Bristol's Green Party Campaign Against Supermarkets

Thursday, July 29th 2010 07:00

The party is vowing to continue fighting the influx of big chains coming into the city.

Despite proposals for a Sainsbury's at Ashton Gate being rejected, plans for another store on Gloucester Road got the go ahead last week and Tesco have plans for a store in Stokes Croft.

The Green Party argue the supermarket chains can have a hugely detrimental affect on areas with networks of independent and small retailers.

Research carried out by Andrew Simms of the New Economics Foundation, shows that for every £1 spent at a supermarket, 90p leaves the community damaging the local economy.

Councillor Tess Green, who represents Southville said: "You lose money in the local economy if you have more supermarkets. The local shops keep that money circulating locally, benefiting the people in the area much more than the supermarkets, whose profits will go in to the pockets of shareholders."

The Green Party also disputes the idea that large supermarkets create more jobs and investment in areas, they argue is has the opposite effect.

Andrew Simms' study suggests that for each job created at a supermarket, 1.5 jobs are lost to local communities.

The report goes on to state that supermarket jobs are mostly low-paid and unskilled, whereas community businesses enable employees to develop skills.

The Green Party welcomed the news that Sainsbury's plans to redevelop Ashton Gate were rejected last week.

Councillor Green added: "The decision not to go ahead with the Ashton Gate plans was the right one; the people of Southville and Bedminster will not now have to face extra traffic and pollution associated with the store, and the retailers of North Street can breathe a sigh of relief that their businesses will not be undermined."

However, Bristol City Council did give the green light for Sainsbury's to create a store on Gloucester Road, which Councillor Green said was a disappointing decision: "The council should be encouraging local shopping centres with locally produced food and goods, not undermining independent businesses with more and more supermarkets."

The Green Party has set up an on-line petition opposing the Gloucester Road store.

To find out more click here.