tescodeconstruct

Tesco feeling poorly

2011-10-02T23:37:00.000-07:00

From The Guardian 3 October 2011

Tesco is expected to reveal this week that it has suffered its worst six months in the UK for 20 years, as cash-strapped shoppers cut back on food, books, clothes and electrical goods.

In delivering first-half financial results on Wednesday, Britain's largest retailer will report its first fall in UK like-for-like sales – which exclude gains from new stores – since the early 1990s recession. In 1991, Sainsbury's was the UK's biggest supermarket chain, and it is also expected to report sluggish sales this week.

The figures will underline how even well-established supermarkets, usually regarded as the last high-street shops to suffer in a slowing economy, are struggling in the downturn.

Amid the government's austerity cuts, rising unemployment and falling real incomes, consumers are trading down to cheaper ranges and flocking to discount chains such as Aldi and Lidl. They are also buying less food, Peter Marks, the boss of the Co-operative Group, said recently, which sets this downturn apart from previous economic hard times.

To lure back shoppers, Tesco chief executive Philip Clarke, who took over from Sir Terry Leahy in March, has pledged to cut prices by between 10% and 30% on more than 3,000 products, mainly food. However, a survey on Sunday showed that the prices of Tesco's fastest-selling products had gone up by 12%, with only 10 of 97 items cheaper by more than 10% than in early August.

The supermarket, which controls nearly a third of Britain's grocery market, makes 20% of its UK sales in "discretionary" items such as clothes, electrical goods, books and DVDs. In the current downturn, consumers are cutting back on such spending, especially on big ticket items.

Electrical retailer Dixons has also been hit by the downturn, with UK sales slumping 10% in the quarter to 23 July. Many shoppers avoid buying anything that is non-essential, and some retail executives believe this Christmas could be the worst at the tills for decades.

City analysts expect Tesco to report a drop of nearly 1% in underlying UK sales in the six months to the end of August, but the rate of decline has been getting faster in recent weeks. Estimates for the final three months of the period are for falls of up to 2%. If the rate of food inflation were taken into account, the sales declines would be larger.

A Tesco spokesman declined to comment on the forecasts. He said other retailers envy Tesco's position and added: "This is a very successful company. The UK is not at its healthiest." Tesco operates in 14 countries. It is still forecast to increase its overall trading profit by 7% to £1.81bn for the first half, largely thanks to a strong performance from its overseas stores. However, it still makes more than 75% of its profits from its domestic market.

Retail analyst Jerome Samuel at HSBC said Tesco's growth has slowed rapidly, from 11% between 1997 and 2009 to 5.8% in the recent recession and 7.2% last year, but he added that the move into discretionary goods, together with the tough economic conditions, is hitting growth.

Analysts reckon Tesco's "price drop" campaign could trigger another supermarket price war. "We think this is not a one-off move from Tesco," said James Collins at Deutsche Bank, "and that we are likely to see more assertive action to which competitors are likely to feel the need to respond."

John Kershaw at Bank ofAmerica Merrill Lynch agreed: "Given the deterioration in the macro-backdrop, the outperformance of the discounters, and with Mr Clarke firmly ensconced in the role [of chief executive], we expect a more sustained effort to keep pricing close to Asda."

He expects Asda to respond if it is to stand behind its "10% cheaper" guarantee, and for Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Ocado to match at least some of Tesco's price cuts.

Tesco dates back to 1919, when Jack Cohen started selling surplus groceries from a market stall in London's East End. (The name uses the initials of a business colleague as well as the first two letters of his surname). It became Britain's biggest independent petrol retailer in 1991, and started its own organic range in 1992. The first Tesco Express opened in 1994, and the Clubcard was launched in 1995. Two years later, the chain branched out into banking, and clothing in 2002.

Sainsbury's, which sells proportionately more food and less homewares and clothing, is expected to post underlying sales growth of just 0.7% for the 16 weeks to 1 October.

2009-11-11T02:32:00.000-08:00

Two newspaper articles about Castle Douglas and Tesco

The Times 9 October 2009

Tom Maxwell
They called it the Tesco effect, and for most small towns in Scotland it came accompanied by doom-laden warnings of empty high streets and bankrupt shops. The inexorable advance of the superstore would, it was confidently predicted, wipe out small businesses and suck the lifeblood from local economies.
This week, as Tesco announced profits of more than £3 billion, The Times carried out its own survey of towns which have experienced the Tesco effect. We asked local traders who fought — and mainly lost — the battle to resist the advance of the superstore, what the long-term effect had been.
The results suggest that some Scottish towns have managed to stage a fightback, raising their game to counteract the Tesco impact, developing more specialised shops, and even using the extra customers drawn into the town to start ambitious regeneration plans. The fact that they seem to be weathering the storm, not only of Tesco, but the recession, suggests that Scottish entrepreneurialism may not be entirely dead.
North Berwick is typical. The East Lothian town staged a high-profile anti-Tesco campaign in 2007, with Pinbat (People in North Berwick against Tesco) vehemently arguing that a new superstore would suck money out of the centre of the seaside town.
This week, however, Gregor Murray, the chief executive of the Midlothian and East Lothian Chamber of Commerce, said that, rather than retreating in the face of the Tesco effect, retailers have “risen to the challenge” of the supermarket.
“A lot of the quality shops, such as the butcher’s, have done well,” he explained. “There is a greater focus now on providing good quality and personal service.”
Pat Burton, chair of the local community council, says that North Berwick’s high street remains "vibrant", saying that customers have "stayed loyal" to the butchers, delicatessen and fish shop.
She said, because the town now had a Tesco of its own, the residents who had been driving to Haddington were able to stay and do their shopping in North Berwick.
Over in Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire, fears were voiced that Scotland’s only designated Food Town would be hit hard by the arrival of a Tesco superstore in 2006. Alistair Livingston, who was behind the Save Our Shops campaign in the town, said that Castle Douglas had been affected, but not in the way he imagined.
After Tesco opened its doors, the Co-op closed its existing town centre branch and built a smaller store near by. The site it had vacated is now occupied by a branch of the household goods store Wilkinson.
“More people were worried about Wilkinson opening up than they were about Tesco,” explained Mr Livingston. “They felt its range of products was more damaging and a chamber of trade was set up in response. That has gone a bit quiet again, but you can see that, in response to Tesco, butchers are making a much bigger play on the fact that they are using local produce. While they once sold just meat, they are now showing greater initiative and are branching out into things such as ready-made meals that you can put in a pan. They have to work a bit harder." He said that local traders had proved resilient in the face of the superstore challenge. “As quickly as one shop closes, another opens in its place,” he said, adding: “There are no big, empty spaces in the town.”
The key to the town’s relative success lay in the planning stage when limits were placed on what Tesco could do. The superstore had planned to have a butcher’s, café and petrol station — all of which they were denied. They were also limited to just 15 per cent non-food floorspace (this is low — nearby Lockerbie’s Tesco has 33 per cent non-food floorspace).
"If it’s a battle over food sales only then the butchers and other food traders in the town can compete, but if it's a question of Tesco selling clothing and televisions then local shops can’t compete," he concluded.
That is not the case in the Perthshire town of Blairgowrie, where Tesco was given a free run in 2005, relocating from a small store in the town centre to a massive superstore on the outskirts, a move which one trader described as having “decimated” the local shops.
In response, local business people have established the Blairgowrie and Rattray Regeneration Company. “We are hitting back in a big way,” said chairman Colin Stewart. The company, which has received a £1.5 million grant from the Scottish government Town Centre Regeneration Fund, is exploring the possibility of locating a screw turbine in the River Ericht, from which it hopes to generate £40,000 per year to sell to the National Grid. It also hopes to build a “world-class, state-of-the-art” visitor centre, said Mr Stewart, with the long-term aim of attracting an extra 60,000 to 70,000 visitors per year to the town. “The important thing is that everybody is working together,” he added.
The same cannot be said of Dumfries. Rab Smith, chairman of the Dumfries Retailers Association, says that there are now 54 empty buildings in the town, compared to 25 when Tesco opened the first of its two out-of-town superstores five years ago. With the subsequent openings of a Tesco convenience shop and, in June this year, a second retail park superstore, Mr Smith said that independent Dumfries shop owners have been “absolutely slammed”.
“Most little towns in Scotland are not built for traffic and easy parking,” he said. “Then a Tesco goes out of town, close to the bypass and offers 2,000 parking spaces free of charge, while selling everything your town sells for less ... it’s almost an impossible situation.”
The same seems to be true of Galashiels, where opposition to Tesco took the form of public meetings and angry protest. A local farmer, Tom Douglas, made his feelings abundantly clear when he displayed a 40-foot-long sign saying “Tesco sucks” on a hill overlooking Galashiels town centre. But the campaign failed, and the town’s Tesco superstore, which was extended in 2006, now occupies the site of what had once been an Edwardian textiles college. A member of the Borders Heritage at Risk campaign, Mr Douglas said: “Tesco bulldozed what is a memorial to the working men of Gala as if it were a thorn in their flesh.”
Alan Dickson, a director of the Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce, said: “There’s no denying that the high street is in a poor state and Tesco and Asda are not helping. Independent retailers should take on the supermarkets in their own way by giving good customer service and be good at what they’re selling. Supermarkets are part of society now and we’ve got to live with it ... but only to a point.”
The conclusion seems to be that, if communities get together to fight the Tesco effect, then they can use it to boost the profile and the wealth of their local town. But if they stand back and hope for the best, the superstore will steamroller hopes, ambitions, and a large slice of the local economy.
THE CASTLE DOUGLAS EFFECT
In June 2005 :
– there were 132 businesses trading in Castle Douglas town centre, of which 75 (57%) were shops.
– there were two vacant premises; a cafe and a charity shop.
– of the 75 shops, 30 (40%) had begun trading or changed ownership since 2000.
In February 2009:
– there were 127 business trading in Castle Douglas town centre, of which 67 (53%) were shops.
– there are now seven vacant premises.
– there has been an overall loss of 5 (4%) businesses since June 2005.
– there has been an overall loss of 8 (11%) of shops since June 2005. These include recent (2009) closure of Woolworths, a fishmongers and Victoria Wine
TESCO
The supermarket is Scotland’s biggest retailer and largest private sector employer, with 140 stores employing more than 26,000 staff.
It also has 13 branches of Dobbies Garden Centres in Scotland.
The supermarket works with more than 150 Scottish producers and in the past year has started more than 115 new lines from local Scottish suppliers.
In total, Scottish suppliers provide more than 1,500 lines worth £2.1 billion sales per year in UK stores.
Tesco claims to be on target to deliver 1,500 new jobs in Scotland in 2009.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6868380.ece?token=null&offset=0&page=1

When the original planning application for a Tesco supermarket in Scotland’s first Food Town became public in 2004, there was a flood of angst-ridden comment from residents and local politicians alike.
Cate Devine Published on 10 Nov 2009
They feared that Castle Douglas’s unique designation would be shattered, and its tourist trade along with it.
“This will reduce Castle Douglas to just another run-down rural market town,” they said. “It will destroy the local high-quality retailers and producers for which the town is renowned. There is no need for this Tesco..”
Nevertheless, a medium-sized Tesco store opened in the Galloway town in 2006. Three years on, an uneasy alliance prevails – even if the first sight to greet visitors entering the town, which got its designation as Scotland’s first Food Town in 2002, is a sign saying: “Welcome to Tesco.”
On the face of it, the one-street town is still thriving: there are four butchers, two bakers, one greengrocer, three delicatessens, a sweetie shop and several cafes dotted down the historic thoroughfare of King Street. Every Tuesday and Friday, there
is Wyllie McCulloch’s fresh fish stall Ferry Fish, which has been in the same spot for 25 years selling wild sea bass, North Sea haddock and west coast scallops, lobster and monkfish straight from the boats fishing the waters off Whithorn.
Mr McCulloch and his wife Linda sell all over Wigtownshire, and on the day we visited there were queues down the street.
At Tesco, on the other hand, there is relatively little local produce on sale except for bakery goods by Irvings of Castle Douglas. “Locally sourced” carrots actually come from Turriff in Aberdeenshire, a reflection of the multiple’s definition of local. There is no fresh meat or wet fish counter, and no cafe.
“Tesco’s arrival in Castle Douglas hasn’t really affected us, although it did force us to reinvent ourselves,” says Mr McCulloch cheerfully. “When Tesco and Morrisons opened in Stranraer, and then Sainsbury’s in Newton Stewart, that made us stand up. When Tesco arrived here we thought to ourselves, how can we fight these fellows? Now we hand-fillet and bone all our fish, we shout about its provenance, and we’ve put logos on our van. The extra effort has paid dividends for us.”
He believes that Tesco has attracted more people to stay in the town to do their shopping, and is also optimistic that he will see off competition from the new Tesco store planned for Kirkcudbright. “There is still a clientele out there who want personal service and high-quality local food.”
The reason Castle Douglas survives as a Food Town is down to a successful collaboration between Dumfries & Galloway Council and the local businesses, says Steve Groome of Castle Douglas Food Town Initiative. “We worked very hard with the council to ensure Tesco wouldn’t have a fresh meat or fresh fish counter in order to safeguard the town’s unique shopping experience and to protect the independents, because they are what make Castle Douglas the town it is. Tesco has not hurt us as much as people thought it would.”
At Sunrise Wholefoods, however, Pauline Tilbury admits that business dropped by 20% in the first week of Tesco’s arrival, and has not fully recovered. She told The Herald: “The Co-operative store that used to be situated halfway down the main street moved to smaller premises much further down the hill when Tesco arrived. This has affected footfall in the shops in the immediate area.”
When a member of staff left, Ms Tilbury was unable to afford to replace her and in order to cut costs further she had to stop renewing her organic certification for the shop, which was costing £1000 a year. So although all her produce is certified organic, she is not allowed to advertise it as such.
She says Tesco stocked the same gluten-free and other specialist dietary products she did when it first opened. Tourists who would come in to stock up on health foods for their week’s holiday, now go to Tesco.
So she has started new lines and is now selling meat from her own smallholding, in addition to local eggs and a small selection of locally produced soft cheeses – not just the ubiquitous Lockerbie cheddar sold at Tesco.
She remains upbeat, however: “I’m lucky because the wholefood shops in Newton Stewart and Dumfries both went bust after the multiples arrived there, so I’m doing alright – as long as Castle Douglas retains its food town brand.”
Local farmer Jimmy Craig, who has owned the 19th-century Ballard Butchers shop for 12 years, also says the multiple’s presence has ultimately helped his business.
“I’ve changed what I’m doing. I’m trying to do more modern stuff like marinaded beef for stir-fries, different flavoured sausages and different types of pies, because that’s what Tesco does. You’re always looking at ways to stay in front. But traditional fare such as beef and lamb from my own farm remain bestsellers. People always want local.”
Fresh seasonal rabbit and partridge, pheasant and mallard, and traditional haggis bungs also cram his window. Business actually went up after Tesco arrived, though it has steadied up now due to the recession. “It’s not too bad at the moment. We’re not over-supermarketed here, but then Tesco was forced to downsize from their original plans, so they’re perhaps not as much of a threat as they might have been.”
Behind the idyllic appearance, however, there are signs of unease. The two Corsons bakers’ shops have been up for sale for about a year, and Mitchells the greengrocers is also on the market. An empty shop unit that for 15 years was the home of Dee Fishmongers has been To Let for months.
The petrol station at the bottom of King Street was recently put up for sale, and the tyre centre adjacent to the Tesco store has also closed.
Mr Groome says, however, that the shop closures are due to retirement rather than competition from Tesco, and another bakery is poised to purchase Corsons. He points out that Tommy Little’s long-standing pork butcher business was recently taken over by a young couple.
Tesco resubmitted its original planning application for a petrol station in 2008, but it was again rejected by Dumfries & Galloway council last August on the grounds that “the development would materially detract from the character and amenity of the area”.
However, now that the town’s only petrol station has closed, could the situation change? After all, the Tesco site has room for expansion.
A spokesman for Dumfries & Galloway Council said: “If Tesco wanted to pursue a filling station in Castle Douglas, it would need to submit a new application. The original application was refused on landscaping grounds, it wasn’t related to competition. Any new application would need to address the same landscaping issues.”
Asked if Tesco would be allowed to expand its existing store, the council spokesman said he was unable to answer that question because to do so “would prejudice any future planning application”.
Despite Castle Douglas’s relatively good news story, there is anxiety about the future. “Is something afoot that we don’t know about?” wondered an elderly local couple, who declined to be named.
“We worry that Tesco are going to apply to extend the store. That really would change everything.”
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/the-arrival-of-tesco-has-forced-us-to-reinvent-ourselves-1.931623

2009-08-11T06:52:00.000-07:00

Businesses trading in Castle Douglas town centre 27 June 2005 and 16 February 2009

In June 2005 :

– there were 132 businesses trading in Castle Douglas town centre, of which 75 (57%) were shops.
– there were two vacant premises; a cafe and a charity shop.
– of the 75 shops, 30 (40%) had begun trading or changed ownership since 2000.

In February 2009:
– there were 127 business trading in Castle Douglas town centre, of which 67 (53%) were shops.
– there are now seven vacant premises.
– there has been an overall loss of 5 (4%) businesses since June 2005.
– there has been an overall loss of 8 (11%) of shops since June 2005. These include recent (2009) closure of Woolworths, a fishmongers and Victoria Wine

Major changes outside town centre between June 2005 and February 2009
– in 2006 a Tesco supermarket opened on the edge of town.
– in 2007 the Co-op closed their Superstore and relocated to a new, smaller supermarket in car park of their Superstore.
– in 2009, north of England based Wilkinson's opened a household goods/ DIY/ garden
supplies store in the former Co-op superstore.
The Co-op relocation was a direct impact of Tesco opening. The Wilkinson opening is an indirect effect, but has created concern amongst the business community.

See http://icdumfries.icnetwork.co.uk/gallowaynews/news//tm_headline=town-traders-fear-arrivalof-wilkinson-store&method=full&objectid=21894658&siteid=77296-
name_page.html#story_continue

The Survey
This was carried out on 27 June 2005 (i.e. prior to opening of Tesco store). The survey began at lower end of east side of King Street (main street), followe3d the west side of King Street to top and then down west side. Shops/ businesses on side streets (St Andrew St, Church St, and Academy St)were also included. Businesses which were new or relocated since 1999 are shown *

The area included in the survey was based on the area defined as Castle Douglas Town Centre by Dumfries and Galloway Council for retail development planning purposes. [Copy not to hand so Castle Douglas Food Town map substituted below]

Results of first survey were posted on Tescodeconstruct blog in June 2005
http://tescodeconstruct.blogspot.com/2005_06_01_archive.html

A second survey was made 16 February 2009 and changes since June 2005 shown in bold plus italic. At No. 92 , the Co-op supermarket on Cotton Street was added due to significant changes (see above) affecting this site.

1. Pye's - shop: newsagent February 2009- Fortnum, recruitment agency
2. McKerlie's - electrical contractors office.
3. McGill Duncan - art gallery
4. Holistics / Wedding Shop : dress shop and spa centre *
5. Bare Essentials : shop, lingerie * February 2009 VACANT
6. Scott Country : shop, outdoor pursuits, fishing, shooting, clothing .
7. Small Print : shop, offices supplies, potocopying and printing *
8. Sulwath Brewery : also have bar/ beer garden.
9. Guy Pollock: cabinet maker.
10. Carlos: restaurant
11. Douglas Books : shop, second hand and out of print books, good local collection *
12. Lily : shop handbags and accessories *
13. Video Venue : shop video/dvd rentals *
14. Littles :shop, pork butchers since 1924.
15. Hazel's : shop, second hand
16. Caring for Carers: charity shop *
17. Kings Arms Hotel :
18. Gelston Picture Framers *
19. Small Engine Centre - repairs and spares for small engines.
20. PJ's Cafe – February 2009 -laundrette and dry cleaners
21. Inspiration: shop, young women's fashions*
22. Anne's Hairdressers
23. Jade Palace: Chinese restaurant
24. Merrick Hotel: Indian restaurant
25. Spirit of Galloway : shop, specialists in whiskys and spirits *
26. Lyon: dentists
27. Street Lights: cafe/ bistro*
28. Victoria Wine: shop, off-licence February 2009 under conversion to betting shop
29. A.D. Livingston and Sons : shop/ workshop, restore, make and sell furniture.
30. Willow: shop, occasional furniture, decorative furnishings* February 2009 shop ,
furniture A D Livingston and Sons
31. 173 Deli : shop, delicatessen, sandwich bar, stock local produce*
32. Supersave : shop, household goods, recently enlarged*
33. Enigma : shop, decorative furnishings, clothes*
34. Debra: shop, charity*
35. Semi-chem : shop, chemists
36. Semple and Ferguson: shop, electrical goods February 2009 shop, ladies shoes,
Stepping Out (relocation)
37. Magick Broomstick: shop, new age jewelry, clothing
38. Atticus: shop, ladies clothes *
39. Castle Douglas Cycle Centre: shop, bikes* l
40. Roland Alexander: hairdressers
41. Thompsons: shop, jewellers
42. Gillespie and Gifford: solicitors, estate agent
43. Royal Bank of Scotland: bank.
44. Mackays: shop, clothes, adult, children. National/ Regional.
45. Superspar: shop, small supermarket. National/Regional
46. Blue Bell: small hotel/ pub February 2009 closed but “opening soon under new
management”
47. Woolworths : shop, National February 2009 closed, now Pound Shop
48. Jenny Wren: shop, upmarket toys*
49. D.E. Shoes : shop, shoes, branch of national chain.
50. Lynsey Stewart: shop February 2009 shop, jewelry, Mode Designs
51. Moss Chemists: shop, dispensing chemists February 2009 shop, Boots dispensing
chemists
52. Gowans: shop, fabrics for dressmaking, curtains, bed linen.
53. Gowan's : shop/ showroom, beds*
54. Gowans: shop, ladies clothes - on street, next two at rear along passage.
55. Gowans: shop, gents clothes
56. Gowans: shop, saver shop.
57. Moss Chemists: shop, dispensing chemists February 2009, shop, furniture Inspirations
58. Livingston's : shop, gents tailors, established in 1896
59. Livingston's: shop, ladies clothes
60. S. Caven : workshop, clock repairs
61. Hewats: solicitors and estate agents.
62. Lloyds TSB: bank
63. Mad Hatter's: cafe*
64. Sunrise Wholefoods: shop, organics, including local cheese
65. Panache: shop, ladies clothes*
66. Livingstons: shop, ladies dresses* Last shop on east side
67. Sigley's : chip shop, First business on West Side
68. The Royal: was hotel until 2004, now pub*
69. Crown Hotel and restaurant.
70. Haughs: cars sales and garage. Off street through archway and down lane.
71. Great Wall: Chinese take-away
72. G.M. Thompsons: estate agents
73. Imperial Hotel
74. Bell Ogilvy: accountants
75. Clydesdale Bank: .
76. Low's – shop, newsgents
77. Solicitors Property Centre: estate agents.
78. Henderson's: shop, butchers,
79. McCowans: shop, fishing tackle, outdoor activities, pet food.
80. Tessera: shop, clothes, furnishings..*
81. Bryan Gowans: shop, paints, wallpaper, decorating*
82. Gowans: shop, carpets, floor coverings.
83. Gowans: shop, children's clothes .
84. Galloway Craft Guild: shop, local arts and crafts.
85. Therapy Centre: 5 businesses, beauticians, hairdressers etc*
86. Little VIPs: shop, children's clothes.*
87. New Images : hairdressers*
88. Stewartry Care: nursing care for elderly.
89. Posthorn 90: shop fine arts, jewellery*
90. Barber's : gents hairdressers
91. Opticians
92. Co-operative Superstore supermarket shop, [Note: outside defined town centre.
February 2009 large shop household goods, gardening Wilkinson. Co-op relocated to
new, smaller store adjecent to old store.]
93. Post Office
94. Barry Smart' s: shop, newsagents
95. Threave Home Hardware: shop, hardware.*
96. Corsons: shop, bakers
97. Phillpotts: shop, outdoor / sporting clothing. * February 2009 estate agents Giffords.
98. Cobblers :shop, shoe repairs*
99. House of Chocolate: shop, hand made chocolates and deli *
100. Galloway Gems: shop, crafts, artists supplies, crystals, gem rocks
101. Simply Delicious; cafe
102. Mitchells: shop, greengrocers and fishmongers, local fruit and veg in season
103. Cut Above: hairdessers
104. Halliday's : hairdressers
105. Dee Fish: shop, fishmongers, locally caught fish February 2009 VACANT
106. Grierson's : shop, butchers have own farm.
107. Cellar salon: hairdressers
108. Ballard's : shop, butchers, have own farm*
109. Corson's : shop, bakers, bakery at rear
110. Mair's: insurance brokers* . Was hardware shop until 2004
111. The Bible Shop: shop, books also Fairtrade products
112. Paws 4 Claws : shop, pet foods etc *
113. Sports: shop, sportswear* February 2009 shop, ladies clothes Pizaz
114. Pizza.com: pizzas. internet cafe, * February 2009 Indian take-away Castle Douglas Tandoori
115. Scottish Pantry: restaurant,
116. Dunfermline Building Society
117. Bank of Scotland
118. Crallan and Winstanley : architects
119. Natural Choice: hairdressers
120. Kirk's : shop, shoes.
121. Douglas Arms Hotel *
122. Debbie's Flowers : shop, flowers*
123. Douglas Arms: pub *
124. Posthorn: shop, fine arts, *
125. Stepping Out : shop, ladies shoes * February 2009 shop, wooden crafts
126. Impressions: shop, bags, luggage * February 2009, shop, local paintings
127. Rendezvous: cafe, empty since 1995
128. Thomas Cook: National travel agents
129. Kyle Fenwick: accountants
130. Autobar Leisure : shop, camping , cars and carvanning supplies* February 2009
shop, furniture , Country Style
131. Carson and Totter: accountants
132. Ranchers: decorative ironwork, agricultural suppliers
133. Charity shop - Vacant for four months February 2009, half now fast food outlet.
134. Alba Herbs: shop, plants and fish, garden supplies* February 2009 shop, pet supplies
135. Mental Health Association :shop, charity

Map of Castle Douglas from Castle Douglas Food Town website. Tesco site not shown, but next to roundabout in top right hand corner.

2008-11-29T13:22:00.001-08:00

No Petrol Station for Tesco

15 November 2008

Stuart Gillespie: The Galloway News

TESCO’S plans to build a petrol station at their Castle Douglas store have been rejected.
The supermarket giants had appealed to the Scottish Government to have their proposals approved after local councillors failed to deal with them within two months.
However, after holding a public inquiry in the town in July, reporter Dilwyn Thomas dismissed the appeal and refused planning permission yesterday due to the negative impact the filling station would have on the landscape.
Tesco have revealed they are considering their options, but the decision has been welcomed by a number of people in the local community.
When Tesco applied for planning permission for their store in 2005 they had included a petrol station in their proposals.
However, this was removed in order for the plans to gain approval.
In September, 2007, they submitted new plans for a petrol station and as Stewartry area committee had not dealt with them inside two months, they appealed to the Scottish Government.
The plans went before January’s committee meeting and were rejected due to the impact they would have on the landscape.
Mr Thomas shared this view in his reasons for refusal, believing that work on an existing mound and the alternative landscaping proposals would have a detrimental impact on the surrounding area.
Mr Thomas wrote: “In principle, a petrol filling station adjacent to a supermarket in an area covered by a mixed use designation would be acceptable.
“The mound significantly contributes to integrating the supermarket development into the area.
“It also provides a reasonably acceptable soft transition from the settlement into the countryside, and has a screening function.
“I am concerned about the replacement of a significant portion of the mound by hard standing.
It would materially reduce the amount of landscaping at an important location in the supermarket site and at the edge of the settlement.
“I consider that any proposal for a petrol filling station at this location should be based on more substantial landscaping proposals, particularly along the northern boundary.
“While I have no doubt that the area can accommodate change, I am not persuaded that the impact of the development can be properly categorised as either neutral or low beneficial in these views.
“Indeed...I consider that they would be likely to have a significant and materially detrimental impact on the area in general.”
Another issue that had been raised at the inquiry was the possible impact on Castle Douglas town centre and the surrounding area.
While Mr Thomas dismissed these concerns, he did acknowledge that part of the national planning guidelines were dependent on high standards that included landscaping, and Tesco’s proposals conflicted with this element.
Commenting on the decision, Tesco corporate affairs manager, Douglas Wilson, said: “We are of course disappointed by the overall decision, but are satisfied that the principle of a petrol station was supported. However, given the comments made with regards to landscaping associated with this application we will now be considering our options in light of this.
“In the meantime, we would like to thank everybody who took the time to support our application.”
The decision was welcomed by area planning manager Ronnie Irving, who appeared at the public inquiry as a witness for the council.
Mr Irving said: “The council feels that its position has been vindicated.”
Local councillor Brian Collins was another council witness and was pleasantly surprised at the news.
“I was beginning to think the weight of Tesco was becoming insurmountable in terms of local government,” he said.
“The scheme as proposed isn’t suitable - at the time of the inquiry I did say it was “rocks in a box” and was not in keeping with the area.
“The petrol pumps would have been on an illuminated plateau and would interfere with drivers and people living in the houses opposite.”
Fellow Castle Douglas and Glenkens members Peter Duncan and George Prentice also welcomed the news.
Councillor Duncan said: “I was confident that the process undertaken by the area committee was robust and I am not surprised that the Scottish Government has decided to turn down the appeal.”
And Councillor Prentice added: “I am happy for the traders in Castle Douglas and am pleased that the reporter has upheld the decision made by Stewartry area committee.
“I am more than happy with their store in Castle Douglas as I think that the town is now busier than ever.”
Hayton Graham, whose County Tyres business in Castle Douglas also sells petrol, was pleased at the decision.
“I’m highly delighted,” he said. “They get their own way too much.
“It’s not for me I’m so worried, it’s for the young ones in the town who could end up having to leave.
“It’s very good news.”
Galloway and Upper Nithsdale MSP Alex Fergusson had objected to the proposals when they were lodged and believes Mr Thomas had made the right choice.
“I am absolutely delighted to hear this decision and think it is the correct decision,” he said.
“I was very much against it in the first place and was appalled by their apparent disregard for what had gone on two years previously.
“Removing it was a significant part in them getting permission and I would have thought a lot more of them if they had accepted that, but I was deeply disappointed that they tried again. I am delighted and it proves that you get the correct decision sometimes.”
South of Scotland MSP Alasdair Morgan was glad that the opinions of local councillors had been heeded.
“Tesco were well aware when they got their first permission that the council was not content with the idea of a filling station.
“I am pleased that the Scottish Government has upheld the democratic decision of locally elected members. They have had two opportunities to debate whether or not they wanted to see a filling station in Castle Douglas and both times said they didn’t.
“As is their right, Tesco proceeded to the Scottish Government and they have clearly listened to the opinions of locally elected members.”
Dumfries and Galloway MP Russell Brown described the decision as “a victory for common sense”.
He said: “It was clear all the way through this planning process that many local people had deep concerns about the impact this proposal would have on the other fuel retailers in Castle Douglas if it was successful.
“And more generally, people were worried that if Tesco were seen to get their own way again, it would be further evidence that they were trying to cement a retail monopoly in the area. From that point of view this decision will be seen as a victory for common sense.”

2008-02-21T11:34:00.000-08:00

Public inquiry call over Tesco fuel plans

11:13, Feb 21 2008 From Galloway News

BY STUART GILLESPIE

TESCO have demanded a full public inquiry into their plans for a petrol station in Castle Douglas.

The ‘News’ reported in January that councillors had turned down the plans but the decision had been taken out of their hands as the supermarket giants had already appealed to the Scottish Government.

They lodged the appeal because their application hadn’t been determined within two months.

The matter was passed to the Inquiry Reporter’s Unit in Edinburgh and Tesco are now pushing for a full inquiry.

A Tesco spokesperson said: “We have requested a full public enquiry because we feel the process is open and transparent and will allow everyone involved in the process to air their view.”

Galloway and Upper Nithsdale MSP Alex Fergusson, who opposed the application for a petrol station when it was included in the original store plans in 2005, admitted he wasn’t surprised to hear about Tesco’s plans and said he was prepared to fight against it.

He told the ‘News’: “If there is to be a public inquiry then so be it. I feel the case against it applies as strongly now as it did three years ago - nothing has changed.

“I feel the case against it can be put forward at a public inquiry and I am perfectly prepared to do so.”

Castle Douglas and Glenkens councillor Peter Duncan, meanwhile, was slightly taken back to hear of Tesco’s latest move.

He said: “While I’m looking to everyone gets the opportunity to make their case, but I am slightly surprised Tesco have felt the need to ask for a full enquiry.

“I would have thought a hearing would have been sufficient.”

2008-02-06T00:18:00.000-08:00

A third Tesco for Dumfries?

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/south_of_scotland/7228675.stm

Traders fear third Tesco's impact

Retailers in south west Scotland have voiced fears for the financial future over plans by supermarket firm Tesco to open a third store in one town.
The company already has a large store in Dumfries and approval to build a smaller one at nearby Heathhall.
It has confirmed it is in talks with the council to build another store next to the Peel Centre shopping complex.
The local retailers association said it meant Tesco would take about 60% of all money being spent in the town.
The supermarket firm used to occupy one smaller site in the town's Lochside estate.
We have identified a need for further investment in Dumfries and that has led us to this development a Tesco spokesman said.

However, it subsequently moved to a larger 24-hour store at Cuckoo Bridge on the outskirts of Dumfries.
Last year Tesco got planning permission to build a smaller outlet at Heathhall.
Now it is in talks with Dumfries and Galloway Council about building at a Lockerbie Road site, which was first given planning permission 13 years ago.
The Chairman of Dumfries Retailers Association, Rab Smith, said the development would put further financial pressure on small businesses.
"We see business as simple arithmetic," he said.
Housing development
"There is about £2.5m spent in retail in Dumfries every week.
"The original Tesco took about £350,000 and that was liveable but the new Tesco store is taking nearly £1m of that."
He said he believed that if the number of supermarkets rose to three then about £1.5m of weekly spending would go to Tesco.
A spokesman for the supermarket company confirmed that it was undertaking "enabling" works on the Lockerbie Road site at present.
He added that due to the amount of peat at the location it was difficult to set a firm timescale for the plans.
The spokesman added: "We are very keen to develop the site - I don't think it has ever gone away from the agenda.
"We have identified a need for further investment in Dumfries and that has led us to this development."
The new supermarket would be about half the size of the Cuckoo Bridge store and create about 200 jobs.
It is situated beside the largest housing development currently being undertaken in Dumfries.
The Tesco spokesman declined to comment on the impact it would have on trade in the town centre.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/south_of_scotland/7228675.stm

Published: 2008/02/06 00:18:07 GMT

© BBC MMVIII

2007-09-13T05:43:00.000-07:00

Castle Douglas Tesco - here we go again…

7 September 2007
Planning application for construction of Petrol Filling Station - Castle Douglas Tesco

In March 2005, a meeting of the Stewartry (of Kirkcudbright) Area Planning Committee of Dumfries and Galloway Council gave Tesco permission to build a food store in Castle Douglas. The meeting, held in Castle Douglas Town Hall lasted from 10am until 6pm.

Midway through the meeting, it appeared as if the local councillors would reject Tesco’s application. Their sticking point was the inclusion of a petrol filling station as part of the food store plan. The councillors were clearly moved by representations made at the meeting by the owners of rural petrol filling stations who pointed out that as well as selling petrol, they also offer car maintenance and repair services. These essential services are cross-financed by the selling of fuel.

Faced with competition from Tesco, who can use petrol as a ‘loss leader’ (as in Tesco’s current ‘Spend £50 on shopping and get 5p/litre of the price off petrol at our stores ‘ promotion) the fear was that a Castle Douglas food store plus petrol filling station would put these rural petrol stations and garages out of business. This it was argued would have a damaging impact on the viability of Castle Douglas’ rural hinterland, given these areas’ minimal public transport provision.

This argument appeared to be on the point of swaying the planning decision, but faced with loss of the whole development, Tesco’s representatives agreed to withdraw the petrol service station. This change to the planning application midway through the planning meeting was challenged, since it appeared to conflict with usual Dumfries and Galloway planning policy. In other circumstances, such a change would have required a fresh planning application. Once the petrol station part was removed, the Stewartry Area Planning Committee gave approval to the food store part of Tesco’s proposal.

However, although the full Dumfries and Galloway Planning Committee were on hand to make the final decision on the Tesco application, due to the many procedural questions raised , their meeting was deferred until the 9th April 2005. Re-assured that the March meeting had reached a legitimate conclusion, final approval for the Castle Douglas Tesco (minus petrol filling station) was granted . The Tesco store was opened in February 2006. Tesco have now - see letter dated 7 September 2007 as attachment - applied for planning permission to erect an ‘automated petrol filling station’ at their Ernespie Road, Castle Douglas, store.

I suggest that , as successfully argued ( and effectively admitted by Tesco in their decision to withdraw it) at the planning meeting in March 2005 and confirmed by the full planning committee in April 2005, the inclusion of a petrol filling station as part of their Castle Douglas food store is a development too far. The Stewartry of Kirkcudbright is the most rural and hence socially and economically fragile part of Dumfries and Galloway. If, and only if, Tesco can prove that their proposed ‘automated petrol filling station’ will not damage the vitality and viability of essential services provided by existing rural (village, small town) garages and petrol stations should planning permission be granted.

Tesco are a multi-billion pound global company. Do they really need the tiny increase in profit this development will bring, given the damage it will do to our already fragile rural economy and society?

2006-06-21T22:04:00.000-07:00

Co-op announces new £5m ‘Food Town’ store

In a £5m investment, the Co-op is planning a major new supermarket in Castle Douglas, Scotland's first 'Food Town.'

Lothian Borders and Angus Co-operative Society (LBACS) said it intended to open the new purpose-built store, next to its current site in Cotton Street, in 2007 subject to planning consent.

“This substantial investment reflects our continuing commitment to Castle Douglas, where we have been trading for almost 100 years, and the outstanding loyalty of customers who have stayed true to us since Tesco opened a store in Castle Douglas in March,” Galashiels-based Society Chief Executive Bob Jamieson commented.

He added that the development is key to the continuing strength of Castle Douglas town centre, launched two years ago as a 'Food Town' featuring local produce.

Mr Jamieson said that despite Tesco's arrival, the great majority of the Co-op's customers had continued to shop there. “We are determined to keep offering people the best possible choice,” he commented. “Not everyone wants a Tesco and we will continue to offer the Co-op difference.”

The new supermarket will sell the same range of products, including fresh and chilled foods, as the existing 15-year-old outlet which employs around 100 full and part-time staff.

The Chief Executive said the decision to build the new supermarket on its adjacent car park rather than re-furbish the existing store had been taken to avoid disruption to customers during construction work. The Society hopes to complete building some seven months after planning permission is granted.

The Co-op has been in Castle Douglas since 1910 with the present store having been opened in 1991. “We have been providing a service to the town for almost 100 years and intend to keep doing so,” Mr Jamieson commented.

Gordon Wilks, the Society's Development and Property Controller, said the new store would be built to the latest exacting standards, using the best available technology, and take into account environmental concerns.

ENDS

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2006-03-20T04:17:00.000-08:00

LOVING TESCO LESS

1st April 2006 -
Enjoy shopping more by loving Tesco less.

(Apologies to Kaiser Chiefs/ Everyday I love you less and less)

Loving Tesco Less

Everyday, Tesco get bigger and bigger
Everyday, we love them less and less.

Tesco say “Its not our fault”
Its the shoppers, they say,
The shoppers just won’t go away.

So Tesco have to open more stores,
Bigger stores. Smaller stores.
Uptown, downtown, edge of town, out of town.

As another small shop shuts,
While farmers protest,
And the supply chain tightens another notch.

“But Tesco’s prices are so low...
How can anyone complain?”
The public gets what the public wants.

Super Size Tesco.
Is that what we really want?
Competition all eaten up and no where else to shop?

What can be done? And how? Its easy if you try.

Loving Tesco Less Days

Starting on the 1st of April and on the first day of each month thereafter - shop less at Tesco. If you can, enjoy shopping more at markets and small shops on your high street. If you can’t, then use other supermarkets. We can all be shopping heroes, if just for one day. Tesco will notice. Even the smallest drop in sales on ‘Loving Tesco Less Days’ will register.

Sir Terry Leahy [big boss man] will never admit it, but in his heart he knows that as Tesco get bigger and bigger, everday we love them less and less.

April Fools Day 2006
Enjoy shopping more- Love Tesco Less

2006-02-17T10:40:00.000-08:00

Tesco due to open Castle Douglas store 27 Feb 2006

... but will they play by the rules? Reading the All Party Parliamentary Small Shops Group Report "High Street Britain : 2015" we wonder.

From page 43 of the Report...

Portwood in the North Weszt has seen clear abuse of the planning system from Tesco. Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council imposed a limit on the size of the sales area ... it was revealed that Tesco contravened the restriction... commenting on this, Lucy Neville -Rolfe of Tesco said

" The people who were fitting the store decided that they needed more space, mainly for back room operation, and so therefore they built the store bigger than the original planning permision. I do not know quite why, but they did".

Clearly Tesco believe planning restrictions don't apply to them !

2006-02-02T05:05:00.000-08:00

From Alistair Livingston

Dear Sir, with all due respect to Sir Terry Leahy, his belief (quoted in Herald Editorial Februay 2) that the rise of Tesco is a ‘win, win, win situation’ for shareholders, customers and suppliers has a rather hollow ring here in Galloway.

Leahy claims that Tesco help suppliers expand their businesses. Not here they don’t. The Milklink Creamery in Kirkcudbright has just announced 34 job losses. Why have these jobs been lost? Because Tesco have decided to restucture their supply chain. Somewhat ironically, Tesco are also about to open a supermarket in Castle Douglas on the site of the town’s old railway station. It was the arrival of the railway in 1860 which triggered the growth of a local dairy farming industry.

Although the railway is long gone, Castle Douglas is still surrounded by dairy farms which remain the mainstay of the regional economy, with 40% of the Scottish dairy industry based in the south-west. Tourism is our other key industry. What attracts vistors to Dumfries and Galloway is our countryside and the wildlife it supports. Any intensification of farming to meet the ‘economies of scale required to turn a profit’, as advocated by Kevin Hawkins of the British Retail Consortium to the Holyrood inquiry, will have the effect of turning the south-west into a green desert, bereft of wildlife.

Sadly, local responses to Tesco’s market dominance are those of impotent despair. Our dairy farmers pour their milk away in a ‘farmers strike’. Our Council rails in futility against Tesco for ignoring planning conditions imposed on their Castle Douglas store. Castle Douglas promotes itself as a “Food Town”, as a ‘unique shopping experience’, but the the Food Town Committe refuse even to discuss the threat posed by Tesco. The time may be coming for a ‘fair trade movement for British food producers’, but here in Galloway, it may already be too late.

2006-02-02T04:59:00.000-08:00

Farmers take Tesco to task for milking their profits

TOM GORDON, Scottish Political Correspondent

February 02 2006

FARMERS and MSPs yesterday squared up to Tesco, Britain's biggest supermarket chain, warning its huge buying power was squeezing smaller food suppliers out of existence. On day one of a Holyrood inquiry prompted by claims of unfairness in the food supply chain, politicians highlighted the "scandalous" difference between prices paid to farmers for milk and the retail price.The number of dairy farms in Scotland has fallen from 2200 to 1500 in the last five years as prices failed to cover the costs of production. The farm-gate price has dropped from about 24p a litre in 1994, when the UK milk market was deregulated, to about 18p. The price in shops has risen from 42p to 55p.This week, the retail price of milk rose by 2.2p per litre, but the producer price fell by 1p. The inquiry began as figures emerged showing a collapse in the number of traditional high street shops, while supermarkets' purchasing clout grew.From 1998 to 2004, Scotland lost 47% of its grocers, 33% of butchers, 26% of fishmongers, 20% of tobacconists and newsagents and 15% of bakers.The UK's £120bn grocery market is dominated by the so-called "big four" – Tesco, Sainsbury, Morrison and Asda – who account for 80% of sales.Opening the evidence before the environment committee, James Withers, deputy chief executive of the National Farmers Union in Scotland, said under the current system farmers knew they would never see their profits go up in line with those of supermarkets. "There's no doubt that in liquid milk there's a huge margin being made at the retail end, a small margin made at the processing [middle] and a loss at the farming end. If we can get more transparency in the chain, we can ensure there's a more equitable share of that margin."At the moment, farmers are being told to be efficient and produce quality and get a better return. [They're] doing exactly that and they're going out of business."Ted Brocklebank, Tory MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife, said no topic in the committee's remit raised more interest than the "scandalous distortion" between farm-gate and retail milk prices. "When supermarkets put up their prices why is it that this does not filter down to the producer at the farm gate?"Sarah Mackie, senior buying manager with Tesco in Scotland, said her firm dealt only with milk processors – not farmers – and was not trying to put anyone out of business. When pressed on Tesco's profit margins, she said she was "not qualified" to comment, adding an Office of Fair Trading inquiry on the subject stopped her from saying more.Peter Nicholson, of Robert Wiseman Dairies, which buys and processes 22% of the UK's milk, said deregulation and the markets were responsible.John Cummings, representing Farmers for Action, responded by saying that it was painfully clear where the money was in the supply chain."It's not in my pocket. It's split between the Wisemans of the world and the Tescos of the world and anyone who wants to dispute that can start now."Kevin Hawkins, director- general of the British Retail Consortium, said small dairy farms were going out of business as only "mega dairies" had the economies of scale required to turn a profit.Meanwhile, milk processors who needed contracts with the major supermarkets to survive ruthlessly undercut each other, passing on the pain to farmers.Although supermarkets should abide by a code of conduct, MSPs heard suppliers were too afraid to complain about rough tactics, such as being made to bear the cost of two-for-one deals. Mark Ruskell, the Green MSP, called for the establishment of an independent body to police the code and look into breaches. 'Attitude change, or no milk production'Robert Steven, 35, owns a small dairy farm in Eaglesham, East Renfrewshire. He believes his 95-cow operation is increasingly under threat.Mr Steven sells his product to First Milk, a co-operative that sells it on to Robert Wiseman Dairies, suppliers to Tesco."I've worked on this farm since I left school. Fifteen years ago, we were paid 25p a litre and could just about afford to to keep up with industry changes," he said." In the time I've been farming, the supermarkets have taken 12p extra a litre, and farmers 7p less. Unless supermarkets change their attitude, no-one around here will be able to produce milk."

2005-12-15T01:35:00.000-08:00

Great white shark spotted...

The ugly white shed in the background will be Tesco.

2005-11-10T00:41:00.000-08:00

Superstore that's on a roll

Britain's biggest supermarket, Tesco, is being accused of trampling over local councils when pushing through its retail developments. Nick Mathiason reports

Sunday September 25, 2005
The Observer

Has Tesco got Britain's planning system in its pocket? As the supermarket posted another set of record-breaking results last week, evidence seen by The Observer appears to show that the country's most powerful retailer is routinely pushing Britain's planning system to breaking point.

In its determination to control Britain's high streets and shopping malls, Tesco is accused of 'overweening arrogance' for attempting to build stores on land not zoned for retail developments and wilfully taking councils to costly appeals in a high-stakes game of poker aimed at getting its schemes through the planning system. In addition, campaigners say Tesco has built larger stores than councils allowed and then retrospectively applied for new permissions.

And the store is embroiled in a number of 'conflict of interests' rows. These involve planning consultancies, which have worked extensively for the supermarket giant, being commissioned by councils to undertake independent retail impact assessments to determine whether Tesco stores should be built.

There are no suggestions that Tesco or the consultants have done anything illegal but, taken together, campaigners claim these incidents appear to show the supermarket is 'trampling' over planning law.

Robin Webster, Friends of the Earth supermarket campaigner, said: 'We are not talking about illegal activities but there are a welter of ways through which Tesco persuades local authorities and influences decisions which trample democracy.'

· In Liverpool, Tesco bought playing fields from the university to build a supermarket on a greenfield site. This is in contravention of the city's development plan. The council refused an initial planning application but Tesco is taking the case to appeal, which is costing the cash-strapped council £500,000. It has also submitted another planning application and is accused of pulling out of meetings with local communities.

· In Stockport, Tesco built a 120,000 sq ft outlet, some 18,000 sq ft over the agreed amount, causing a welter of complaints among businesses. Tesco is retrospectively applying for a new planning consent. Campaigners claim this is not the first time Tesco has done this.

· In Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway and Berwick in Northumberland, planning consultants working for Tesco have been commissioned by councils to determine what effect a new store will have on the local economies. Opponents have written to the Royal Town Planning Institute outlining concerns.

The row over conflicts of interest, which has not arisen from anything Tesco has done, centres on two consultancies: GVA Grimley and England & Lyle. GVA said: 'We abide by a strict code of conduct ensuring that clients are never compromised. We always ensure that there are no conflicts of interest to any instruction that we may receive.'

England & Lyle partner Ian Lyle said: 'We abide by the Royal Town Planning Institute Code of Conduct and we don't believe there's any conflict in the way we conducted our business.'

Throughout the country there are cases where councils are facing long planning disputes with Tesco. In Sheringham, Norfolk, one of the only towns in England without a supermarket, the council last week rejected Tesco's plans after a protracted battle that has infuriated local businesses. In Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, John Prescott overruled the local authority and gave permission for a supermarket despite a local referendum which resulted in a vote of over 90 per cent against the superstore. The project has attracted further controversy after the train tunnel over which the store was being built collapsed.

Tesco says it always engages with communities and that it does not choose planning consultants used by councillors. In response to claims that it deliberately bombards councils with expensive appeals, it added that the planning regime is the same for all businesses and that it builds most of its stores on brownfield sites which help regenerate hard-pressed inner cities.

Tesco's competitors, who are trailing in its wake, envy the store's landbank of more than 185 sites and fear that if these are developed the firm will have more than 4.5 million sq ft of new retail space.

Tesco enjoys strong links with the Labour party. It paid Philip Gould, a trusted Blair aide, to help reorganise its publicity, media and lobbying machine. It has hired David North, Blair's former private secretary and a specialist in rural affairs, as its director of government affairs and corporate social responsibility. The firm's company secretary and director of group corporate affairs, Lucy Neville-Rolfe, was a key Cabinet Office mandarin for many years. And lobbying firm Lawson Lucas Mendelsohn, which has close links to Tony Blair, helped Tesco defeat government proposals to introduce a tax on supermarket car parks when it first came into power.

Ministers tolerate Tesco for helping to keep inflation down and employing tens of thousands of people. Recently John Prescott appeared to play into supermarkets' hands by watering down tough rules clamping down on out-of-town shopping development after a campaign by top retailers including Tesco.

But as the diversity of high streets and survival of small businesses - the lifeblood of Britain's economy - appears increasingly under threat, growing opposition to the firm may force ministers to trim the supermarket's wings.

2005-11-10T00:27:00.000-08:00

Local farmers protest against supermarkets.

Galloway News report 10 November 2005

2005-11-10T00:25:00.000-08:00

Castle Douglas Tesco Letter 's Page Galloway News 10 November 2005

Dear Sir, how long will Tesco last in Castle Douglas? Or will they be forced to up sticks and move out before the paint has even dried on their new store?

I ask the question in all seriousness. Last week, the Association of Convenience Stores won a legal ruling against the Office of Fair Trading over unfair competition by big supermarkets. And next month, an all-party report by MPs will recommend an end to below- cost pricing by the big supermarket chains. Tesco's attempt to take over the 'convenience store' (small, high street supermarkets like Spar and Costcutter) sector is also likely to be blocked.

But the threat which is really worrying Tesco is 'divestment'. This is a legal term used for breaking up a monopoly. Only the Competition Commission have the power to do this. It would mean Tesco having to sell-off some of their stores. The argument is that with 30% (and rising) market share, and with plans to create 1200 convenience stores by 2015, Tesco are getting too big for the free-market economy.

Asked if it would be in the public interest if Tesco had to sell-off some of their stores, Lucy Neville -Rolfe, Tesco's company secretary and director of legal and public affairs, has said it would be a bad idea. But if push comes to shove, Tesco will have do what the Competition Commission tell them to. The interesting question is: which stores will Tesco choose to sacrifice if forced into 'divestment'?

I suggest Tesco would rather not lose their Dumfries mega-store, since Dumfries is the main shopping centre for Dumfries and Galloway. However, as one of their smaller stores, the Castle Douglas Tesco would be expendable and could be offered up to the Competition Commission as a sacrificial 'divestment'.

Of course this is all pure speculation. Tesco may well have enough economic and political clout to see off any such threat to their bid for total market dominance. But just in case the Association of Convenience Stores' David manages to score a direct hit on the Tesco Goliath, perhaps we should start thinking about an alternative use for the Castle Douglas Tesco site.

Possibly another supermarket chain might want to take the site over, but the economic return would be marginal. On any rational economic grounds, Castle Douglas is too small to justify a supermarket on the Tesco site. And as GVA Grimley advised the Council, it is also in the wrong place - the Wallets Mart site was the one Grimley's advised on planning law and practical economic/ access grounds.

Luckily, Tesco haven't yet constructed their sacrificial store. Before they bang it up, there is still the chance for reason and public opinion to prevail. The obvious solution to Tesco's 'divestment' problem is : sell off the site for a new garden centre!

2005-11-09T13:59:00.000-08:00

26 February 2006 opening date?

Meanwhile deconstruction continues: work in progress at Ccastle Douglas Tesco site.

2005-11-07T04:40:00.000-08:00

Tesco may have to sell off stores: Business section of Observer, 6 November 2005 on "Divestment. "

What in interesting word. I wonder if Tesco's urgent need to create a store in Castle Douglas is linked to this threat?

2005-11-07T04:39:00.000-08:00

Foes home in on Tesco Criticism of the high street giant's expansionist behaviour is growing, writes Nick Mathiason Sunday November 6, 2005The Observer

They've crushed the competition. But now Tesco is facing its biggest-ever challenge. Everywhere it looks, Britain's biggest retailer has enemies. Not only are they growing by the day, but there's a fair chance they will succeed in cutting the giant down to size.

An alliance of government ministers, MPs across the political spectrum, campaign groups, suppliers, independent retailers and rival supermarkets are increasingly uneasy at the supermarket's overwhelming dominance of a British grocery sector worth £76 billion. Tesco controls 30.8 per cent of it and its stranglehold is tightening.

It sounds crazy to question the future of Britain's most powerful retailer when it accounts for more than one in every eight pounds spent by UK consumers, but the next six months could see significant efforts to clip its wings.

Next month, a report from an all-party group of MPs into the future of the high street is likely to recommend an end to below-cost pricing of key goods, and curbs to stop supermarkets in general, and Tesco in particular, buying more convenience stores. The recommendations will be closely watched by the Department of Trade and Industry, which appears sympathetic to the anti-Tesco bandwagon.

Last Thursday Gerry Sutcliffe, the DTI minister for competition and consumer affairs, outlined his concerns about the dominance of supermarkets to MPs taking evidence for the high street inquiry. 'I do have concerns that there is an imbalance at the moment and that we need to find ways to rebuild that balance, but I think it is a very difficult and complex area in terms of the structure of the markets .... There is definitely an issue there; the way the DTI has to deal with it is through the competition structure but we will be closely monitoring what takes place.'

Meanwhile, it is increasingly likely that the Office of Fair Trading will order a full-scale probe into the UK grocery sector in the New Year that could eventually see MPs' recommendations become reality. Last week, the fair trading watchdog was ordered by an appeals tribunal judge to 'urgently' reconsider its decision on whether to recommend a full inquiry into the groceries market. Sir Christopher Bellamy, president of the Competition Appeals Tribunal, told the OFT that its intention to take a further eight months to decide whether a full inquiry into the market was necessary was 'unreasonable'.

For the OFT, this represents a double humiliation. The previous week it was forced to cave in to demands by the Association of Convenience Stores to launch an inquiry after it admitted it had made mistakes in an 18-month investigation.

The result spells bad news for Tesco, whose market dominance will be the chief subject occupying the minds of investigators.

'I don't think people are going to let this one lie,' says Robin Webster, food campaigner at Friends of the Earth. 'There is a momentum building towards targeted action - action that will rein in the Tesco juggernaut and prevent further abuses of the system.'

One Whitehall insider says: 'There is top-level political concern about this issue. The all-party inquiry didn't happen overnight, or for no reason. This is now going through the process that everyone hoped for.'
Tesco is expert at giving consumers what they want: a wide choice at low prices, with free parking to boot, something town centre shops cannot offer. Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Tesco's company secretary and legal and public affairs director, cites evidence from Southampton University that the store has been instrumental in rejuvenating town centres and boosting employment.

But its huge land bank, below-cost pricing and aggressive tactics against planning authorities - which see the firm repeatedly issue planning appeals to wear down cash-strapped local authorities and get the stores it wants - have forced both its own suppliers and small shops out of business. Critics say that this ultimately reduces consumer choice.

Rivals despair that Tesco is now also the second biggest non-food retailer in the country. Small shops are aghast at how the competition authorities have allowed Tesco to buy up large chains of convenience stores, forcing them out of business. From scratch, Tesco has built up a chain of 600 convenience stores, with plans to at least double that figure in 10 years.

At the same time, 7,377 independent stores, more than 20 per cent of the total, closed between 2000 and 2004.

And MPs are also reacting to disquiet among small businesses in their constituencies when a Tesco opens on the local high street. Labour MP Jim Dowd branded the company 'disgraceful' for the predatory pricing tactics it adopted - dropping prices on some goods by as much as 40 per cent - to put an independent supermarket firm out of business in Yorkshire.

Tesco's Neville-Rolfe warns against public policy being made based on what she terms isolated incidents, but the problem for Tesco is that there is a growing list of complaints at Tesco's strong-arm tactics. Furthermore, Dowd is responsible for writing the MPs' report into the future of the high street that will appear next month. This could be the start of a process that will see the company, led by Sir Terry Leahy, face a number of sanctions.

The first is an end to below-cost pricing, as adopted by Tesco and the three other leading supermarkets; second, curbs on future acquisitions; and third - and most extreme - demands that Tesco sell off some of its outlets to encourage more diversity in the high street. This has echoes of the 'Beer Orders' of 1989 that forced brewers to sell off pubs - and, of course, like the beer orders, could have unintended consequences.
'There's certainly a case for divestment,' says Andrew Sims, policy director at the influential New Economics Foundation. 'It's the logical place to go. The muffled cries you can hear is the sound of the marketplace being strangled by the big four.'

Conservative MP Philip Hollobone, who is a leading member of the all-party inquiry into the future of the high street, says: 'The minister says the consumer is king, but you get to a point in free markets [where] driving down price limits choice for the consumer as well as reducing opportunities for suppliers to sustain a business in the long term.

'The big question is what percentage cap should be imposed, and if [they] are currently above that then divestment is a logical consequence. You have to think about the long-term interest of the consumer. It might be in the short-term interest to drop prices to the lowest possible level, but this is having serious long-term consequences on suppliers and I would hope that the OFT would want to see a sustainable retail market.'
Neville-Rolfe says that, as a dominant player in a high-profile industry, Tesco is used to public scrutiny and will vigorously fight any attempts to dismantle its empire.

But as concern grows across the political spectrum over the social and economic effects of Tesco's utter domination of the British retail landscape, it will need all its battling qualities to fend off the threat.

2005-11-06T01:22:00.000-08:00

November 4th and 6th Press Clippings

D and G Standard and Mail on Sunday

2005-11-03T01:24:00.000-08:00

Farmers Strike Highlights Need For Fair Trade

Consumers and politicians are being urged by Scotland’s farming union to join the campaign to tackle the increasing power of the supermarkets. NFU Scotland is reiterating its call for urgent political action as some Scottish farmers start taking strike action and withholding produce to protest at unsustainable farmgate prices. A three-day strike has been organised by Farmers For Action starting today.

For a year now, NFUS has been urging Government and the Competition Authorities to tackle the imbalance of power within the food and drink supply chain which has seen supermarket margins increase on the back of reducing prices to farmers. NFUS is calling for a further Competition Commission investigation into the retail sector and the introduction of an independent watchdog to police fair trade between UK supermarkets and their suppliers.

NFUS has emphasised that some supermarket and supplier relationships work very well, but there is too much fear in the supply chain and there is no means of tackling abuses of power.

NFUS meetings with politicians at Holyrood start tomorrow and come ahead of action on Saturday when farmers will be speaking to shoppers around the country. Farmers will be in supermarkets highlighting the growing gap between the shelf price and the price paid to them (see notes for examples). Farmers will also be at some farmers markets thanking shoppers for their support for the markets and local produce and urging them to put pressure on politicians to address the power of the supermarkets.

NFUS President John Kinnaird said:
“As supermarket margins have grown, farmers have faced a destructive squeeze on their own businesses. Farmers are now saying enough is enough. It has now got to the point that farmers are starting strike action; withholding produce to protest at the unsustainable prices they are being paid. Many farmers are simply not in a position to take part in a strike as it adds to an already serious financial situation and causes real problems for those committed to supply contracts. Yet, the fact this is even being talked about should be a clear message that the current situation cannot continue.

“If supermarkets want to continue to increase their margins at farmers’ expense, they could destroy much of our local food industry. We are already seeing local food processing facilities close and the financial squeeze which has seen a quarter of Scotland’s dairy farms quit in the last five years is now being felt across all sectors of agriculture.

“The First Minister has recognised this problem and has already highlighted to supermarkets that they will be starved of supply if they starve farmers of a fair price. We now need action. I have already discussed this issue with Mr McConnell and tomorrow I begin a series of meetings with the major political parties.
“Around 80 per cent of the food and drink produced in this country is sold through the major supermarkets and the misuse of power must be addressed if we want to secure the future of Scotland’s world famous food industry.”

fromhttp://www.nfus.org.uk/news_detail.asp?newsID=704&homepage=yes

2005-10-26T04:29:00.000-07:00

No lights on the Christmas Tree?

Castle Douglas is struggling to find enough money to get lit up this Xmas.

Perhaps Tesco will help?

2005-10-14T07:43:00.000-07:00

Semple and Fergusson closing down.

Will a new business take over? Watch this space.

2005-10-14T07:38:00.000-07:00

Three empty businesses in Castle Douglas.

How many more will Tesco create?

2005-10-13T06:17:00.000-07:00

Down in the sewer.

Photo shows first stage of £2 million upgrade of Castle Douglas sewage system.

This will pipe processed waste 3 miles to the river Dee.

This work has to be done to meet planning conditions imposed on Tesco, a 63 unit housing project (nearly completed) and a new health centre. The original cost was estimated (September 2004) at £500 000. But the original route of the pipeline ran through a Special Protected Area/ internationally important wetland.

Scottish Natural Heritage blocked this shorter (1.5 miles) route. A new, more expensive route was proposed in early 2005. Did the need to have Tesco on board (developers are paying for the sewage upgrade) to meet the extra cost influence the decision to approve their supermarket? No-one knows.

2005-10-05T03:25:00.000-07:00

Tesco deconstruction.

Although the legality of the planning procedures which have allowed Tesco to start their deconstruction of Castle Douglas as a Food Town/ unique shopping experience is still being questioned, as the images below reveal, physcial de/ construction has already begun.

Looking at the site, it resembles the road construction sites [ Twyford Down, M11, M 74, Bath, Newbury etc.]which ten years ago were met with determined resistance. The road protests back then did check the progress of such road developments, but it seems nothing can check Tesco's progress to total market dominance.

Tesco apparently have a 'land bank' which will let them build another 185 stores. Tesco also have the economic ability to bulldoze their way through planning laws.

What will happen to Castle Douglas? Watch this space to find out.

2005-10-05T03:20:00.000-07:00

Will these 150 year old Scots pines survive?

2005-10-05T03:18:00.000-07:00

Organic- or ironic?

2005-10-05T03:12:00.000-07:00

Tesco come to town October 2005.

This is a view of the Castle Douglas Tesco site.

2005-08-22T13:38:00.000-07:00

Conflict of interest row erupts over Tesco stores expansion

By Alan Crawford
Sunday Herald 20 August 2005

The expansion of Tesco superstores into smaller towns across the UK is encountering cross-party political opposition following allegations of possible irregularities in the planning process.

Local opponents of new supermarkets have written to the Royal Town Planning Institute (RPTI), a professional body for planners, with allegations of three instances in Scotland and North England of a potential conflict of interest.

The complaints centre on two consultancy firms, GVA Grimley and England & Lyle, that have produced reports on the need for a supermarket for the local authority granting planning permission, while also acting on behalf of Tesco, the UK’s largest supermarket group, with some 30% of the retail market.

Both firms deny any conflict of interest, and GVA Grimley is taking legal advice on the allegations. The firms say they have acted for Tesco but in different parts of the country than those the subject of current planning applications.

Paul Rounce, of GVA Grimley in Edinburgh, said the firm worked for “all manner of clients including a number of local authorities. We will see what our lawyers have to say about it. But we do this work all the time and have never come across a case where an individual has alleged something like this.”

John England, a partner in Darlington-based England & Lyle, added: “It’s in the nature of consultancy work that occasionally you find that you’re working for one client and then in a different area, let’s say the council, it may well be that same client, say Tesco, is closely involved. But there’s no conflict from a professional point of view because the work is totally different.”

However, politicians of all parties are now demanding greater scrutiny of the planning process, particularly in Berwick, Castle Douglas and Crieff, where complaints have been made over stores planned by Tesco.

Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs have raised the Berwick case with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, and in Scotland Green MSP Chris Balance has written to the Scottish Executive asking ministers to look into the Castle Douglas case.

The SSP’s Rosemary Byrne, MSP for the South of Scotland, is also asking the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, who looks at administrative processes involved, to investigate.

“I’ve grave concerns about the practises uncovered,” she said.

Meanwhile, Tory MSP Alex Fergusson is urging Dumfries and Galloway Council’s chief executive to put Tesco’s new store in Castle Douglas on hold until the RTPI completes its investigations.

The issue first came to light in Castle Douglas 10 days ago, when it emerged that an opponent of Tesco’s plans had lodged a complaint with the RTPI against Roger Slipper, a partner of GVA Grimley.

The complaint alleged that Slipper’s agreeing to write a report for the council broke the RTPI code of conduct, which state that members “must take all reasonable precautions to ensure that no conflict of duty arises between the interests of one employer or client and another, or between the interests of any employer or client and the interests of themselves or their firms or business associates”.

The Sunday Herald has learned that a complaint has also been made against England & Lyle in similar circumstances. Ross Dempster, an optician, wrote to the RTPI in June and last week on behalf of the Berwick Chamber of Trade and Commerce, to point out that England & Lyle had advised the council on catchment areas for a new Tesco store, although the firm also has Tesco as a client.

LibDem MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed, Alan Beith, has written to John Prescott and planning minister Baroness Andrews calling for a public inquiry into plans to site up to six supermarkets on the outskirts of the historic town.

He too is concerned that the report prepared for Berwick Council stated that the potential catchment area for a Tesco store – the only supermarket of the six proposed to have been approved so far – included some 50,000 people, even though the population of Berwick is only 12,000. He said such a catchment area would impact on Galashiels or Kelso.

Beith said he wants the public inquiry to look at the role of England & Lyle in light of Tesco being a client, saying: “Even if the report is entirely objective, it is not entirely satisfactory.”

“It’s a conflict of interest at worst; at the least, it suggests that the council and Tesco are relying on the same source of information for shopping potential in the area.”

The Sunday Herald has also learned that GVA Grimley produced a retail survey of Crieff for Perth and Kinross Council in June in preparation for a proposed supermarket in the town, to be recommended as the site for a Tesco store at a council meeting on Wednesday. Another complaint is understood to be on its way to the RTPI over this case, along with requests to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman for an investigation.

“It doesn’t look good,” said SNP MSP for Perth, Roseanna Cunningham. “I think it will make people in Crieff very suspicious of the results of the survey that was done.”

Rounce, of GVA Grimley, confirmed he was aware of the complaint but he said the council was “relaxed”, and “absolutely” denied any conflict of interest.

Jonathan Refoy, corporate affairs manager for Tesco in Scotland, speaking of the process in Castle Douglas, said it had been conducted “with utmost public scrutiny”.

He added: “We are very robust in the nature in which we carry out our planning applications.”

21 August 2005

2005-08-05T14:36:00.000-07:00

View of Tesco site.

Store will be built on far side of roundabout.

Trees in background, 150 year old Scots pines, will be felled.

2005-08-04T14:00:00.000-07:00

URGENT -- SUPPORT TESCO AGENCY WORKERS
Workers in Tesco's Irish distributing centres have been protesting against the sacking of two members of staff since Thursday 28th. Mainly Polish agency staff, they have been brought over by Tesco in the hope that they will work for lower pay and not know their rights. Managers have been bullying the workers, and forcing them to meet back- breaking targets. Now they are calling for solidarity pickets of all Tescos on Thursday the 6th of August, at 6pm.

A leaflet can be downloaded at

https://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/08/320202.html

For more information on this story see

www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=71189.

If you do organise a protest please send a report to ejasiewicz @ tgwu.org.uk

2005-07-17T00:45:00.003-07:00

Death of a market town?

What is going to happen to Castle Douglas? Will we lose our 'Mart' - livestock market- and get another supermarket instead? Has the Tesco plan ushered in an era of unplanned development? Or will Dumfries and Galloway Council manage to slam the lid back on?

By rejecting the move of the Garden Centre from the Tesco site (expected to open April 2006) , a wave of popular protest has been unleashed. 3600 people have signed a petition asking the Council to reconsider and an appeal is to be made to the Scottish executive.

But if you read through the arguments against relocation- see

http://rpu.dumgal.gov.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/committee_reports/008966.pdf

the fear is that if teh grden Centre is allowed to move, this would create a precedent for further developments out of town towards the A 75. Wallets Mart have been in Castle Douglas since the 1850ies. As well as the Mart site besdie the Market Hill , they also own fields around the town. These date back to the days when livestock had to be walked to market and kept overnight before being sold.

If Wallets can get these fields re-zoned for housing and sell their Mart site for retail use, Castle Douglas would become 'suburbanised'.

All that is really holding the process back is lack of sewage capacity- but this is set to change over the next few years, once Scottish Water's 2006- 2014 investment strategy kicks in.

By showing that planning policies don't apply to big developments, Tesco have set in motion economic overdevelopment processes which will destroy all that is unique about Castle Douglas.

The following letter published in the loal Galloway News on 14 July 2005 attempts to explain this...

Dear Sir,

the planning process is like an iceberg.. High profile planning decisions, like the Castle Douglas Garden Centre one, are only the tip of the iceberg. Its main bulk lies beneath the surface in a mass of documents like the Stewartry Local Plan, which in turn are based on a raft of National Planning Policy Guidelines and Planning Advice Notes which interpret relevant Acts of Parliament. Altogether it is an incredibly complicated structure. Unfortunately, thanks to Scottish Water, the planning system is also in a state of chaos.

Across Dumfries and Galloway and throughout Scotland, Local Plans are in limbo. Local Plans give specific details of where house building and other developments can take place. These in turn can only be built if Scottish Water invest in upgrading water and sewage services for the new developments. Scottish Water's 2000 to 2006 investment strategy failed to take such proposed developments into account. The result has been a planning 'log-jam'. Five years after the first draft Local Plans were proposed, they are all now subject to a Public Inquiry.

Looking at the situation in Castle Douglas, the Scottish Water problem has created planning chaos. Large scale developments, like the Ernespie Road housing, health centre and supermarket ones, have gone ahead even though they were not included in the original Local Plan. A key factor here is that the developers have agreed with Scottish Water to pay for an upgrade of the local sewage system. By allowing these developments, the impression has been created that planning is now a free for all driven by economic clout rather than local need..

Reading between the lines of the Planning Officer's Report on the Garden Centre Relocation, it seems an attempt is being made to re-impose order. In particular, reference is made to Wallets Mart's submission to the Public Inquiry into the Stewartry Local Plan. Wallets argue that the Stewartry Showfield (next to the Tesco site) should be 're-zoned' for housing. In their supporting evidence, Wallets also explain that they are looking to relocate their Mart, which would free up a key site within the town for retail and residential use. Viewed in isolation, the relocation of the Garden Centre could be seen as 'natural growth' . But from a planning perspective, this move of an important business would create a precedent for the 'unplanned' expansion of Castle Douglas all the way out to the A 75.

Change is coming. The GVA Grimley retail capacity study commissioned by the Council suggested that the Market Hill become a new town centre in place of King Street. This would go hand in hand with future redevelopment of the Wallets Mart/ Primary School area . But we should never forget that Castle Douglas' heritage is that of a Georgian planned town. Sir William Douglas' legacy is still celebrated during Castle Douglas Civic Week. Sir William's plans for his new town were bold and inspired, even visionary. In planning the future of Castle Douglas, we need to re-affirm Sir William's vision rather than squander his legacy. We need look no further than Dumfries to see what King Street might become. Or as Shelley almost put it 'Look upon the Friars Vennel ye mighty, and despair"'

2005-07-01T10:07:00.000-07:00

Tesco collapses!

Deconstruction? It wasn' t us, honest...

From http://www.4rfv.co.uk/nationalnews.asp?id=42095

01 July 2005

Gerrards Cross tunnel collapse causes commuter chaos

An inquiry has been launched into the collapse of 20-metre section of a partially completed railway tunnel last night.The tunnel at Gerrards Cross in Buckinghamshire was to be put in place so that the carpark for a £20 million Tesco Superstore development could be built over the Chiltern line.No-one was injured in the collapse of the tunnel over the line which runs from Marylebone to Birmingham but train services on the line will be subject to major disruption for at least a week until thousands of tonnes of material can be cleared from the track.

At around 7.30pm on Thursday evening the driver of a train stopped near the Gerrards Cross station alerted authorities of the collapse of the tunnel near the station.Overnight, specialist investigators from Network Rail and the Health and Safety Executive were called in to examine the scene.A spokesperson for Chiltern Railways this morning apologised for the inconvenience caused by the situation, which he said was beyond the company's control.
The Gerrards Cross station will remain closed until further notice and Chiltern Railways announced that an emergency timetable is in operation on the route.

Passengers will be bused between: Beaconsfield and Amersham (for onward Chiltern Railways and London Underground services to central London); High Wycombe to Maidenhead (for onward First Great Western Link trains to London Paddington); and Denham to West Ruislip (for onward Chiltern Railways and London Underground services to central London).The spokesperson confirmed that until further notice, Chiltern Railways tickets would be accepted by Virgin Trains, First Great Western Link, Central Trains, Silverlink Trains and London Underground on the neighbouring alternative rail routes.(SP/GB)

2005-07-01T07:20:00.000-07:00

Tesco create planning chaos....

Even before they have built their new store, Tesco have already set in motion the destruction of Castle Douglas as a rural market town. For 150 years, Castle Douglas has been home to Wallets Mart. The mart site (see 'A stroll around Castle Douglas' blog) is covers several acres next to the Market Hill. Wallets also own land around the town. This dates back to the days when sheep and cattle were walked to market and rested over night in fields around the town before being auctioned.

Now a key planning point we made against Tesco was that the site they had chosen was right on the edge of town and separated from the town centre by a 5 spur roundabout and a 15 minute walk. Tesco argued that no alternative location was feasible. Dumfries and Galloway Council paid £10 000 to retail consultants GVA Grimley to check this out.

Grimley' s agreed with us. The site chosen by Tesco was not appropriate. Grimley 's even offered ( at the public planning committee meeting on March 11th 2005)to support the Council should they refuse Tesco planning permission on these grounds. The offer was not taken up.

Unfortunately, Grimley' s also identified a much better site - Wallets Mart. "Ah, but Wallets are not willing to sell up and move out" the meeting was assured. Oh really?

In evidence submitted this June to a Public Inquiry into the Local Plan, where Wallets were arguing that the fields they own next to the Tesco site should be zoned for housing, there is a record of a meeting held on 22 April 2004 between Wallets, their planning consultant and D and G planners. It is clear from this that Wallets were looking over a year ago to relocate their Mart out of town and sell off the land for retail and residential use. This proposal was accepted and the Mart site is now zoned for retail/ residential use. The Tesco plan was also discussed.

With me so far? Good.

The Garden Centre problem.
Part of the land Tesco have bought is occupied by a garden centre. perhaps naively, the garden centre owner sold to Tesco before he had got planning permission to relocate to a 'just out of town' site. With wonderful irony, he has been refused planning permission, on exactly the same planning points we tried to use against Tesco - i.e. impact on vitality and viability of town centre, distance from town centre etc. etc. The one difference was that the Wallets Mart proposal to build house on the neighbouring field (home to the annual local ' Stewartry Agricultural Show') was mentioned as a factor. If the garden centre was allowed to relocate to a 'just outside town' site, this would make it difficult to deny Wallets permission to build houses in the show field and so would start a process of unchecked expansion of the town out to the Castle Douglas Bypass , going against the whole thrust of national/ Scottish planning policy.... especially since Wallets also own land next to the bypass (although this was not mentioned in the planning officers decision, it is in the 'File Note' for the April 22 2004 meeting).

Result? Outrage! Letters page of Galloway News had to go to two pages to print all the 'angry of Auchenshoogl' letters. The garden centre owner, Les (not Vic) Reeves, is to appeal against the decision and has got 1000 customers to sign a petition of support...

There seems to be total incomprehension - how did Tesco manage to get planning permission for a supermarket no-one wants, but a garden centre (the only one locally) which is 'needed' can't? But equally, none seems to have grasped the point that shifting the garden centre (and allowing it to double in size) would set in motion a train of events which would destroy castle Douglas as a rural market town.

By letting Tesco drive a coach and horses (or should that be tractor and trailer?) through the planning system, our Council have sold out Castle Douglas. But then again, neither Les Reeves nor even Wallets Marts plc have the same economic resources and political clout as Tesco. To put it bluntly, Tesco are free to operate outside the planning system, but local businesses, no matter how large or popular, do not share this freedom.

Even if a rival supermarket chain wanted to build on the Wallets Mart site (assuming Wallets can relocate), the 'spare retail capacity' GVA Grimley' s identified as existing in Castle Douglas will have been taken up by Tesco. This argument has already been used against the garden centre. Les Reeves wanted to double the size of his existing garden centre shop /cafe. "Oh no you can't", he was told, "the Tesco development has absorbed all of the predicted retail growth for Castle Douglas for the next ten years.... Snookered!

And finally.... can I say a rude word?

"Shit". there, I have said it. (Apologies to those of a sensitive disposition),

Along with hundreds of other communities in Scotland, the 'natural' growth of Castle Douglas has been blocked fro the past few years by a lack of essential infrastructure. Our sewage system is at maximum capacity. There are two aspects. 1. The actual waste treatments works is full to overflowing and 2. at present treated waste water flows out into a ditch called the Tarry Burn (from days when it carried waste from town's gas works) which winds its way through a Site of Special Scientific Importance/ Special Protected Area/ RAMSAR (international designation) wetland to the river Dee.

Problem 1. has yet to be tackled, but problem 2. has been sorted. Tesco are going to pay to put the outfall from the sewage works into a pipeline, at an estimated cost of £1.8 million. Mind you, they may not be paying the full whack. Planning permission for a new health centre was given last August. Work on it has only now started, but the cost has risen mysteriously by £1 million. No doubt co-incidentally, the cost of the sewage pipeline has also risen since last August: from £600 000 to £1.8 million. The original route of the pipeline ran straight through the SSSI/SPA/RAMSAR site so got thrown out by Scottish Natural Heritage, hence the price rise..

To go back to the 22 April 2004 meeting (see above)... at this meeting, Wallets Marts pointed out that their activities cause 'periodic fluctuations' in sewage flows i.e. when they hose down the livestock pens after an auction. If the Mart was relocated out of town, this would remove the problem and so create more capacity for residential opportunities...

Enough. I could go on for pages (and no doubt will) about the fallout from the Tesco planning decision. It will be sad, but watch this space for an online blow by blow description of the death of a rural market town....

2005-06-27T12:14:00.000-07:00

Businesses trading in Castle Douglas in June 2005

There are over 230 businesses based in/ trading from Castle Douglas, of which at least 200 are locally owned and independent. 135 businesses operate within the 'town centre' (i.e. within area defined as town centre by Stewarty Local Plan/ Dumfries and Galloway Council.) Of these, 47 are either new businesses , have relocated or have changed owners in past five years - shown * Not bad for a rural market town with a population of less than 4000...

The following is a list, re-checked today 27 June 2005, of the town centre businesses. Planning permission has been given to Tesco for an edge of town supermarket on the basis that Tesco will not have an adverse impact on the vitality and viability of Castle Douglas existing town centre businesses.

The Save Our Stewartry Shops campaign (supported by many of these businesses) argued via planning objections that there would be such an impact, and that it would also be felt in neighbouring towns and villages, damaging our rural economy and society.

These arguments were dismissed out of hand.

We have therefore made this record of existing businesses and will keep it updated. as a record of the impact of Tesco on what is at present a thriving and dynamic small town, should they be stupid enough to go ahead and build a store here.

Starting on east side of King Street up from lower end to Market Hill and then down west side - including side streets. many have their own websites, will add on later.

# Pye's - shop: newsagent also food and drink sells records.
# Mckerlie's - electrical contractors office.
#McGill Duncan - an art gallery
#Holistics : therapy and spa centre and shop converted from house *
#Bare Essentials : shop, lingerie *
#Scott Country : shop, outdoor pursuits, fishing, shooting, clothing . Converted from house* website
#Small Print : shop, offices supplies, potocopying and printing *
#Sulwath Brewery : open for brewery tours and have bar/ beer garden. On site of Smart' s Bakery * website www.sulwathbrewers.co.uk
#Guy Pollock: cabinet maker. One of two furniture makers in town.
#Carlos: restaurant
#Douglas Books : shop, second hand and out of print books, good local collection *
#Lily : shop handbags and accessories * website?
#Video Venue : video/dvd rentals *
#Littles :shop, pork butchers since 1924. Currently business for sale. http://www.walletsmart.co.uk/cart/properties.asp One to watch.
#Hazel's : shop, an Alladin's cave of second hand treasures. Also removals/ house clearance.
#Caring for Carers: charity shop *
#Kings Arms Hotel : may once have been farmhouse. Car park site of town's original brewery- pre-1920s
#Gelston Picture Framers *
#Small Engine Centre - repairs and spares for small engines.
#PJ's Cafe
#Inspiration: shop, young women's fashions*
#Anne's Hairdressers
#Jade Palace: Chinese restaurant
#Merrick Hotel: Indian restaurant
Spirit of Galloway : shop, specialists in whiskys and spirits *
#Lyon: dentists
#Street Lights: cafe/ bistro*
#Victoria Wine: shop, off-licence
# A.D. Livingston and Sons : shop/ workshop, restore, make and sell furniture. Established by my father and brothers in 1981 www.livingstons-antiques.co.uk
#Willow: shop, occasional furniture, decorative furnishings*
# 173 Deli : delicatessen, sandwich bar, stock local produce*
# Supersave : shop, household goods, recently enlarged*
# Enigma : shop, decorative furnishings, clothes*
# Debra: shop, charity*
# Semi-chem : shop, non -dispensining chemists
# Semple and Ferguson: shop, electrical goods
# Magick Broomstick: shop, new age, pagan, crystals, clothes, tarot, wands, body-piercing * website http://www.themagicbroomstick.com/
# Atticus: shop, ladies clothes *
# Castle Douglas Cycle centre: shop, bikes* links to 7Stanes
# Roland Alexander: hairdressers
# Thompsons: jewellers
# Gillespie and Gifford: solicitors, estate agent
# Royal Bank of Scotland: bank. Impressive four storey granite building, built 1862 with granite from Craignair quarry, Dalbeattie. Although only 5 miles away, such local use of granite only developed after railway reached town in 1859.
# Mackays: shop, clothes, adult, children. Part of national chain. Under threat direct threat from Tesco's diversification into cheap clothing.. Large modern (1970ies) store, unlikely to have alternative use so would become big eyesore if closed..
# Superspar: small supermarket. Recently modernised, £100 000 investment. Under threat from Tesco, again a big modern building difficult to find alternative use for, so would become eyesore if closed.
# Bue Bell: small hotel/ pub, very traditional. My grandfather used to drink here. Owner Colin has close links/ chairman of town's football club Threave Rovers.
# Woolworths : national retailer. Large (for town) store, in key site opposite post office at centre of street. Under direct threat from Tesco's diverisfication into non-food goods. Again, if closed down, would have major impact on vitaility/ viability of town centre.
Jenny Wren: shop, upmarket toys*
# D.E. Shoes : shop, shoes, branch of national chain.
# Lynsey Steweart: shop, just closed in June, was ladies clothes shop. If this stays empty will be bad sign for future. "Tesco blight", lack of businesses confidence.
# Moss Chemists: dispensing chemists (taken over from Mcrindles Chemists)
# Gowans: shop, fabrics for dressmaking, curtains, bed linen.
# Gowan's : shop/ showroom, beds*
# Gowans: shop, ladies clothes - on street, next two at rear along passage.
# Gowans: shop, gents clothes
# Gowans: shop, saver shop.
# Moss Chemists: dispensing chemists
# Livingston's : shop, gents tailors, established in 1896 by my great grandfather, now run by fourth generation of family.
# Livingston's: shop, ladies clothes
# S. Caven : workshop, clock repairs
# Hewats: solicitors and estate agents. Originally a bank, another imposing building dating from 1860ies, local greywacke with sandstone (from Locharbriggs, Dumfriesshire)
# Lloyds TSB: bank
# Mad Hatter's: cafe*
# Sunrise Wholefoods: shop, organics, including local cheese, wholefoods. Steve and Pauline who run it have own smallholding and supply seasonal organic veg.
# Panache: shop, ladies clothes*
# Livingstons: dress shop* Last shop on east side of King Street and 300 metres from (invisible, beyond Market Hill) Tesco site.
# Sigley's: chip shop, first business on west/ top end of King Street and nearest point in 'town centre' to Tesco's, but still 200 metres from Tesco site, which is mutually invisible from town centre, beyond five spur roundabout at entrance to town.
# The Royal: was hotel until 2004, now 'modern' - lots of tvs- pub*
# Crown Hotel and restuarant. Old coaching inn.* website
# Haughs: cars sales and garage. Off street through archway and down lane.
# Great Wall: Chinese take-away
# G.M. Thompsons: estate agents and also tourist accomodation providers. website
# Imperial Hotel: another old coaching inn.
# Bell Ogilvy: accountants
Clydesdale Bank: wonderful sandstone building with fascinating architectural details. Clydesdale
closing many branches, so may be under threat.
# Low's: shop, newsagents. Very traditional.
# Solicitors Property Centre: shop front for local estate agents.
# Henderson's: shop, butchers, one of four in town. Their own made pies and haggis highly
recommended.
# McCowans: shop, fishing tackle, outdoor activities, pet food.
# Tessera: clothes, furnishings. Owner very concerned about Tesco, from Ayr and has seen damage such developments can cause.*
# Bryan Gowans: shop, paints, wallpaper, decorating*
# Gowans: shop, carpets, floor coverings.
# Gowans: shop, children's clothes .
# Galloway Craft Guild: shop, local arts and crafts.
# Therapy Centre: 5 businesses, beauticians, hairdressers etc*
# Little VIPs: shop, children's clothes.* This is below Therapy Centre in large sandstone building , again with lots of architectural detail.
# New Images : hairdressers*
# Stewartry Care: nursing care for elderly.
# Posthorn 90: shop fine arts, jewellery*
# Barber's shop: gents hairdressers
# Opticians
# Post Office
# Barry Smart' s: shop, newsagents, books, maps toys. Has strong selection of local books
# Threave Home Hardware: shop, hardware.* In yet another architecturally strong sandstone building. Was (Until 1981) W& T Stewarts established in 1888 as furniture shop, cabinet makers and upholsterers and where my father and grandfather both served their apprenticeships before becoming partners. First William Stewart served his apprenticeship locally in 1840ies and still have his (and others) apprenticebook.
# Corsons: shop, bakers
# Phillpotts: shop, outdoor / sporting clothing. *Also organise Galloway Country Fair
# Cobblers: shop, shoe repairs* www.scottishcobbler.com
# House of Chocolates and Deli: shop, hand made chocolates and deli * also shop for Castle Maclellan, award winning local (Kirkcudbright) food producers.
# Galloway Gems: shop, crafts, artists supplies, crystals, gem rocks
# Simply Delicious; cafe
# Mitchells: shop, greengrocers and fishmongers, local fruit and veg in season
# Cut Above: hairdessers
# Halliday's : hairdressers
# Dee Fish: shop, fishmongers, locally caught fish from Solway Firth/ Irish sea
# Grierson's : butchers 'established 1838', have own farm, locally sourced meat
# Cellar salon: hairdressers
# Ballard's : shop, butchers, have own farm, locally sourced meat*
# Corson's : shop, bakers, bakery at rear
# Mair's: insurance brokers* . Was hardware shop until 2004
# The Bible Shop: shop, books, Christian religious also Fairtrade products
# Paws 4 Claws : shop, pet foods etc also tropical fish*
# Sports: shop, sportswear*
# pizza.com: internet cafe, fast food, pizzas, ice-cream* very popular with younger generation
# Scottish Pantry: restaurant, also has garden at rear
# Dunfermline Building Society
# Bank of Scotland
# Crallan and Winstanley : architects, above Bank of Scotland
# Natural Choice: hairdressers
- Kirk's shop, shoes. Kirk's are unique in at least 100 mile radius by stocking a full range of shoe widths and sizes. They used to be called 'saddlemakers' as well, but no longer offer this service.
# Douglas Arms Hotel * www.douglasarms.com Original building dates back (from stone in wall) to 1762. A coaching inn which pre-dates town (founded in 1791) Has cast iron plaque in wall with distances to local and national destinations, including London, 348 miles away, dated 1827. Has coat of arms of Sir William Douglas, founder of Castle Douglas on large sign on corner of building., complete with native Americans - he made his fortune through trade with Virginia and West Indies. This wealth created by African slaves on tobacco and sugar plantations.
# Debbie's Flowers : shop, flowers*
# Town Hall: not a shop, but imposing, almost Georgian style but Victorian built (1862) sandstone building, home to Castle Douglas Town Council until 1974 and where Tesco planning approval meetings were held in March and April 2005.
# Douglas Arms: pub * was the Thistle, the 'only pub in town' as it proudly proclaimed.
Fordy's chip shop.
# Posthorn: fine arts, *website
# Stepping Out : shop, ladies shoes *
# Town Clock. Third on site, previous two burnt down
# Impressions: shop, bags, luggage *
# Rendezvous: cafe, sign of the future? Derelict and empty for nearly ten years
# Thomas Cook: national travel agents
# Kyle Fenwick: accountants
# Autobar Leisure : shop, camping , cars and carvanning supplies*
# Carson and Totter: accountants
# Ranchers: decorative ironwork, also agricultural suppliers of gates etc
# Vacant shop- empty for four months . Was charity, again sign of Tesco blight, Small Print had considered moving across road to this site, but decided to wait and see what impact Tesco will have, since most of their trade is with existing shops/ businesses in town.
# Alba Herbs: shop, plants and fish, garden supplies*

2005-06-26T04:36:00.000-07:00

A stroll around Castle Douglas

Starting Point- the Market Hill Tourist Information Centre

1. 1 The Market Hill

From the low mound next to the Tourist Information Centre the wooded slopes of Keltonhill can be seen rising up in the distance beyond the British Legion and Swimming Pool [formerly Drill Hall] complex. Next to these is the Library, which dates to 1904. To the right can be seen the upper end of King Street, to the left the octagonal Wallets Mart building built around 1900 and the upper end of Queen Street. The yellow brick (from the Dalbeattie Brick Works) makes what is now the Seabright Nursery stand out.

Looking in the opposite direction, a line of Scots pines mark the site of Castle Douglas' railway station.

This area of Castle Douglas is very much the Victorian creation of railway and mart. Or, as local author S.R. Crockett put it

" In my own time, life centred about the Cross (the Town Clock), and so continued during all my life as a school boy [1867 to 1876]. But ever since, contrary to all the laws of gravitation, the town has been running faster and ever faster uphill, apparently to get a sniff of the cattle-marts on Monday, and to see the white smoke of the trains..."

The first recorded livestock auction took place on the Market Hill in 1819. In 1857, the town council built an enclosed Mart where the swimming pool now stands. This was then leased to Thomas Wallet, whose family were originally carters from Dalmellington in Ayrshire. The present site of Wallets Mart, closer to the Station Yard, was acquired later as the business took over rival concerns.

The railway from Dumfries reached the town in 1859 and was extended to Stranraer in 1861. A branch line to Kirkcudbright followed in 1864. Although the station was demolished after the was railway closed in 1965, the Station Yard remains a busy place. The sidings which could hold 200 cattle trucks are now occupied by industrial buildings. The old Goods Station is now a builders' merchants.

Sadly the Keltonhill Horse Fair, which was moved to the Market Hill (then an open field) about 150 years ago, has passed into history along with the Galloway breed of horses. Fortunately the Galloway breed of cattle has survived and Wallet's Mart still hosts their spring and autumn sales.

From the Tourist Information Centre, cross over King Street and turn right up hill. Then turn left into Cotton Street.

1.2 Cotton Street

Cotton Street descends steeply from the Market Hill past Buccleuch Scotch Beef's abattoir- the 'Slatterhoose Brae'. Just before the abattoir, where a house has now been built, there was a quarry. This would have been a source of building stone for the town. However, there are many brick built houses on Cotton Street. Most are based on variations of the same design, with pitched, rather than flat- roofed dormer style windows.

Nos 14 and 16 are of this style, but built using the yellow Dalbeattie bricks rather than the red bricks of Railway Terrace, further down the street.

Where a supermarket and car park now are, Sir William Douglas' cotton mill probably stood. After the failure of the cotton mill, this site was later occupied by Wallace's Foundry and the neighbouring Derby's Mill. The stream which failed to provide enough water to work the cotton mill ran along the back of Cotton Street. Now underground, it still runs beneath Cotton Street, across to King Street and down towards Carlingwark Loch.

On the opposite side of Cotton Street can be seen a series of schools. The largest, now a community centre, was built in 1910 by the Kelton School Board. Next to this is a school built in 1873 when the Kelton School Board was first set up. Its first headmaster was John Cowper. Cowper had previously been headmaster of the 'Free Church School'.

This school, a little further down Cotton Street is now converted into three houses [Nos 43 to 47 Cotton Street] and dates to the 'Disruption' of the Church of Scotland in 1843, when the Church split into two factions. There was strong support for the 'Free Kirk', allowing a church and school to be built in 1844. Local author S.R. Crockett attended this school after 1867. It was called 'Cowper's Schule' after its headmaster.

The earlier, parish, school was built in 1818 on Academy Street (where Castle Douglas Health Centre now stands) to replace one which had fallen into disrepair.

Next to the Free Church School is a cottage, now 49 Cotton Street. For many years this was a joiner's shop. Until recently, it was the last remaining 'unimproved' example of what was once Castle Douglas' basic housing stock. It is difficult to date, but the rough stone work around its windows is typical of the late 18th/ early 19th centuries. Until granite [from Dalbeattie] and sandstone [from Locharbriggs near Dumfries] became cheaper after the railway reached the town, local greywacke stone had to be used. This stone cannot be 'worked' to produce neat straight lines.

Crockett lived with his grandparents further down Cotton Street in a near St. John's Church. Ironically, since his grandparents were strictly religious Cameronians, this is now a licensed betting shop. St. John's was built in 1867.

A short detour can be made up Abercromby Road where a row of houses and another [United Presbyterian, 1870] church clearly show the contrast between weathered dark brown sandstone from Dumfriesshire and bluish native greywacke.

Looked at carefully, most buildings in Castle Douglas can be dated to 'before or after the railway'. Post- railway buildings are generally larger and more imposing and make use of granite, sandstone and brick as well as the local greywacke. Sandstone and granite were available earlier, but were more expensive and so used sparingly. Just to confuse things, many buildings have been altered and enlarged over the years.

So although Castle Douglas was founded in the late eighteenth century, many of its buildings reveal their later, Victorian, origins.

Return to Cotton Street and continue down hill towards

1. 3. Blackpark Road

At the foot of Cotton Street is the site of the town's gas works [1843]. To the left is Marle Street. This takes its name from the lime-rich clay Alexander Gordon drained Carlingwark Loch to reach. Used sparingly, marl was a valuable fertiliser. Over use was found to be damaging to the soil.

To the right is Blackpark Road. Blackpark farm took its name from the heavy, black, peaty soil of the surrounding marshland.

Although hardly the most picturesque area of Castle Douglas, it is worth walking along to the Blackpark Road railway bridge [now filled in]. Where Threave Rovers football pitch, the old rubbish dump [soon to become part of the golf course], the railway and sewage works now lie, a medieval parish boundary once ran along the course of a lost stream. A deep ditch cut across Castle Douglas golf course, under the railway, through the sewage works and then across the football pitch into Carlingwark Moss to find its way to the Dee along the route of the Carlingwark Lane. The stream mentioned in the Cotton Street section probably fed into this before it was diverted into Carlingwark Loch.

The boundary between Crossmichael and Kelton parishes appears to have followed the course of these lost streams. They marked the boundary between lands [in Crossmichael parish] gifted to a nunnery at Lincluden by Uchtred, son of Fergus of Galloway circa 1170 and those [in Kelton parish] which remained in the Lordship of Galloway until 1456. According to a local folktale, St. Ninian appeared to a shepherd boy here. The boy had lost a sheep on Christmas Eve. In the hope of finding the sheep, he made an offering of the last of his food at St. Ringan's Well nearby. The saint then appeared in the form of an old beggar and helped the boy find the lost sheep, which had strayed into the stream's deep ditch. [See Walk Three for more details]

This story suggests the Christianisation of an older, pagan, boundary between the 'sacred' site of Carlingwark Loch and its 'profane' surroundings. Return along Blackpark Road and continue straight on into Marle Street.

1. 3. Marle Street and Carlingwark Street

According to Crockett, Marle Street and ' Little Dublin' - the lower end of Cotton Street where several Irish families lived- were the first parts of what is now Castle Douglas to be developed. The basic 'cottage' style [as can still-just- be seen at 49 Cotton Street] of several houses in this area confirms his description of ' a little town built at the foot of a hill and ever since running a race up it.'

Carlingwark Street crosses Marle Street and lies on the route of the Old Military Road. This is the lowest part of Castle Douglas and where the roads cross, the remains of a timber and earth dam were found 200 years ago. These may actually have been the remains of a prehistoric track way across boggy ground. A similar construction was found on the far side of Carlingwark Hill. The route of Carlingwark Street / the Old Military Road ran through what are now the grounds of Carlingwark House, crossing Alexander Gordon's canal [Carlingwark Lane] by a bridge which led onto the row of houses called 'The Buchan'.

At the top of the hill was an inn. Robert Burn's stayed there in 1789. Just over one hundred years earlier, in 1685, William Auchinleck was shot by government soldiers during the 'Killing Times' outside an inn, which was also on Carlingwark Hill. There are a few old cottages here, but most of the houses are more modern. If the weather is clear, from Meadow View which runs parallel with Carlingwark Street, the Galloway Hills can be seen.

Where the street ends, turn left down the rough track towards Carlingwark Loch. This is called Crone Lane and in the field on the right once stood the Three Thorns of Carlingwark, allegedly the scene of 'Druidical rites' including human sacrifice. However since the last of the thorn trees could still be seen in early 19th century, and since Druids worshipped in groves of oak trees 2000 years ago, this seems unlikely.

Cross over the main road to enter Lochside Park

1. 4. Lochside Park

Lochside Park stretches around the north end of Carlingwark Loch. It was formerly the town common. Looking at the loch today, it is difficult to imagine how it would have appeared in the 1770s and 80s when it was the centre for Alexander Gordon's marl works. The loch must have been almost completely drained in order to expose the marl beds and allow his workmen to dig the marl out. Certainly, according to contemporary accounts, when the Carlingwark Canal was cut through Carlingwark Hill in 1765, the level of the loch dropped by between 8 and 10 feet, far enough to reveal a crannog ( a wooden round house built over water) at the south end. This crannog is once more under water.

Until recently, there were two Christian places of worship over looking the park and the loch. One of these, formerly St. Andrew's church [1869], is now the Lochside Theatre.

A short stroll through Lochside Park, turning left up past the caravan site leads to St. Ninian's Episcopal church [ 1856 to 1861] on St. Andrew Street. The church began as a mission for railway navvies. More recently it has benefited from its association with the Gordons of Threave, resulting in the addition [2001] of an award winning new church hall.

Turn left along St. Andrew Street. Of interest here is Lochvale, with its entrance up a short flight of steps. There is a date at the top right hand gable - which could be 1810, 1813 or 1815. Joseph Train [1779- 1852] lived here from 1826. Train worked, like Robert Burns, as an Exciseman. He was a friend of Sir Walter Scott's and passed on both local folklore and 'antiquities' [for example the Torrs Pony Cap] to Scott. Scott's novels Guy Mannering, Redgauntlet, the Heart of Midlothian, The Antiquary and Old Mortality all feature stories and characters based on Galloway sources supplied by Train. Unfortunately this association with Scott distracted Train from an earlier plan to write a history of Galloway.

Across from Lochvale is The Brae, originally built in 1803, but with Victorian additions. St. Andrew's Street continues towards the Town Clock, but at Queen Street, turn right.

1.5. Queen Street

The Kings Arms Hotel on the corner of Queen Street and St. Andrew Street may originally have been a farm house, predating Castle Douglas. Later, like the Douglas Arms, Crown and Imperial hotels, it became a coaching inn. In what is now its car park, there was a brewery owned by the Hewetson family. The tradition of local beer making has now been revived by the Sulwath Brewery in King Street. ( Further down Queen Street there was a tannery, but there are no plans to revive this industry).

There were other 'industrial' buildings on Queen Street, including a bakery and a blacksmiths. In a lane leading through to King Street granite setts can be found. These can be compared with the cobble stones in A.D. Livingston and Sons yard [see King Street section]. The cobbles and setts are reminders of the past importance of horse power - they give a better grip for horses hooves than smoother road surfaces do. In the summer, horse and carriage trips can be taken around the town from the Market Hill.

Queen Street is now a residential street. Several of the houses date back to the early days of Castle Douglas. Between 64 and 66 Queen Street is the date 1822 . Half way up Queen Street is St. Ringan's church, St. Ringan being an alternative version of St. Ninian - as is St. Trinian. The oldest part of St. Ringan's dates back to 1801. By 1870 it had become the Cameronian (Reformed Presbyterian) kirk and S.R. Crockett's grandparents travelled the 7 miles from Laurieston to attend it. The Cameronians used sandstone to refront the church and added its tower.

Richard Cameron was a leading figure amongst the later Covenanters who refused to accept religious changes imposed by Charles II. Indeed, on the 22nd June 1680, Cameron, his brother and about twenty others rode into Sanquhar in Dumfriesshire and declared war on the king... Although a 'spiritual' rather than a physical declaration of war, this provocative act could not be ignored. Seven troops of horse were sent to quell this 'republican' rebellion and on July 22nd both Richard Cameron and his brother were killed in a fight with government troops at Airds [ or Ayrs] Moss in Ayrshire.

Believing that they were faced with a civil war in the south west, Charles II and his brother James [briefly to be king James VII and II] tried to crush the revolt. Ultimately they failed and the Cameronians fought for king William in 1688 against the supporters of James VII/ II. These first Jacobites were led by 'Bonnie Dundee', who as 'bluidy Claverhouse' had tried to destroy the Cameronians in the Killing Times. Even as late as 1724, the Galloway Levellers drew on the local Cameronian heritage in their uprising against those they described as 'Jacobite' landowners.

Gradually, however, the politically dangerous 'radical republican' aspects of the Cameronians faded away. In time they became the rather conservative religious sect to which Crockett's grandparents belonged, as earlier had Sir Alexander Gordon who was Sheriff of the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright in the 1780s - hardly a position to be given to a dangerous revolutionary!

It is very difficult to associate today's 'kirk on the hill' as St. Ringan's was known, with the ferocious religious and political conflicts of the 17th century. And yet it, like so many places locally, bears witness to the deep currents of a dark and disturbing past which still run beneath the tranquil surface of the present.

Quiet Queen Street can be followed back up to Market Street. Turn left here for King Street.

1. 6. King Street

To fully appreciate King Street, it is best seen at the beginning of Castle Douglas Food Town week [usually the end of May] when the street is closed to traffic and thronged by thousands of people. Without the clutter of cars and delivery lorries, its broad, half mile long expanse is revealed.

With its hundred or so shops and businesses, King Street is the dynamic, commercial and economic, centre of the town. In turn, the street draws shoppers not only from across Dumfries and Galloway (to the chagrin of the much larger town of Dumfries) but also from across the south of Scotland and the north of England. A city like Edinburgh can match the range and diversity of Castle Douglas' shops, but not their concentration along (and beside) one main street.

However, why not, as well as peering into every shop window and craft workshop, 'lift the eyes unto the rooftops' and discover a treasure of architectural delight? For example, the many sandstone faced buildings on King Street rejoice in a riot of sculptural details. Lion heads, thistles, roses, stars and scallop shells can all be found. This last feature, the scallop shell, is actually a recent contribution to the fascinating architectural detail of King Street. Most date mainly from the 1890s and can be compared and contrasted with the more formal style of the Town Hall [1862] on St. Andrew Street. The Royal Bank [1864] illustrates the very different impression created by the use of granite.

To get a 'behind the scenes' glimpse of King Street, visit the garden behind Designs Gallery and Cafe . A conservatory has recently been built onto the cafe, creating a very pleasant spot to pause for refreshment before visiting A.D. Livingston and Sons next door. The buildings here, now a furniture restorers and makers workshop, began as a warehouse with stables. The original cobble stones can still be seen in the yard. These are just water rounded stones- quite different in appearance from the granite setts mentioned in the Queen Street section. The patchwork of differing styles of stonework and brickwork which can be seen here is fascinating.

To try to document the actual shops and businesses would be an interesting but exhausting project. Although a few, Livingstons the Tailors [1896] for example, can be traced back through time, continuing change is the rule. At the rate of two or three per year businesses close and new ones take their places, whilst some existing businesses have the confusing habit of moving from one location to another.

For shoppers, this constantly shifting pattern simply offers more interesting opportunities for 'retail therapy'. For older residents and returning exiles it offers the opportunity to spend hours arguing where exactly Mc Guffog's or Blackadder's shop once was...

Whilst visitors frequently comment on how much they appreciate the unique diversity of the Castle Douglas' shops, local residents can take them for granted. At the time of writing (April 2004), the Letters page of the Galloway News has been dominated by the threat -or opportunity- posed by a proposal to build a new supermarket in the town.

On a final point: King Street does not end at the Town Clock [the third on the same site, the two earlier ones were both destroyed by fire]. A good spot to relax after this tour of Castle Douglas is one of the town's more recent attractions- the Sulwath Brewery, which has a limited (10am to 4pm) pub licence. The Brewery occupies the site of a former bakery, on the left below the Town Clock.

2005-06-24T14:25:00.000-07:00

Introduction

Tesco are a huge UK based multi-national corporation, the British equivalent of Wal-Mart.

Castle Douglas is a very small rural market town (population 4000) in the bottom left hand corner/ far south west of Scotland. Since 2000, Castle Douglas has promoted itself as a 'Food Town' with a focus on supporting, via the many independent retailers and businesses in the town, local food growers and producers. More details can be found at www.cd-foodtown.org

In February 2004, Tesco announced that they wanted to build a supermarket in Castle Douglas.

In April 2005, Tesco were given planning permission to build their supermarket.

At present (June 2005) work has yet to start on building the supermarket.

Castle Douglas is in the process of becoming a 'Fairtrade' town.

The purpose of this blog site is to act as a last line of defence against Tesco.

From discussions with Tesco, it is clear that they are worried that any negative impact they will have on Castle Douglas ' would be bad for our corporate image'. Tesco also claim that they respect the 'heritage values' of Castle Douglas as a Food Town and those of the surrounding area - the 'Stewartry of Kirkcudbright', a district name which dates back to the Middle Ages when the semi-independent Lords of Galloway ruled the area through a 'steward'.

Although Tesco claim [ from lengthy telephone converation November 2004 with a Tesco PR person] that Castle Douglas has a national reputation as a 'Food Town' and so would be an equal partner in any marketing attempts by Tesco to use the Food Town theme as a form of 'greenwash', we doubt this.

Our intention is to use this blog to highlight what is at risk here and the damage supermarket giants like Tesco have already caused in other communities.

As part of our year long campaign against Tesco, we have a list of every business currently trading in Castle Douglas town centre. There are 132 businesses on the list. The impact of Tesco on this town will be fully documented.

Furthermore, thanks to Friends of the Earth, Corporate Watch, the New Economics Foundation and the Scotttish Green Party plus much hard work done by the 'Save Our Stewarty Shops ' campaign over the past year, the Castle Douglas Tesco issue has already achieved a strong local, Scottish and UK level media profile - from BBC Radio 4's Today and You and Yours programmes through to an almost weekly presence in the local press (Galloway News and Galloway Gazette).

So far, so good. But despite the best efforts of Save Our Stewarty Shops, Tesco still managed to get planning permission. The task now is to use the resources of the internet and world wide web to encourage Tesco to 'think again'.

To conclude: in the words of the late William Burroughs;

"LISTEN TO MY LAST WORDS anywhere. Listen to my last words any world. Listen all you boards syndicates and governments of the earth. And you powers behind what filth consummated in what lavatory to take what is not yours. To sell the ground from unborn feet forever -

"Don't let them see us. Don't tell them what we are doing."

Are these the words of the all-powerful boards and syndicates of the earth?

"For God's sake don't let that Coca-Cola thing out - "

For Coca Cola, read Tesco. Tesco depend on the fact that we cannot see what they are doing to towns like Castle Douglas and to communities around the world. That no-one has, yet, fully documented their destructive impact.

Well now someone is. So think about it Tesco. Is the tiny contribution your Castle Douglas store can make to your £2 billion/ year profits really worth it?