Historical Honiton Says No

Drivers' protest over store leads to bank holiday traffic chaos 

5th May 2007

Drivers from across Honiton caused traffic chaos on Saturday as they staged a motorcade protest against the planned relocation of the town's Tesco supermarket.  Around 40 cars crawled along the High Street just after 11am.  The chaos caused by 40 cars on a busy Saturday morning will be nothing compared to the chaos caused by the estimated 500 visits an hour to the new proposed Tesco store.

A petition resisting the move has now been signed by more than 1500 people. 

The plans for the new store are expected to be submitted in the near future.  The campaigners have not heard anything to date from Tesco or their representatives. 

An open meeting for concerned local residents has been convened for the 23rd April at 19.00 hrs at St. Ritas Ottery Moor Lane. 

Historical Honiton a rural market town in Devon says NO to supermarket giant Tesco's plans to relocate and enlarge their existing supermarket. Plans are being made to relocate the store to Ottery Moor Lane. '

Our core values 'no-one tries harder for customers' and 'treat people how we like to be treated' characterise our approach to Corporate Responsibility. We believe we can achieve most when we work together on practical things that make a difference. 'Every little helps' can become a great deal when everyone pulls in the same direction.' Sir Terry Leahy

Let's hope that Sir Terry will be listening to local residents in Honiton and will work together with the locals. The current location in Ottery Moor Lane being proposed for the new superstore development has poor access and will increase traffic and pollution in a residential area.

The main road entering and exiting the town will also be blocked if plans go ahead. Local town centre shops and businesses will be affected by such a development and will certainly not be able to compete with the prices that such an international purchaser on such a scale can offer. Increasing their supermarket to a superstore also means that not only local greengrocers, butchers and bakers will go out of business but also their value non-food products such as the £4.47 iron and £5.45 kettle will make it impossible for other businesses to compete.