7 reasons why a supermarket at Lawson’s Bridge is a bad idea
1) Large supermarkets (eg. Tesco & Asda) are notorious for acting to maximize their own profits at the expense of the environment, local communities and farmers, and workers’ rights in the UK and abroad. (See www.tescopoly.org.uk and www.asdawatch.org)
2) The fields are used by many local people for dog-walking and other kinds of recreation. The area contains a pond, a footpath and a community woodland, planted by local people in 1991.
3) The fields form an attractive entrance to the city. A ‘big box’ superstore and vast car park would not.
4) A large supermarket (up to 1-3 times larger than the Lancaster Sainsbury’s) would generate a huge amount of extra traffic through Scotforth and Galgate, including 24-hour HGV deliveries.
5) New edge-of-town supermarkets usually lead to the closure of local shops and services, a net loss of jobs, and a decreased sense of community.
6) The closure of local shops or relocation of Booths would make it harder for people in south Lancaster to shop without a car. A quarter of all households in Scotforth East & West wards do not have a car (2001 census).
7) We don’t need another supermarket. The Council is only considering one because it wants the money for the land.