Safeway threatens to pull out of Pickering (From Gazette & Herald)

Safeway threatens to pull out of Pickering

PICKERING must decide for itself what is best for the town and must not be bulldozed into a new supermarket, say protesters.

But, says, superstore chain Safeway, if it loses its application to build on the old coal yard site and the railway is reinstated, Safeway would have to review its presence in the town.

Tracy Hostler, speaking for the company, said: "There are no plans to close the store at the moment, but if the railway closed off the Ropery, a store on the present site could become unviable."

Over 200 residents crammed into the town's new Memorial Hall to voice their concerns about the proposed new store.

They were concerned the new store would be away from the town centre. Not just that, but the site, straddling the line of an old railway track between Malton and Pickering would stop railway development in the future.

The meeting was called by the town council so councillors could hear residents' views before debating the issue themselves.

In a tightly controlled meeting led by Mayor Coun Bill McCall, three interest groups each presented a case. In the second half of the meeting, residents were invited to add their own three minute statements.

Also present were Paul Dunce, the Ryedale District Council planner overseeing the Safeway application, and Chris Milln, of North Yorkshire County Council.

"We are the only people who care about the success of our town," said Victor Buchanan, chairman of Pickering in Business, presenting the point of view of local businesses.

"We must make sure things are done the way we want them. Pickering is hard to beat. Let's not have it spoilt. Too many other small towns have had their hearts ripped out by poorly-planned supermarket development."

David Griffiths, chairman of the Pickering and District Civic Society, said Pickering was a lively, attractive market town. "Why should we put all that at risk? People don't come to visit Pickering to visit a supermarket."

He added to applause that if Safeway concentrated on providing first-class groceries on its present town centre site, it would be welcome.

Safeway declined an invitation to attend the meeting saying only people against the store would go and that would mean meeting them head-on.

After the meeting, Tracy Hostler, speaking for Safeway, said the suggestion of Safeway concentrating on groceries was 'bizarre'.

"That is local people and local competition telling a supermarket chain what it should and should not sell. We are not just a grocery store."

Royd Scurrah created interest when he explained how a railway could run through Pickering and join with the steam railway. He did not believe the disruption would be nearly as great as that described in a Safeway consultant's report.

Chris Milln confirmed the Safeway consultant's report on a railway running through Pickering was at odds on some points with the Mouchel report commissioned partly by the county council.

The meeting was overwhelmingly against the new store. Only one person admitted welcoming the new store plan. Colin Pickering, of Thornton-le-Dale, said it would bring free parking to the town.

Planner Paul Dunce said the Safeway application would probably be heard in Pickering in March or April.

It would probably be held in Pickering. He warned people not to be complacent about their chances of the scheme being refused just because many people appeared to be against it.

Tracy Hostler from Safeway added later: "The supermarket business is very different to the '40s and '50s when housewives went shopping every day with their baskets. We can't go back to that kind of trading because a few people in Pickering think it is a good idea."

On February 19, Pickering town council will debate whether to recommend that Ryedale District Council should approve the application. The meeting starts at 7pm at the Memorial Hall. The public are able to attend to hear what their councillors have to say.

Updated: 15:04 Thursday, February 08, 2001