READERS LETTER

Dear Madam,
Some Protesc supporters seem to imagine that Tesco is influenced by the wishes of local residents in the areas it selects for possible supermarket construction. This is not how their Hertfordshire HQ targets locations. These are chosen on the basis of major highway access, huge customer catchments, local government plans and competitor vulnerability. All decisions are coldly commercial, and local opinions are considered only in efforts to pressurise councillors. On at least one occasion, Tesco has pressed ahead despite an overwhelming negative vote in a public referendum. It is ridiculous to suppose that if a majority in Sheringham record their preference, in Mrs Blyth’s household ballot, for Hilbre Gardens instead of the Lockerbie Flats site, Tesco will revert to the former. Tesco is driven by maximum profit motives, not by minor particular concerns about grocery provision for Holway Road’s housing estates or the impact of their 24/7 transport movements upon the elderly residents of St Andrews Close. The belief that a Tesco store near Station Road, selling whatever it likes, and able to expand upwards, would not seriously damage the existing retail community, however, contradicts commonsense and universal experience. In Bicester, for example, there are now 5 Tesco and little else, while London’s Fulham Road has no less than 10. A few shoppers may be content with this outcome, but most of us have other values and interests in life. Nothing in Tesco’s response to the recent parliamentary High Street Britain 2015 report on the long-term adverse side of supermarket spread changes that conclusion. The situation in Sheringham with Budgens is far from perfect. However, a regional-flagship monster Tesco, near our busy roundabout and opposite two churches, is not the right answer.
J R.

READERS LETTER

Dear Editor
I write in reply to the letter from summer visitor Mr Peter Sanderson who was disappointed to learn of support for a Tesco store in Sheringham as expressed in a previous letter from Mrs Loromine.  In 2004 I moved to Sheringham from just outside Cambridge, in fact from the very next village to where Mr Sanderson currently lives.  I used all of the local Tesco stores and also tried Asda, Waitrose and Sainsbury, the rival supermarkets in the city.  It is not difficult to see why the majority of consumers have elected to give Tesco their business.  As a former Director of a leading multiple retailer, I am possibly guilty of being critical of poor retailing standards, in big and small operations alike, but like most shoppers I make my choice based on range and quality of product, customer service, convenience and price. Others will, of course, put such criteria in their own batting order.

Mr Sanderson appears to dislike the fact that large supermarkets sell a wide range of goods.  Hmm... so Department Stores have been getting it all wrong over the last 100 years, M&S should never have broken into food retailing, and local filling stations shouldn't sell newspapers or milk!.He is also highly critical of Tesco's treatment of their staff.  Well, retailing does have a high staff turnover, but I think he will find the Tesco record in this area is better than most.  Indeed I know of one local resident in this town who has worked for them for over twenty years.  Personally, I have, in general always found their staff to be well-trained, obliging and friendly - another clear sign to competitors as to why Tesco have been getting it right in commercial terms for many years.  Stating that Tesco'' don't give a damn for their workers and suppliers'' is patent nonsense - all successful retailers know from experience, and sometimes to their cost, that staff are the face of the company, that the reliable supply of stock to meet customer need is vital, and that customer loyalty is an absolute priority.

No, Sheringham doesn't need a giant Tesco Extra selling white goods, household furnishings etc, but what would be nice for both residents and visitors is a medium-size quality store meeting the needs of the main weekly shop without an 8-mile round trip to Cromer!  I cycle down to the local shops almost every day, but like most other households, a ten- bag or more weekly supermarket shop is still required.  As Mr Sanderson is so set against supermarkets, and Tesco in particular, I wonder if he has given any thought as to the reaction of consumers around Cambridge, or elsewhere, if their local store were to suddenly close up shop?  Changes in shopping habits will always be driven in the long term by the needs and desires of the consumer together with the skills and drive of competing retailers.  As proof of this I hear Sheringham once had 14 butchers shops...!
ALAN SPONG.

KELLING PROBUS CLUB

The aim of the Probus Club is to create friendship.  The club meets on the third Thursday every month at the Pheasant Hotel in Kelling.  At present we have a couple of vacancies so if you are a retired man and would like to consider joining then please phone John Jennings our secretary on 01263 740716.  We make some outings in the summer and our ladies are always welcome to join us.

Our speaker last month was Bob Smith the Harbour Master of Wells-next-Sea.  We learnt from Bob about his life in as much as that he went to sea at 16, then worked his way up to become Shipping Manager with a shipping company.  In the mid 1980s he returned to Wells and became a fisherman, the Deputy Harbour Master.  Bob also spent some 24 years with the lifeboat and has been Second Coxswain of the Wells lifeboat.

In dealing with the Wells harbour history in the 1930s 63 ships worked out of Wells.   In the 1700s the harbour changed position twice after two sea walls were built reclaiming land.  Shipping tonnage increased from 350 tons per vessel to 500 and then up to 1000 tons.  By 1992 commercial shipping ceased, not because of silting up but because the modern ships were drawing too much draft.

Bob said that it cost some £113 m per year to run the Lifeboat service.  Next year Wells will receive a new lifeboat capable of doing 35 knots, fitted with the latest electronic aids in navigation and boat management.  The crew will need to be fully trained to take advantage of the new boat.  Members heard about rescues made by the boat but also in 1880 when very sadly 11 out of a crew of 13 lost their lives.
Philip Hutchinson.