Corner shops in a corner (From Gazette Series)

Corner shops in a corner

THE fate of local newsagents, including those in Wotton-under-Edge, Yate and Thornbury, is of growing concern according to industry officials.

Speaking at the annual conference of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN) Mahendra Jadeja, the organisation's president, said the Office of Fair Trading needed to act now against large supermarket chains if independent newsagents were to be saved from closure.

"In the past 10 years we have lost 13,000 independent retail newsagents," he said. "The Government, the Office of Fair Trading and countless local authorities who allow the major supermarkets to walk all over them obviously believe that "Tescoism" is unquestionably a good thing."

The comments come as industry giants Tesco prepare to open a new store in Cam and Tesco Express convenience stores are springing up throughout the region, notably the two new additions in Yate.

Vijay Patel, owner of RC Services - an independent newsagent in Dursley, says after deregulation of the market ten years ago the threat of large supermarket chains is not surprising.

He said: "We are independent so the presence of a larger supermarket is bound to have an effect on our business and it has."

The NFRN recently commissioned consumer research into attitudes towards supermarket chains. The survey revealed that 79 percent of consumers said it was important that their local news and convenience retailer was protected.

Earlier this year, however, Tesco opened an Express store in Wotton-under-Edge and after initial concerns by other business owners the supermarket seems to have had little affect on local trade.

Penny Cook, owner of Square Eyes News and Film on Long Street, said: "We have not noticed any difference at all.

"Business is fine. We already had all the newsrounds before Tesco opened so that stood us in good stead.

"We have very loyal customers."

However, Wotton-under-Edge seems to be an exception to the rule. There are currently three Tesco stores in the Yate and Chipping Sodbury area.

Roy Vickers, owner of Vickers Stationery in Chipping Sodbury, said: "It is inevitable that Tesco will take over the world and it has taken people a long time to realise this.

"The problem in the future will be that people will not be able to buy what they want but only what Tesco will choose to sell to make a profit."

He added that small shops would have to diversify in order to survive.

In reply to criticisms, a Tesco spokesman was quick to defend the firm's position.

He said: "What we try and do is a good job for our shoppers.

"What we tend to find is when a Tesco store opens in an area people benefit from increased foot fall.

"Consumers will travel to a Tesco store and those visitors to an area ultimately benefit other local businesses.

"The consumers appreciate our good value prices."