Fury at Tesco plan for Swan and Sugarloaf in Croydon

8:20am Thursday 19th April 2012 in News

Fury at Tesco plan for Swan and Sugarloaf in Croydon Fury at Tesco plan for Swan and Sugarloaf in Croydon

Desperate protestors are threatening to go to the Charity Commission to try and stop a Tesco store planned in an old pub.

The Whitgift Foundation has agreed to allow the supermarket giant to open a shop in the old Swan and Sugarloaf pub in South End, Croydon.

Local businesses are worried the supermarket will destroy their trade but fear they are powerless to stop the development.

Tesco do not need planning permission to open a store in a pub, meaning locals cannot lodge any objections.

Charity Whitgift Foundation own the site and could stop the move but said it received no other offers for the site and, worried about it being in a derelict state and needing restoration, it accepted Tesco’s.

Campaigner Charlotte Davies has written to the Trustees of the Foundation imploring them to halt the plan.

She has started a petition she plans to give to the Foundation but has said she is willing to report them to the Charity Commission for the way they have handled their assets.

She said: “They have not made an effort to maintain their premises.

“They are the biggest property holder and they are obliged to maintain their fixed assets.

“What they do is so important for the recovery of the area.

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“We believe that the behaviour of the Whitgift Foundation in letting the Swan and Sugarloaf to Tesco is threatening the livelihoods of many more than 20 people who are employed in running existing small shops including: 4 mini-markets; a bakery; 2 florists; a post office; a pharmacy; and a delicatessen.”

Georgio Raffaelli, owner of La Spezia cafe in Selsdon Road, echoed her feelings.

He said: “We are a community here. How do we know the jobs created will be taken by people living in Croydon?

“If it was an independent store then you say, 'ok - competition', but you cannot compete with Tesco.”

In a letter to Mrs Davies, a spokesman for the Whitgift Foundation said: “The only interest generated to lease the commercial building was from supermarket chains and Tesco offered us the capacity and resource to restore the building back to its former glory.

“The Whitgift Foundation is committed to working with the local community of South Croydon.”

Comments(5)

Mark Samuel says...
10:59am Thu 19 Apr 12

If The Whitgift Foundation was really committed to working with the local community of South Croydon, it could have consulted in advance and offered to restore the building back to its former glory, as a functional public house with accommodation.

Residents and businesses can object, (and thereby thwart Tesco), to the granting of a premises licence (for the sale and supply of alcohol).

W Licensing Limited very kindly surrendered the premises licence 2 years ago.

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ArfurTowcrate says...
12:48pm Thu 19 Apr 12

If they put the petition on the web, I'll sign it (and in my real name too).

If Tesco are allowed to take over this pub, you can bet the surrounding convenience stores will go bust not long after.

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southcroydonpete says...
12:23am Fri 20 Apr 12

Yes, agree with Mark & Arfur - I'll sign any petition as well.

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xeepo says...
9:55am Sat 21 Apr 12

I'm SO sick of Tesco absolutely taking the mick. Sort out the appalling service and standards in your existing stores before you set out to ruin the businesses of other people. I honestly think that if your products, service and standards in your existing stores were of a high standard there'd be far fewer people complaining that they don't want you opening in their areas. Frankly, if you were amazing I'd want you in my street - I probably would care less about the smaller businesses you'd affect. However, you're lucky if your staff even acknowledge a customers' presence, your stores are dirty and often heavily cluttered, staff who just don't speak English or know about they store in which they work and the floor of the nearby Purley Cross store is always covered in water as you're clearly totally inept at refrigeration maintenance. Fix the existing problems your business has first - then people *might* be a *little* more welcoming!

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LindaL says...
6:57pm Tue 24 Apr 12

This is the best news for the area in the ten years I've lived here. I've had to endure grotty stores with sometimes not-so-fresh fruit and veg, have had to complain to the Council re bad food bought from some of the local stores, one store admitted their freezer hadn't been working properly for a while.
I believe that every neighbourhood is entitled to easy walking distance access to fresh fruit and veg in a clean well-maintained store at a reasonable price, this is what Tesco offers. The local stores have had years to improve their interiors, maintenance of refrigeration and quality of produce, pointless now to complain about better competition arriving to provide a needed service. I'm sure there are plenty like me who think the same, those complaining are probably car-owners who have no qualms about having to go out of the area for fresh produce. I'm looking forward to seeing Tesco's renovation of the delapidated Swan and Sugarloaf and buying FRESH food locally. Of course it is unfortunate that it is Tesco that is going to take it over but no other shop has offered fresh produce at a fair price in this area. Those against a plan are usually the most vociferous, this is to remind that there are residents who appreciate this major improvement in basic food provision locally.

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