Tesco has its eye on third store in Barnstaple
By North Devon Journal | Thursday, November 15, 2012, 07:32
A THIRD branch of Tesco is expected to open its doors in Barnstaple.
A Tesco Express store is proposed for the unit currently occupied by Bernard Smith in High Street.
Tesco has applied for planning permission to make alterations to the shop.
It wants to install a two fan condenser and three air conditioning units at the rear of the store.
The premises will be left vacant later this month when Bernard Smith moves into a shop two doors down the street.
Richard Moore, from Bernard Smith, said the electrical retailers would be moving into the former YMCA charity shop so it could have a purpose built showroom.
The company would be letting 100-101 High Street to Tesco.
He said: "We're happy Tesco is coming to the High Street.
"A lot of the units down this end of the High Street have been empty and this will start to fill them up again and bring customers to this end of the street."
Tesco said the company would need to submit a further application for a new shop front before a store opens.
Since the unit is already designated as being for retail use no other application would be needed.
Tesco already has two supermarkets in Barnstaple, at Rose Lane and Seven Brethren.
POLL: Is a Tesco Express in the High Street a good thing for Barnstaple? Vote in our poll now! It can be found at the top right-hand side of this page or by visiting www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk/polls.
Comments
The reason Supermarkets thrive is because people choose them over other stores. People want Supermarkets so why should they not get them?. If other shops close down then obviously they aren't wanted so why should they exist?. These independent shops are rip offs as they charge high prices and then try their best to stop the supermarkets coming so they can continue to rip people off as they are forced to go to them. Why should anyone be forced to shop in a certain place?. These days shopping is about convenience and consumers want everything in one place like a Supermarket and the Internet offer. They don't want outdated independent shops of little choice and high prices, people who do want this are against change and need to get with the times!
By TheTakemon2 at 21:07 on 16/11/12
ReportDb 361
I think bobbob43 is probably correct and you work in the public sector,as you certainly don't understand business.the number of empty shops in town are directly a result of too high rent and rates added to by the out of town stores.
You talk of butchers row surviving if tescos open,well there's only one butchers in the row nowadays but they could do damage to the bakers,delicatessen,florist and fishmonger just as much.
Personally I think b&m who are proposing to move into the old focus store will do a lot more damage to the town centre,if the council agree to numerous change of uses b&m propose.
Still as they say the public get what they want and if rent and rates do not reduce I dread to think what the high st will look like in ten years time if things continue as they are at present.
By barumbcfc at 16:48 on 16/11/12
ReportReally!!??? It's because us (the consumer) support massive companies like Tesco rather than our local businesses that they think they can have yet another store!! Come on people..we don't need another Tesco or any other MASSIVE store like this in the town. It isn't any good Tesco passing it off as an Express store it's still Tesco.. wake up everyone and smell the bull****
By Allaboutme at 11:21 on 16/11/12
ReportDB361 , your right i do care , and you should be ashamed to pick up on my grammar errors i actually have a learning disability , i can only assume you are complete fool, probably a public sector worker . your grammar may be correct but the content is rubbish, i'd love to meet you face to face than you can give me an english lesson let me know ....coward
By bobbob43 at 09:48 on 16/11/12
ReportI very rarely go in town as I'm a net geek and shop mostly online but when I do I see more & more empty units. So I think any business taking an interest in opening up in our town is a good thing. At the end of the day if you don't like the shop don't shop there, simple as that. The current shops including Butchers Row will be fine if their customers stay loyal. What's the saying, use it or lose it?
By RAMUK69 at 23:01 on 15/11/12
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