SU Petitions Council over Clarendon Park Tesco Store

Over 2,260 people have signed a petition against allowing Tesco to open a shop in Clarendon Park.

The petition, part of a campaign to keep Clarendon Park independent, has been signed by students and local residents in the hope that it will help keep independent shops and stores afloat in the difficult economic climate.

It called on local councillors to do “everything in their power” to prevent Tesco from opening a store in the area.

Say No to Tesco…Keep Clarendon independent

On Thursday 23 January, University of Leicester Engagement Officer, Sean Kelly-Walsh, took the petition to Leicester City Council. The idea had already been well supported with the petition having thousands of signatures, as well as being voted through the Union Council and having a local MP support the campaign.

He told The Tab: “It is important that people realise that there aren’t two areas, one for students and one for everyone else. Whenever I have talked with students about Clarendon Park, I have only heard good things. Whether this is because of its lovely blend of shops, bars and restaurants or for its community spirit.”

Sean Kelly-Walsh addresses Leicester City Council

He said: “I am not saying that we have solved the issue of local resident’s vs students, but we have made some good progress. It is a real shame we do not have a community Sabb. I am the Engagement officer and I am thrilled to have put my energy into improving relations, but I am 100% going to push for the community element to receive much better status in future years.”

How many people would it take to say no

This comes just weeks after more than 200 people attended a meeting to tell Tesco they did not want the store to open.

The meeting saw Tesco’s Corporate Affairs Manager, Simon Petar, tell residents the company were already in the advanced stages of planning and that work was taking place inside the former Barclays building to remove asbestos.

Salvador Deli…one of Clarendon’s independent restaurants

He went on to tell residents that his job was to listen to local people and “take on criticism to improve” Tesco’s plan, rather than consider whether Tesco should give up.

I Love Clarendon Park

‘I Love Clarendon Park’ is an attempt to encourage students to love their local area. The majority of students studying in second year and above live in the area and pushing for more interaction will only improve the situation. Part of the project will involve going to local shops and fighting for more of them to offer student discounts.

Earlier in the year students and representatives from the university visited the Clarendon Park Christmas Fair, an annual event celebrating everything good about the area.

Jones’…the site of the meanest breakfast in Clarendon

This year residents and students linked up and tirelessly went up and down Queens’s road collecting signatures for the petition. The responses we got were incredibly encouraging. People understood that the campaign was not about ‘screwing Tesco over’, but about preserving local businesses that would be at risk if a third supermarket was opened.

Tesco said its canvassers knocked on 998 doors and of the people who responded, 55 per cent would use the store.

“Whether you agree or disagree that there should be a Tesco Express set up on Queens Road, everyone can appreciate the benefits of having a positive relationship with your local area!”