THE BLOXIDGE TALLYGRAPH

Dateline:  24 January 2010

At one time, back in the 60s, Bloxwich had one of the earliest TESCO stores in the area, on the corner of High Street and Victoria Avenue (the building remains as Total DIY). 

Later, perhaps due to competition from ASDA when they bought Pat Collins’ Wakes Ground about 1972, they departed Bloxwich, never to be seen again. 

Until now, it seems, with the announcement of their likely return to Bloxwich with a proposed TESCO Express store to be built on the corner of Lichfield Road and Selmans Hill.

Their battle with ASDA goes on today of course, and according to some TESCO has become well-known for its alleged aggressive policy of store placement nationwide.  Perhaps they have an eye on the old enemy, not far away.  What they may not be so concerned about, unsurprisingly, is the effect that a new TESCO, albeit a small one by their standards, will inevitably have on local business.  They are, of course, in it to win it - and “every little helps”…

Small local storekeepers are not so happy, including Mr. Ranbhir Singh of Selmans Parade.  All the hard work he and his predecessors in that store have put in over the decades is likely to go down the drain once TESCO gain a foothold literally next door.  The personal, friendly service he and other local storekeepers pride themselves on may be washed away in a tide of cost-cut corporate convenience once the competition settles in.  And it seems that at least 300 local petitioners would rather support genuine local businesses and local people than multi-national money machines.

Then there is the pressure on the local infrastructure which must be created by such a development, with the inevitable increase in traffic congestion and delays which will surely be caused by placing a store of this nature on the corner of a busy traffic-lighted main road crossroads next to a pub, bus-stops and one of the largest schools in the area.  For the school, there must be potential road safety concerns.

Of course, there are always the reasonable voices out there calling for “regeneration”, and they have a point.  But regeneration at what cost?

That, dear reader, is the bottom line.

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