NEW SAINSBURYS OPENS IN HAMPTON WICK NEXT WEEK
The controversial new Sainsbury’s Local supermarket in Hampton Wick is due to open next Thursday (27 February)
Workmen were on site today (sat) putting the finishing touches to internal fittings although any parking access outside was blocked by roadworks.
Local residents have expressed concern about the lack of parking nearby as well as the licensing hours from 7am until 11pm daily which have been approved by the Richmond Council despite fears of anti-social behaviour.
Concerns have also been expressed about the threat to existing local businesses with a major supermarket especially when there is a Co-op less than half a mile away and another Sainsbury’s Local in High Street, Teddington about a mile away.
Planning was granted back in September when the previous store, The Painted Furniture Company closed down and locals have been surprised at the speed Sainsbury’s has converted the store and made plans for the opening next week.
A petition objecting to the development was launched and stated:
“Local businesses are extremely concerned of the negative impact the opening of a 24/7, 7 days a week Sainsbury’s will have on their shops. Not to mention the disturbance it will cause to local residents. Priyas Local and Hampton Wick Post Office are already struggling as it is with the cost of living crisis and this could put them both out of business.
There is already a Sainsbury’s in Teddington and this application highlights the want of a presence on high streets up and down the country with no regard for the impact on local businesses or communities. Sainsbury’s is the 2nd largest supermarket chain in the UK and are unaffected by rising rents.
We implore Sainsbury’s shareholders, VESA Equity Investment S.à.r.l., BlackRock, Inc and Schroders plc to rescind this application and look for a location that will less negatively impact local business and residents.”
The Hampton Wick Association said: “We know already that there are a range of different views as to the desirability of a store of this kind on our High Street. Many residents will welcome the opportunity to have available a larger range of products and services more locally on the High Street. It could for example be a significant convenience for elderly residents.
“It could be argued that there might be spin-off benefits for other local businesses due to increased footfall. It might also be argued that increased competition on the High Street might be beneficial to local consumers.
“On the other hand, a busy multi-purpose shop trading such long hours may bring noise and other social problems to the High Street, affecting particularly those who live on the High Street, and there are significantly more residential units on the High Street than commercial units.
“Some existing shops may fear the competition and may suffer as a result of same. It is likely that the character of the High Street would change with a dominant general-purpose shop which is significantly larger than most other trading premises. The High Street has been pretty much chain-free in recent times with most competing shops being single unit.”
