Sainsburys sparks anger

Wednesday December 2, 2009

Supermarket giant Sainsbury's is coming to Askew Road in Shepherds Bush - but not all locals are happy.

Many of the traders in the street, who have run small independent shops for many years, have expressed anger at the retail behemoth's arrival and fear for their livelihoods.

Newsmart shopkeeper Raj Patel, 52, said: "It will hit us badly. When the Co-op opened a while back our sales went down and the same will happen again.

"When people do their shop in Sainsbury's it would be strange if they didn't just pick up their newspapers and magazines there.

"As far as regenerating Askew Road goes, it will hopefully work. And, who knows, maybe by bringing more people to the area it could work out for me.

"I will just wait and see." Qamur Saeed, 50, of Atlas Food and Wine Groceries, said he was angry. "Shop owners and many of my customers are not happy about it and yet that doesn't seem to matter," he said.

"My shop might be OK because it sells a lot of ethnic foods, but there is no doubt it will affect us all - it just depends how badly."

But not all traders are opposed to having Sainsbury's as a new neighbour.

Laveli Bakery manager Veronica Matlovic, 27, said she hoped the Sainsbury's name would draw more shoppers to Askew Road.

"I would find it quite good. It would mean more people in the area and I would expect it to bring us more customers," she said. "We offer something different to a supermarket, and we know that because the Co-op next door hasn't really affected us.

"If you have a good business you will always get regular customers to support you and hopefully that will carry on."

And Adam's Cafe co-owner Frances Boukraa, 51, was also upbeat about Sainbury's imminent arrival.

"I think it's good to have a top brand name on the street. If Sainsbury's are here then locals who live in all the lovely expensive houses around here will actually visit the street and other shops will benefit," she said.

"Obviously there are two schools of thought, and smaller grocery shops will lose trade. But unless you have one or two big names on a street it will stop being a popular commercial location. And then the street is in danger of dying.

"The fact that Sainsbury's decided Askew Road is worth investing in is very encouraging."

After h&f news contacted Sainsbury's to explain the mixed feelings and anger from some Askew Road traders and residents, a spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the issues raised and would like to clarify that do not wish to have any harmful impact on Askew Road, or any area where we open a store.

"Like all traders, it is in our interest to be part of a thriving local community and we believe that a small Sainsbury's in a high street location can be beneficial, providing further investment and increasing footfall in the area."

According to the company, the new Sainsbury's Local will be a 'small convenience store around 3,000sqft'.

The spokeswoman added: "We remain confident that Sainsbury's Local of this size would be a positive addition Askew Road, adding to the mix of successful independent traders and national retailers.

"As well as increasing footfall, we will recruit people from the local area."

In 2007, H&F Council granted planning permission for former petrol station at 167-181 Askew Road, and the developers signed the deal with Sainsbury's in October this year.