Eden Valley Messenger

NEW SQUARES PETITION

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save the heart of Penrith are due to present Eden District Council with hundreds of letters from fellow citizens today, October 1 at 4.55pm.

The letters, signed by townspeople concerned about plans to build a 78,000 square foot supermarket in Penrith, say, ‘A store of this size — bigger than Tesco Carlisle — is much too large for Penrith and would damage the town centre.’

Hundreds of people have signed the letters, which state: ‘We should not rush into something that will shape the town for generations to come," and urging councillors to reject the current proposals and open up a true dialogue with the people of the Penrith, so that we may develop the Southend Road site in a way which will genuinely improve Penrith.

Campaign co-ordinator Derek Hurton said: "Hundreds of people asked us how they could object to the current plans. We drafted a letter and people were queuing up to sign.

"In just a few hours we collected hundreds of personally signed letters from people right across the District.  Those are the letters we're delivering today.

"People feel suspicious of the Public Consultation, partly because Sainsbury seem to be running it, but also because there was no box to tick for: Stop and think again.

"The Council needs to listen to the people of Penrith.  We’re hoping that councillors will come along to find out what their electors are asking them to do. 

"The only sensible way forward for the Council is to reject the plans and come up with something that will add to the town, not take away from it.  We haven't found a single example where a supermarket like this has been good for a town like Penrith.  The Council admit they haven't made an assessment of the impact it would have on the town.  They want to mortgage our town's future for the sake of a quick financial fix. It’s a classic case of burning down the house to roast the pig."

Sainsbury and the Council claim that a supermarket will draw visitors in.

But campaigners against the development claim visitors from as far afield as Oxford, Cheshire and Northumberland told them at their demonstration on Saturday that a large supermarket would put them off visiting the town.  And if it led to independent shops closing they wouldn't bother visiting at all. 

EJ Strong of Brandon, County Durham, said: "We visit Penrith almost every weekend.  A store of this size is much too large for Penrith and would damage the town centre."

Carole Spennery of Stafford said: "Please don't spoil a lovely town. Sainsbury's will be the death of the small individual shops in Penrith.  You will take away its individuality.  Once it has gone you will not get it back."