Sussex supermarket sweep

Much has been made of the Mary Portas report, which highlighted the plight of the local high street.

Yet more and more supermarkets see Sussex as ripe for development.

Newhaven, Shoreham, Crawley, Ferring and Bognor are all the target of new out-of-town stores.

So what effect will these large stores have on independent retailers already struggling in a difficult economy?

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is clear in its concern: out-of-town developments pull shoppers away from where they are needed most, the high street.

Martin Searle, East Sussex FSB’s development manager, said: “The FSB is not anti-supermarket. We believe in a diverse economy with room for large, medium and small companies.

“The key to it is with the local authorities’ planning decisions in enabling a diverse economy.

Economy

“Good planning would lead to a supermarket close to or in the town to increase footfall and ensure its car park could be used for everyone who wants to shop in that area. Then they can drive the economy.

“Out of town supermarkets divert trade from the high street. The consequence is shop closures.”

Tony Mernagh, of the Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership, said out-of-town developments did not “do any favours” for high street stores.

He said: “The big players like Tesco are looking at their market and trying to decide a strategy for regaining ground.

“Any town or city centre should not try to compete with them but offer something different.”

Mr Mernagh said shops needed to take responsibility but the local authority also has a role to play.

He praised Brighton and Hove City Council for recognising the value of its independent store heartlands in areas such as the Lanes.

Council leader Jason Kitcat said: “My preference is not for supermarkets. They do not bring that many jobs, and those jobs have low wages and most of the money does not stay in the local economy.

“We are a tourist community and people will not come because there is a Sainsbury’s or a Tesco. They come here for something special.

“The council has limited planning powers but when we do there is normally cross party support for resisting moves.”

Yet supermarkets claim they are only moving to Sussex in response to customer demand.

Asda recently announced it was opening a 19,500 sq ft store in Hailsham in the Quintins Shopping Centre.

It is also planning a new store in Littlehampton Road, Ferring, near Worthing, and is one of two chains eyeing a massive new development at the Railway Quarter and Eastside in Newhaven.

Lewes MP Norman Baker said: “Generally out-of-town supermarkets are regrettable. It is much better |to have a vibrant town centre |which would minimise the amount of travel thereby saving carbon emissions.

“Supermarkets can act as an anchor site and help out shops nearby but out of town can damage them.

“It is the law of the jungle that those with more influence and power thrive but it is the function of those elected by the public to represent their views.”

Oliver Jones, a senior property communications manager for ASDA, has been working on the plans for its Hailsham store.

He said: “It is what our customers tell us.

“That is what they like and they want access to our services in that area.

“We are not well represented in that area at the moment.

“There are fairly few sites which can accommodate a large supermarket. Each town has its own solution to what it needs.”

“We offer competition and choice for customers. We provide an important offer for people with value on goods, good prices and home shopping which makes a big difference to people.

“They have access to food and clothing they might not have had before.

“We also provide jobs and local investment. We hold consultations before any planning and people come up to us and ask when jobs will become available.

“We also have great training programmes and apprenticeship schemes. And there are jobs when we build our stores.

“It means money is circulating |in the local economy. We help |small producers to get their produce ready.

“We perform an important |function and benefit the community. We have an important role to |play.”

Ben Callaway, 38, of MFC Supplies clothing store in Hailsham, will have to take on the Asda nearby for custom.

He said: “I am worried about the effect this will have on our clothing sales and our camping supplies.

“With this new Asda and the way the economy has been we’re looking at more and more being taken out of our sales.”

A new supermarket is being lined up for Bognor Regis Retail Park in Shripney Road while in Brighton both the former Co-op building in London Road and Vantage Point could have a food giant as its next tenant.

Morrisons chief executive Dalton Philips in March criticised large out of town “big box” supermarkets, as “soulless sheds”.

But the firm has taken over a large site on the edge of Worthing town centre and is drawing up plans for superstores in Shoreham and Crawley.

When asked about those developments, a spokesman said: “We want to be a great addition to the local community, bringing jobs, investment and choice to the area.

Culture

“We always consult extensively with local people to make sure we build a supermarket that is right for the town.

“The majority of our stores are in town centre locations meaning we can help to bring the bustle back to the high street and benefit the whole community.”

Neil Parkin, the leader of Adur |District Council, said: “In general I am not in favour of out-of-town |supermarkets in principle because |of the trade they take away from|local towns and the traffic |problems.

“Shoreham has found its niche |as a restaurant and coffee culture hub.

“There are also a few independent stores selling things the supermarkets do not.”

Some local traders are confident they can fend off the giants.

Shoppers in Worthing will have |to make the choice between hopping from shop to shop in the town for their items or heading to an out of town store such as the Asda development on its way to Ferring.

Ian Kimpton, 64, the manager of D.J Kimpton greengrocers in Worthing, will now have to battle against large Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Morrisons and Asda stores in the town but remains bullish.

He said: “I shouldn’t think it will affect us too much, we’re already competing with the big superstores already.

“There are so many of them about that I doubt it will make a difference. If our business was going to be affected it by this it would have already happened.”

Rebecca Barker, 31, the manager of The Edinburgh Woollen Mill clothing store in the town was similarly optimistic.

She said: “I don’t think it will affect our store as we’re in the centre of town and it helps that a lot of our customers come in from the local bus routes.

“We have a loyal customer base and I think a new Asda or Morrisons won’t take many customers away from our business.”

The future of Sussex’s high streets is fragile and the causes of its problems are many.

With contrasting statistics and opinions about the role out-of-town supermarkets, one thing remains clear – our shops need all the help they can get.

What do you think?