K&C Tories join wider Conservative campaigning to save small shops

This morning's Telegraph reports that Conservative-controlled Kensington and Chelsea council will soon launch a campaign to protect its small shops.

The council will welcome a report today that recommends:

• A levy on large retail chains that will be used to support local, independent retailers;
• Restrictions on supermarkets' ability to sell fresh fish or meat if they are close to an independent butcher or fishmonger;
• New planning laws that stop local shops being converted into coffee shops like Starbucks.

London's Evening Standard has been running a Save our Small Shops campaign amidst growing concerns at the impact that Tesco Metro and other supermarket chains are having on corner shops.  David Cameron has backed that campaign, calling independent shops "the lifeblood of a local community".  Zac Goldsmith, Tory candidate in Richmond Park, has launched his own effort to stop a Sainsbury's opening in Barnes by organising a local referendum.

Comments

[Jennifer Wells]

This is another example of our party being taken over by rich people. I cannot afford the prices charged by independent shops. Supermarkets are the only way I can afford good food for my husband and children.

[RobC]

How can the Tories be the party of enterprise and the free market it they want to shore up inefficient, overpriced 'local' shops? The reason that Tesco and Sainsburys want to open their metro/local stores is that they are in demand. They give most customers what they want - fresh produce, variety and 'reasonable' prices.

In Northfields (West London), Tesco took over the local shop, and improved it. There was greater variety, the food was fresher and the prices were better. What's more, the local baker's and butcher's benefitted. We used the baker's and butcher's more because we could also pop into Tesco to get the milk, veg etc. One could do the food shopping for the weekend in the 'high street' rather than get in the car and go to a superstore.

[Comstock]

Good point, Jennifer.

Funnily enough all this type of anti-Tesco, anti-Starbucks anti-corporate thinking has its orgins in the Green Anti-Capitalist Left so it's quite ironic to see K&C council implementing this type of policy !!

[Stop Tory Socialism]

This is pure socialism. The levy is nothing more than a redistributive tax. It will force poor people to pay higher prices for fish and meat.

The restriction on coffee shops would be extended by the health fascists to include fast food outlets such as KFC.

Conservative Home activists should write to their MP or PPC and ask he or she to publicly this socialist nonsense.

[Jacob Traff]

I agree. This is another aspect of the return to old-style, paternalistic Conservatism. Well-off politicians like Zac Goldsmith telling me where I ought to shop (because it's good for the "community), with no concern as to whether I can actually afford it or not. The "modern" Tories are hopelessly old-fashioned and so much much more structurally than politically conservative.

I live within 100 metres from both a M&S an a Waitrose. Thank God for that, but I just wish Tesco would open a bit closer too. Maybe I should organise a referendum in support of that?

[Edward]

Anti-competitive twaddle. The indies need to raise their game, pure and simple, or be killed off by companies that provide what people really want. I like small shops and do all I can to support them but would not want others to be forced to subsidise my preferences.

[James Maskell]

Whilst I understand the issues that Cameron and Kensington and Chelsea Tories bring up, the fact is that the market must decide, not us with what is essentially protectionist levies. What is proposed here is to punish large stores for being successful, which isnt fair.

[Mark Wadsworth]

Oo-er! Sounds like unenforceable headline grabbing **** to me.

[Bill]

You see. The modernisers are not modern at all. They are atavistic patrician do as I say not as I do merchants.

[George Hinton]

Whilst one can see the direction of K&C and lauds the thinking, surely the ultimate expression is, that it is a free market and up to the consumer to make their choice.
The second aspect of "local shops" in the "High Street", is the property market. Commercial owners demand long leases, high rents, obligations for repairs and regular rent reviews which often mitigate against the small or family business. The result is that the "high street" becomes taken over by the chain retailers who have the capital wherewithall to deal with the commercial owners. And indeed, provide a destination centre for consumers, which independants are able to exploit.
Whilst i think we can all laud the aims of K&C, they do need to look at the other side of the equation and find some means to deal with the commercial owners. Perhaps one direction to take in that regard, is to do away with the present arrangements and demand the return of commercial property to local council's for rates assessment, which would allow for discretion in rates, according to use and tenant.

[Graeme Archer]

What nonsense you are all speaking! Conservatives have a duty to take care of their environment. Small retailers are the LIFEBLOOD of communities, whether that community is a rural village or a particularly fantastic part of the Best London Borough.

(James Maskell -- all of you -- I presume you would close every rural post office in the country?! No of course you wouldn't. Please draw the appropriate analogy.)

A disinterested reader writes: harrumph. More socialism! Ain't the Tory party any more doncha know! I remember when the party was actively campaigning for localism which would lead to diverse outcomes as different boroughs decided for themselves how they wanted to run their affairs ... which would sometimes lead to subsidy being deployed to protect an area's character ... which would be socialism ... so we're opposed to it ... so we're not localist ... err, that Cameron eh, went to a posh school didn't he, err, rubbish joke about Notting Hill, err, did I tell you I used to be a marxist?... Janet Daley-Vitamin, Telegraph Towers.

[davidlogan]

Always thought K&C was another planet. All above criticisms apply.
I run an independent bookshop in a small (and very affluent) village. I stay in business by offering a very good service to a well targetted market, who are willing to pay a premium for that good service.
A redistributive levy from Tesco/Asda etc will make no difference to my success or anyone else's in my situation.
I hope that the council is recieving the report from a naive officer, who is soon to move on, and will kick it out.

[Sean Fear]

Suggestion 3 doesn't sound too bad, if you're trying to preserve a mix of shops in a neighbourhood, but I don't like 1 or 2 at all.

It seems most unfair to impose a surcharge on an organisation for being successful, and then to impose restrictions on what they can sell.

[Comstock]

Always thought K&C was another planet
LOL, it certainly is. I might be more convinced if Conservatives were proposing something like this in Bootle or Bradford!

[Edward]

Small retailers may be the lifeblood of communities - why does that mean Tesco ministores can't become that lifeblood instead?

[Edward]

Graeme Archer: have you used a supermarket in the last six months?

[Richard]

My local butcher is able to compete against the Tesco Express a few doors down from him because he offers a product people want to buy.

Graeme Archer, if Conservatives believe in localism they would let local people decided these things via their wallets i.e. allow local people to shop where they want. Nobody forces people to use supermarkets and similarly nobody should force people to use local shops. If the local community doesn't want a supermarket then it can simply boycott it and the members can continue to visit the local shops to keep them in business.

[Derek]

George Hinton's comment earlier ia very good one. What we ought to do is offer businesses a "right to buy" in the same way as we did for council tenants. This would allow the small business to have more control over its premises.

I agree with the comments many have made about a levy on the larger retailers. This would be too much interference in the free market and would simply put extra costs on to the consumer. We should not support unprofitable businesses, and that includes post offices. It's no usethe public moaning about closures; if they do not use these businesses, then they will have to change or go.

[Edward]

If the small business wants control over its property it should buy it of its own volition: it's hardly a family in state-owned property is it!? I hardly think reducing security of commercial landlords is a sensible way for the Tory Party to be looking.

[Daniel Lucraft]

This sucks. Illiberal, patronizing crap.

If this campaign comes to Wimbledon I'll be on the other side.

[renny]

If we as Conservatives have changed and accept that there is such a thing as community and that we should give a shit about what happens to our local towns and businesses this is good policy.

The supermarkets have massive financial and political power and manipulate weaknesses in the planning system for their own ends. Its about time we stood up for small businesses.

[Chris]

As the postsers above have said this is intervening with the free market, which goes against our core principles. I severely hope that this does not gain support from the central party.

The Zac Goldsmith case is different, he is campaigning against a new supermarket which the community doesn't want. He is simply listening to his constituencts and carrying out their wishes.

[Sean Fear]

In many cases, supermarkets and small outlets can coexist happily. A supermarket in a town centre can draw in shoppers who then go on to shop for other goods in independent outlets.

Out of town supermarkets, OTOH, can have a really damaging effect on town centres.

[Conservative Homer]

urgh. Small shops, like rural post offices are full of senile old folk who use them as some sort of meeting place. I should know, i live in the middle of nowhere. They are anything but convenient, queues are slow, and the cashier seems to value extended conversations about the weather, grandchildren and other crap over taking my money, which doesnt help queuing matters. Sooner they (and post offices) close down the better. Some (most) of us just want to get the weekly shop and get the hell out of there.

Its good that out of town shops and malls are damaging to the town centres anyway. Republican strength grew in the states along with suburbanisation, we should encourage the same. Our town centres are congested, not designed for modern motorists traffic needs, crime infested due to little or no private security presence, and require subsidies to stop them falling into disrepair. Malls (like Bluewater) need none of this, with plentiful parking, accessibility, good security (even stop hoodies) and cover from our crap climate. We've a housing shortage. Return city centres to residential use. A 'phones4u' ground floor facade on a listed building is hardly attractive anyway.

[Mark Wadsworth]

Rural post offices should not be seen as profit-making businesses but as a service, the "losses" that they make are no worse than the "losses" incurred by the local council in subsidising bus routes, colelcting rubbish or paying for the local schools'n'hospitals (etc etc).

If rural folk want less post office and more buses or more playgrounds (or indeed, a rural shopping centre), fine, that is a decision to be taken at local level.

[Who sez?]

"The Zac Goldsmith case is different, he is campaigning against a new supermarket which the community doesn't want. He is simply listening to his constituencts and carrying out their wishes."

There is no proof that the local community does not want Sainsbury's. There is a vocal campaign group that opposes it but they are not necessarily repreentative of the local community. It is sad that Zac wants to force local residents to pay higher prices at Waitrose. But then, multi-millionaire Zac can afford to shop anywhere.

[Chris]

"There is no proof that the local community does not want Sainsbury's. There is a vocal campaign group that opposes it but they are not necessarily repreentative of the local community. It is sad that Zac wants to force local residents to pay higher prices at Waitrose. But then, multi-millionaire Zac can afford to shop anywhere."
They believe they are in the majority and Zac is organising (and financing) a non-binding referendum of local residents. I doubt that he would go to such lengths if he thought it was unlikely that the supermarket would be rejected.

Supermarkets draw their customers from a larger area than small shops, and undoubtedly there is a commercial demand for the store, however local residents should still be able to reject planning permission.

[Graeme Archer]

Edward asks me
Graeme Archer: have you used a supermarket in the last six months?

Posted by: Edward | May 24, 2007 at 11:18

No. Have you seen the state of the Tesco on Bethnal Green Road? Bethnal Green Tesco - very little helps.

Does spending an hour in the champagne bar in Waitrose at Canary Wharf count as 'using' a supermarket? Shop there and die my dears.

Don't really understand the point Edward. If you're asking me, do I regularly patronise small and local shopkeepers ("there's a little man in the village runs up all my dresses - a marvel" -- no Graeme, not that sense of 'patronise') within walking distance of my flat, the answer is definitely yes. If you're asking does my quality of life improve with the increased interaction with other people who live and work in E8 and E9 then the answer is yes. If you're asking me if I think the 'mustn't interfere with the market economy' 'argument' is both puerile and sterile, the answer is yes. If you're asking me 'what is it that we can measure about this so-called quality of life that comes from diversity in local food provision and in local burghers having more ownership over their immediate environment' then I'd have to say mate it's that nebulous yet real thing you get when you actually know the name of the guy who sells you your tangerines, it is a profound way of battling against the atomisation which is tearing our society apart, it (the protection of the burgher against the corporation) is, I think, pretty bloody Tory anyway. I'd say all of that probably.

[Richard]

"Supermarkets draw their customers from a larger area than small shops, and undoubtedly there is a commercial demand for the store, however local residents should still be able to reject planning permission"

If they are objecting because they think it is an eyesore then one can understand. However, if they are objecting because it will put the local shops out of business then they are accepting that it will be more popular than those local shops amongst members of the community.

It is true that supermarkets may be able to stay profitable even if the local community does boycott them due to shoppers from further afield but it is not true that supermarkets force local people to stop shopping in their local shops. If they want these shops to stay open they should shop in them.

[Chris]

"If they are objecting because they think it is an eyesore then one can understand. However, if they are objecting because it will put the local shops out of business then they are accepting that it will be more popular than those local shops amongst members of the community.

It is true that supermarkets may be able to stay profitable even if the local community does boycott them due to shoppers from further afield but it is not true that supermarkets force local people to stop shopping in their local shops. If they want these shops to stay open they should shop in them."

I am in full agreement with you here, my understandment of the Richmond case is that the superstore would cause traffic issues and would not fit well with the local community.

I fully object however to the KC proposals as they are clearly intending to distort market forces to protect small businesses.

[Tanuki]

What meddlesome nonsense. If small retailers are the lifeblood of the community, why do they never open when that community has time to shop?

[Opening 9-to-5 weekdays like most old-style shops essentially limits your client-base to the unworking - who aren't people with much disposable income.]

People can surely decide for themselves where they want to shop - they don't need some patrician local councillors rigging the market.

[ToMTom]

Zac Goldsmith, Tory candidate in Richmond Park, has launched his own effort to stop a Sainsbury's opening in Barnes

Very disappointed in young Zac....didn't his daddy Sir Jams once own International Stores......I recall such a chaotic establishment next to John Menzies on The High in Oxford.

But it is a long way from Cavenham Foods and all that....and I suppose Zac looks down on "trade"

[Bishop Hill]

Tanuki

Good point. My village shop opens at 6am, catching the farmers and then the commuters. It closes at 9pm. It's thriving.

This looks to me like Kensington and Chelsea trying to price the hoi polloi out of the area.

[Sasha]

Whilst I can sympathise with K&C I would have to stick to my principles, and like most on here go with the free market. I can't stand Starbucks, and for that matter don't realy like going into supermarkets, but I don't want to impose my preferences on everyone else. The bigger problem in my area is not chains draining away custom, it is landlords charging ever more higher rates, and seemingly prefering their shop to remain empty over having a smaller income and a tenant. Robc says that supermarkets provide fresher produce, well not knowing London that may be the case, but certainly when it comes to my area(South Warwickshire)the fresher produce is in the independent shops.

[TomTom]

If they really want to preserve small shops they should get a Robinson-Patman Act through Parliament and force suppliers to offer 'line-discount' to small retailers on the same terms as supermarkets

[leonjamespage]

Sounds to me like you're back on the Road to Serfdom.

[Andrew Boff]

How is support for loss leading managerial corporations an expression of free enterprise?
Why are they allowed to call themselves superMARKETS when whilst there you can only buy from one supplier?
How highly do you rate our duty to break monopolies and cartels and to stimulate enterprise by ensuring there are a lot of players?
Is it worth taking action to defend this nation of shopkeepers or should we be a nation of employees?
I think the policy move is right: we have nothing to lose but our chains.

[James Maskell]

Graeme Archer, when did I say that every rural post office should be closed down? Why should the bigger supermarkets have to cough up because small shops cannot be competitive?

[Nick Paget-Brown]

Well said Andrew Boff. I am one of the councillors trying to protect the character of the Portobello Road and I've only just caught up with some of the ill-considered comments above. They appear to be based on little more than a combination of prejudices about Kensington & Chelsea, unquestioning acceptance of an inaccurate press article about a complex report containing more than 50 recommndations and failure to understand what responsibilites a local Council has to try to protect the quality of life.

It seems that the chief characteristic of this type of "conservative" is to bang on about the virtues of the free market irrespective of any downside that it may have. So, as long as the goods are cheap, forget the quality of the produce, the distance it's travelled, the fairness of the deals with suppliers, the dreary homogenisation of our high streets and the loss of character of our neighbourhoods. Then remove all planning controls, ignore the interests of small businesses, wreck the character of an area and then sit back and wonder about the electoral oblivion and public disillusion that inevitably follows.

Of course we all use supermarkets. It doesn't mean that these are the only form of retail life that should be supported. Perhaps Jennifer Wells would like to consider supporting street markets like the Portobello Road where she will undoubtedly find some real bargains - or perhaps where she lives they've already been squeezed out.

"Balance" is an under-rated political quality and one which too many of the above seem to have lost.
If interested you can read the full report on www.rbkc.gov.uk/BusinessZone/General/localshops-report.asp.

Nick Paget-Brown

[Yet Another Anon]

There needs to be competition, the large supermarkets generally when they succeed in destroying local competition then become less concerned about customer service because people then don't have an option.

Small independent shops are not necessarily more expensive, and also help keep the supermarkets on their toes.

A way to help small independent shops would be to raise thresholds for National Insurance , Income Tax and VAT, to cut Council Tax and to abolish duties on alcohol and cigarettes and have a 20% rate of VAT on alcohol & cigarettes with VAT extended.

[Yet Another Anon]

There needs to be competition, the large supermarkets generally when they succeed in destroying local competition then become less concerned about customer service because people then don't have an option.

Small independent shops are not necessarily more expensive, and also help keep the supermarkets on their toes.

A way to help small independent shops would be to raise thresholds for National Insurance , Income Tax and VAT, to cut Council Tax and to abolish duties on alcohol and cigarettes and have a 20% rate of VAT on alcohol & cigarettes with VAT extended.