Friday 1 July 2011

The Saxonvale Manifesto

It's here, and you can read and download it if you click here. Please post comments below, and with any luck, a lively conversation will ensue: we'll  be back into the thread at regular intervals (if you have any trouble posting, involving the appearance of red dots, fear not: keep pressing 'post comment', and it'll be fine). You can also email us at saxonvalesupermarket@gmail.com.

14 comments:

  1. Great work on the Manifesto.

    How about appointing a planning specialist to develop and support the good work done by the group?

    It would send a message to St James/Tesco, who will have to prove their planning position against the development brief, that they have to work with the brief in mind.

    I would aniticipate that the StJ/Tesco deal with Notts Ind. would be conditional on achieving a planning consent and an agreed value for Notts ownership, which may not be achievable without a 40,000 sqft Tesco store in place? No big Tesco, no deal?

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  2. It was mentioned that we need to reach all the people who were not at the meeting. Would it be worth taking a 1/2 page ad in Somerset Standard or Frome Times with a cut out section asking people to give their opinions. Perhaps a reply box could be set up in the library, or even Asda or Sainsburys, they can't be keen on having a new supermarket either. Or even get people to take opinions from shoppers at Asda and Sainsburys??

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  3. Great Manifesto but can I just highlight that the proposed Co-op foodstore in the Westway will be owned and operated by the Radstock Co-operative Society NOT Co-operative Group who closed the former Somerfield.

    The Radstock Co-operative Society is very locally based with just 10 shops (www.radstock-co-op.com) Their slogan is 'Locally Owned Locally Managed'.

    Their aim in the Westway is to provide a well ranged supermarket filling the current void in the town and retaining post office services.

    Whilst the premises are smaller than the former Somerfield - size is not everything and, in reality, the former Martin's is a more suitable size for the type of shopping needed in the town centre today.

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  4. The Manifesto is well written and informative, covering most major issues. Could we set up a social investment bank for Frome, to raise the finance to buy the site from Notts Ind.? Has anyone been involved with such a venture? Clearly this would be a further step towards disengaging our entangelment of our daily lives with trans/multinational corporations, who have so much power over us.

    Gerlinde

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  5. RH - there are several planning specialists already involved in the team.
    This project is on a long timescale as SJI are still looking at feasibility. In the meantime an application is current on the site with the planners & could reach consent shortly. Neither of which means imminent development, or indeed a supermarket - we need to keep a watching brief. See http://bit.ly/SaxonvaleKEY for background & http://bit.ly/SaxonTerr for current application.

    I'd like to see the names of people/organisations involved on the manifesto, otherwise excellent!

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  6. If Tesco makes a move it will be with strong and continuous publicity.

    You need to exploit 1st mover advantage and get this message into every home. Then keep the public in touch at all times

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  7. Many questions were discussed on the 2010 threads

    see

    http://saxonvalesupermarket.blogspot.com/2010/12/whats-alternative-open-thread.html

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  8. Thought the Manifesto was brilliantly written and presented, but how do we get it's message over to vast majority of the towns' population who do not come to the meetings and might not even be bothered to buy or read the document?

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  9. Good point Ed. Suggestions please... as far as I know, there's a stack in the library... but this calls for more street stalls, I think. But please: all ideas gratefully considered...

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  10. Hadleigh did it so can Frome

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  11. Caroline Walsh-Waring11 July 2011 at 01:38

    Very interested to read the letters in last week's Standard regarding the treatment of the Lib Dem councilor which I agree was appalling, and from a lady expressing the view that there are many who would selcome more high street stores in Frome. Personally I don't agree, I like Frome the way it is and don't want to see it turn into a repeat of towns all over the country. But we must be democratic and willing listen to the other point of view with a fair and open mind. The final solution must be something which is attractive to the majority of residents which may not necessarily be the same as the vocal few. This may not be a popular view but we would just have to lump it.

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  12. Planning applications aren't determined by what peoples' personal views are, they are based on the long-term vision set out in planning policy documents. Any application will be assessed against the legal documents, which include the carefully considered and consulted-upon Development Brief. Residents have already had their say and the documents are now adopted as the masterplan.

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  13. I think it's important to also encourage people to use Frome's high street shops more. How else are we going to appreciate what we've got? I ditched supermarket shopping (the Big Five) after the meeting in March and haven't looked back. Frome's high street, markets and farms shops are doing me proud. Definitely not missing those BOGOFs I didn't need in the first place...

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  14. It is a shame there is an ad-banner for ADSA running right through the middle of the Manifesto online PDF.

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