Say no to monster supermarkets

The Competition Commission has missed its opportunity to promote vibrant town centres and protect independent shops.

Their final report does hold some good news - they have recommended new rules to protect farmers from bully boy tactics. But sadly it spells more bad news for high streets.

They have failed to acknowledge the vital role that small shops play in our communities. Under their proposals the Tesco takeover will roll on.

Two supermarkets a week have opened since 2001
- but local shops continue to close at an alarming rate

Although they scrapped proposals that would have made things even worse, they have not taken action to make the situation better.

They have proposed new planning rules to stop single companies from dominating local areas - but by still allowing them to gain a 60 per cent market share this won't work. And it won't help small shops at all.

Threats and opportunities

The Commission's report makes it more important than ever to let Government know that positive planning policies are needed. The Commission has failed to act but Government still can.

They will soon be consulting on new planning guidance - we must urge them to tackle the problems that the Commission has ignored.

In the meantime we can ask MPs to sign EDM 1371 to show their support for better, stronger planning policies and thriving high streets.

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I am pleased to see that the Competition Commission has unexpectedly decided not to specifically recommend removing key planning tests to make more land available for supermarkets on the edge of town centres and out of town. However, I am still concerned that the Commission's recommendations have failed to fully consider the threat to independent shops and town centres. I am particularly concerned that they have: - Focused solely on choice between big stores rather than the overall diversity of the retail offering. - Failed to do anything to stop the decline of local shops. - Done nothing to stop the rapid expansion of big supermarkets despite its own findings that two new supermarkets already open every week and that when a new supermarket opens, greengrocers and markets are more likely to go out of business. - Ignored the needs of shoppers without access to a car. I am aware that the Government is due to issue a consultation on new planning guidance for retailing and town centres soon. It is vital that the Government addresses the issues that the Commission has failed to, ensuring that all sections of the population have access to a real choice of where to shop. But instead the Government still seems committed to removing the ‘need test' which could make it easier for supermarkets to build new stores. Planning is also about more than competition and choice - it should be playing an important role in cutting climate change gases. Freeing up out-of-town development would do the opposite, allowing all retailers, not just supermarkets, to build big inefficient sheds and encourage even more car-based shopping. Please raise my concerns with Hazel Blears, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, and ask her to introduce a stronger policy for town centres that retains the need test and includes a presumption against out-of-town development, a new test for carbon emissions, and a test for diversity to ensure that planning policy helps create 'greener' patterns of development and a real choice of where to shop. I look forward to receiving your response to my request.

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