because of the frequency and speed at which fire trucks and police vehicles drive up this road. 

At the risk of sounding negative, I wonder what impact residents boycotting this store will have? If the council have approved it, in all probability it will be put in place. Tesco’s would have done their market research before deciding to invest and (potentially) set up store there. 

Although I am genuinely sympathetic to the plight of Amish Patel of Atlanta Food & Wine, the location of his store on West End Lane, within such close proximity to the bus stop with a tapas restaurant/bar and Dominos Pizza on either side will still bring a steady flow of human traffic. The proposed store is a good five to 10 minutes’ walk away, from his location and that of the traders on Mill Lane. 

While I am not “rallying” for this store and acknowledge the presence of the large Sainsbury’s and Waitrose at Finchley Road, I am trying to see both sides of the argument. 

Before the introduction of the existing Tesco Express the range and availability of groceries in West End Lane was extremely limited; and do we seriously need six charity shops – some side-by-side – and several hairdresser and beauty salons? 

I admit that on occasion I will “pop in” to the existing Tesco Express because I literally walk past it twice a day on my way to and from the station. As I do not have a vehicle I will catch the bus back up Finchley Road with my groceries. While loyal to Sainsbury’s, and I shall continue to do my main weekly shop there, if the Tesco Express moves into the new Sagar development, I will use it to pick up those one or two things that I may have missed. 

Why lug bags of groceries home on the bus? 

If Tesco is in place I’m sure that others will also use it, regardless of the actions of a handful of boycotting residents. In time people will forget and convenience will win over, despite their loyalty to small traders. 
Anthony Brincat 
Fortune Green Road NW6

Quality fare 

• HAVING read (Residents vow to boycott ‘absurd’ new Tesco Express, February 4) it does not surprise me that residents and traders are kicking up a fuss. 

I have lived in West Hampstead for more than 30 years and can remember a time when we were able to do all our weekly shopping on our doorstep. However for a number of years now residents have not had the chance to do a large shop in the area, as it has been plagued by nothing but restaurants and newsagents. 

While I have always supported the small businesses in the area and sympathise with their plight in tough times, if the traders improved the quality of service, were a bit more polite and put their prices down then perhaps Tesco would not be much of a threat.

Consumers, too, feel the pinch and need to have access to cheap goods and better quality.
Daviyani Kothari
Address supplied