Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall looking to open a store in Axminster - disapproves of Tesco (Axminster)
Anyone see the big article in today's Guardian about Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (who now lives close by in DEVON and not in DORSET - he WILL keep saying he lives on the Devon/Dorset border!) wanting to set up a store in Axminster because he doesn't think Tesco should be the only store in town that sells fresh fruit and veg.
Hugh - we have TWO privately owned shops in Seaton and a Co-op that sell fresh fruit and veg and we are about to have a supermarket BIGGER than the Tesco in Axminster and BIGGER EVEN than Tesco Honiton which could destroy them all. We have other local shops AND the World Heritage Jurassic Coast on our doorstep.
Where are you when we NEED you Hugh!
posted by Fighting for East Devon's future @ 8:52 pm
5 Comments:
Some readers may also remember that Axminster used to have a popular little store called the "Provisioner" and other shops that have since gone but this could be a trend Seaton will be following.
Not that I'm suggesting it's anything to do with the "change of use" proposal being put forward by Liatris, from Tourism to Retail & Housing...
some intersting comments in the Guardian article about planners attitude to supermarkets
"In January, Barnet council refused permission for Tesco to build an Express convenience store on the grounds that it would damage local business.
Last month, Trafford council refused permission for Tesco to build a huge supermarket on playing fields. And within the last fortnight, Darlington council rejected Tesco's plan to redevelop its town centre - building a store on the site of the town hall - after local opposition. "
No wonder they are so keen to come to Seaton.
Axminster is the one place where I would love to go shopping for fruit and veg, but can't. It's a shame. Even the Stokes in Honiton seems to have survived the arrival of M&S.
I went to one of the River Cottage open days at the new HQ a couple of months ago and Hugh's staff (all of whom were wonderful)are still very much stuck in Dorset. Not that this should become a Dorset vs Devon thing, but I think given a little time they'll come over from the dark side ;0)
I think it's just the long history having been with Dorset up until January 2006. I asked why they didn't do any Devon farmers market (they still only do Bridport) and the answer was that they just hadn't considered Devon markets yet, but they were open to trying them....
West Dorset is quite a "foody" area with some nice farm shops - so High has friends there. It will take him a while to make the same sort of friends here. He may not yet have discovered, for example, the fishermen in Beer (closer for him than West Bay) or the farm on the way to Exeter that sells lovely free range eggs (anyone know the name?), or the farmers market in Seaton Town Hall. Give him time - and a little encouragement.
There are plenty of wonderful almost unknown artisan producers in the area. Chunk of Devon (Pies in Ottery St Mary), Devon Rose meats at Gatcombe Farm (fabulous bacons, hams and virtually everything meaty and ethical www.devonrose.com) and of course cheeses from Colyton (or have they moved?) Wines from Shute, fish from both Beer and Seaton. It seems a shame however that these wonderful producers sell the majority of their produce outside of the local domain. Local support isn't always doorstep reflected.
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