PROTESTERS lined the streets of Mirfield to fight against a new Tesco.
More than 1,000 residents, traders and local business people marched through the town centre in their anti-supermarket campaign.
The proposed site for the Tesco Express is the historic Black Bull pub in the heart of Mirfield’s town centre.
The campaigners had concerns about the pub building – which dates back to 1755 – being defaced, about excess traffic and the effect another convenience supermarket would have on local business owners.
Clr Martyn Bolt said: “We don’t want it firstly due to the heritage value of the building. Once these places are lost we will never get them back. The worry is also the impact on traders. As we have seen from the Tesco in Bradley, where you can buy your daily newspapers, fruit and veg, local family shops can’t compete with the buying power of Tesco. Also the volume of delivery traffic we get through that junction is difficult enough, Mirfield is the wrong place for something like that.”
The Mayor of Mirfield Pat Sutcliffe gave a speech at the end of the rally. She said: “Tesco wants people to have choice, where’s our choice? There is no public consultation, we have been told they are coming to Mirfield, where is our choice? As a town we do not want Tesco in that location. I’m not against Tesco here somewhere but not in that location. Every trade business that operates in Mirfield is just remaining viable.
“We shouldn’t consider just the short term but the long term, if Tesco comes in here think about what they will leave behind in several years. They will force businesses to suffer and our beautiful town and community-spirit will be in ruins.”
According to Dewsbury MP Simon Reevell, Tesco have agreed to “jump through hoops” to obtain the site. He said: “The only site Tesco are interested in is The Black Bull and they are prepared to keep signage in the original style, make only minor alterations to the front of the building and even change the colour of the railings.”
He told campaigners that they now have to consider whether the fight is about saving the pub or not wanting a Tesco in Mirfield.
He will be meeting with Tesco executives in London in two weeks to further discuss the plans. Jennifer White, who runs Mick’s Fruit and Veg with her husband Andrew, said: “We don’t want Tesco. As a local business its going to take a chunk of our trade away.
“All the shops in Mirfield feel the same way.
“When people come in to our town’s shops, its not just about what you can buy, its about how we support each other. It’s a community.
“We help each other out, give our customers a cup of tea when they’re not quite feeling right and talk to them, we stick together. I love my customers and I respect them and you will not get that at Tesco.
“Mirfield is a special town for that reason and we don’t want Tesco to destroy our community spirit.”
Born and bred Mirfield resident Judith Walker said: “This is always been a town where people have firm loyalty and we have great shops and cafes. If Tesco gets built it will do nothing but destroy traders’ livelihoods and change the face of this lovely town.”
Peter Riley came from Penistone in South Yorkshire to address the crowd and discuss the battle he recently lost with the supermarket chain.
He said that Tesco was dominating 33% of supermarket trade and the fight against the chain should not only be done on a local level but also help the prevention of Tesco domination on a national scale.
