Hello there

I have submitted my support for a big brand supermarket.

It's looking like this so far -

Neighbours Received: 24
and Representatives: In Favour: 7
Click here for a list Against: 17
Petitions: 0

Sourced from -

http://acolnet.lewisham.gov.uk/LEWIS-XSL...mkey=65150

For me it's obvious that a big brand Supermarket will enliven and regenerate a shopping parade. I would use it every day for my veg, fruit and all sorts of other things. It will be nice to have standardised prices and to collect discount coupons off the back of a loyalty card.

I really hope those on the fence or pro supermarket residents take a moment to email the planning department in order to get a more complete picture of the way the community feels about this.

Have also just emailed my support to the planning office.

Have to confess that I wasn't going to until I saw the image of the poster that had been put up on the proposed site.

I believe that the majority of businesses on and around the parade will potentially benefit from this new store, whilst the healthy competition it will create for others can only benefit the customer (I'm a regular user of both Budgens and the Brockley Supermarket).

@ Wayfarer - Great stuff! Thanks

it sounds to me like the Forest Hill Society Planning Committee have FAR too much time on their hands frankly.

I quote "Flat 57a has poor quality layout with a kitchen/livingroom that is just over 2m wide in most points, providing little useful floor space"

What on earth does that have to do with the lay folk of a crumpet and tea planning committee, good grief

I am going to rally as much support as I can against this...

I can't believe many of you were 'up in arms' against having Domino's Pizza on the parade, yet you'd rather have a supermarket that will decimate some the local shops.

If any of you are too infirm as to walk,drive, take a train or bus to Forest Hill or Crofton Park, I think you should move closer to these places. Needless to say - a bit of exercise will do you some good.

While I can see the arguments for and against Sainsburys moving in.
and in an ideal world would have loved a local butcher ,fishmonger and fruit and veg shop in those units.
My concern is how there shop front will look, will it be all modern and garrish, will the proposed plate glass frontage be covered with adverts or will it blend in with the rest off the high street. Looking at other chain locals I doubt it somehow.
I am also amused at the comments about fresh fruit and veg and meat.
I always found both sainsbury and tesco locals to have a very limited range and concentrate more on convienent food.

All of this is democratic planning gone beserk. HOP desperately needs a local supermarket, you would be very hard pushed to find an inner London area without such facilities - take a look anywhere else! The same thing is happening in Forest Hill whereby businesses are deciding NOT to locate in SE23 because of the ridiculously militant people who are vocal in their protest against any kind of 'change' - its ridiculous. People need to just get real, otherwise we'll end up with endless empty shops - and they are sadly dreaming if they think that a fruit and veg, local butchers etc are going to open - I'd love that - but not going to happen! So..all in all..do us all a favour!

"People need to just get real, otherwise we'll end up with endless empty shops" - is exactly what will happen if Sainsbury's arrives on HOP Parade.

I have no major objections to the plan, at least the changes being made are nowhere as severe and damaging to HOP parade as a pizza delivery hub would have been. If people want their SB, so be it.

But I will not be one of their customers. I'd rather continue to do my convenience shopping at the existing local stores, who actually serve that purpose just fine. In any case, a small SB would not be adequate for a decent "proper" shop for me personally, I'd still have to shop elsewhere to purchase the variety of products I want.

That includes fresh fruit and veg, preferably from a farmers market or small store, or from a large supermarket with decent choice. Definitely NOT from a convenience store format Sainsbury's. Have you seen their fruit and veg?? It's a very basic selection of greens that have been pumped up with water to make them look more appealing and "fresh". Give me a break.

That is totally unfounded.. Sainsburys Locals are in virtually ALL high streets across the UK, even in flourishing areas like our beloved neighbour East Dulwich.. they're in the most affluent areas and the most deprived areas..places where there are 100% shop utilisation and places where shop occupation rates have been low for a LONG time, way before a Sainsburys has opened..

Ooooo aaaaarrrr we don't want new shops round these parts... We have local shops for local people :-)

Tinkerbell,
I agree with you. Sainsbury food is not always good as it looks. I have had terrible experiences shopping both at the local SB and big stores.
To liven up the area a Simply M&S would have been better. At least you know M&S takes care. However it would have been nicer if more upmarket eateries would have entered the area and make it mre appealing to city workers. Or nice little specialist stores. The one in ED is not a nice place to shop.
You say you go to local farmer markets to get organic food, where do you actually go? I would like to see if it is more convenient or like some neighbours do, to order from fruit and vegetables boxes from organic farms. How does it work? Any recommendation? I understand they deliver also daily/delicatessen.

Echoing the sentiments of Wayfarer's post of yesterday evening - I have also sent my belated support to the Lewisham planners and would see a Sainsbury's Local as a welcome addition to HOP.

Yomster, have you actually given your words any thought what so ever? Please think about what you are saying and work out really how a Sainsbury's would affect our high street. The way you're talking is very simlilar to an unfounded and, as previously stated, possibly libellous poster that was recently laughed off this forum. In your own words 'GET REAL'!!!!!

It seems to me that Tinkerbell has summed up the situation perfectly.

Each to their own.

Of course there will be those who want to continue shopping at their local shops which is what will support their businesses. Surely it is just selfish to attempt to prevent others who have different shopping patterns from having the same choice.

Should people not have the choice whether to shop at a major chain or not? I'm broadly against retail multiples but that doesn't mean I'd be averse to one in the proposed location.

The majority want to shop at a big name supermarket, support Man Utd and watch Stirctly Come Dancing - that's 21st century Britain.

Some of the anti arguments on here, esp the poster and "move closer", are pushing me more towards for than against.

Edit - sorry Calm1, I've repeated some of your arguments

This post was last modified: 14-02-2012 12:02 PM by ringingcod.

Hi orange,
I pick and mix from different places. I am not dedicated enough to shop purely organic and I do go to the bigger supermarkets if needed, but Brockley Market (Lewisham Way, every Saturday) has some lovely fresh stuff http://www.brockleymarket.com/category/images/.
I've also ordered from from Abel and Cole and was happy with their service.

Don't get me wrong, this is not a rant against Sainsbury's, they have their place, just like the other large chains, they employ a lot of people in this country. But, in response to poolsneighbour, I would argue that HOP is not a high street. A 'proper' high street like Lordship Lane can easily take several small and large supermarkets, and the independents can co-exist with these quite happily. ED is a shopping destination, people will stroll along. HOP is a parade of shops, and there is a risk of one large shop then dominating that parade. Of course they'll undercut prices of the smaller independents - because they can, they have the muscle of the big chain operation. So saying that the small indies simply need to get their act together and compete, offer different fare, or die is a bit simplistic.

What is quite obvious though, is that there are some posters here with a pretty clear agenda and I find the aggressive tone of some a little disturbing.

Poolsneighbough we live in a democracy we can say what we think.
Just because you don't like what they say does not make their opinions any less valid than your own. This forum is about discussing and debating local issues.
And that is what we are doing here.

I am referring to the fact that people become so militant and voice their opinion so strongly to the Council (for their own benefit) that nothing changes/no premises gain planning approval as their up against a constant barrage of complaining locals! That is all - calm down

I am not angary so no need to calm down. I just think your opinions are over the top. I am neither for or against sainsburys moving in. More concered about how the building will sit with the rest of the parade.