Woodwares closing / Sainsburys coming to Portobello

[regent]

Although on reflection, Sarah also had a wee article in the paper recently that I wasn't too keen on!

[wangi]

https://twitter.com/dawn_ednews/status/ ... 3164030976

Dawn Morrison ‏@dawn_ednews
Traders and residents vow to fight proposal for Sainsbury’s in Porty http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-eveni ... -1-2510469

TalkPorty~Portobello ‏@talkporty
@dawn_ednews Portobello's not against everything, the well known faces that are always quoted in the papers don't represent the majority

Maureen Child ‏@MaureenChild1
@talkporty @dawn_ednews Absolutely right! There is a range of views on this and other issues in Portobello.

[regent]

Shame Maureen didn't reflect that view when she had the chance at the meeting.

[wangi]

To be fair she was very careful with what she said, and how during the meeting...

[geofflynn]

Are there too many premises on Portobello High Street selling booze? Would you wish to oppose a licence for Sainsbury's Local (assuming they apply for one).


Have your say here --> http://bit.ly/QieFPc


Results will be made available online in due course.

[lg1726]

Can someone help me out here? A couple of years back we had on our High Street Victoria Wine and Haddows within a couple of doors or so and then Fine Wine opened across the road right? Now, as I recall first Viccie Wine shut and then Haddows remained for a bit and shut a couple of years ago? So, am I right in thinking that we now have less off-license points of sale on the High Street than say three years ago, or have others opened in the intervening period I'm unaware of to cause all this stooshy about over provision of points of sale of booze on the High Street? If my recollection is correct we are down two on about five years back, so even accounting for the arrival of Sainburys we are still at least one down surely?!

[Pal of Porty]

Ah but what you are forgetting Ig1726 is that this has nothing to with the sale of alcohol. Sainsbury's into Porty High Street is a very legitimate move for a retailer to make and in this instance even requires no change of use from Planning. Campaigners who are anti because of their own personal biases are therefore left clutching at straws and have to pick up on any possibility to fight their cause, which in this case is alcohol. The hypocrisy of not objecting to Fine Wines, not to mention many of the anti-Sainsbury's campainers whom regularly shop there, is irrelevant to the seasoned Portobello Anti's. It is very much like traffic becoming a major factor for the new PHS Anti's - barely mentioned at any point during discussions over the years but when the net was tightening against their campaign, they were all of sudden worried about our litle darlings.

[lg1726]

Indeed POP and in reply to my email to Maureen of yesterday, I received the following response:

There is no way to stop this happening.

This WAS the consensus of the meting, but it doesn't mean they represent the majority!

Seems a bit like dodging the issue here! Anyway, off down the offy for tonight's bevvy, but which one should I try tonight. Need to be Fine Wine - I'm way too old for most of the rest!!!

[seanie]

I have a vague recollection of the Community Council being in favour of Fine Wines when it proposed opening.

[lg1726]

Don't get me wrong, I love Fine Wines ( a little too much my liver may say!!), but it does seem to me to be a very spurious argument that there are too many points of sale for alcohol when there are less now than there were then!! Like many who also love Fine Wine, for me Sainsburys would never be able to compete on choice and service and the local traders should be doing just that - trading on their expertise and providing what the generalist can't.

[PortySeahawks]

Spot on Pal of Porty.

The licensing complaint is a bit of a joke for me too. Sainsbury's will probably operate a strong 'If you look 25, we will ask you for ID' policy which most major retailers do. This is a lot more comforting than many other 'policies' that are enacted by other licensed premises on the High Street.

[Pal of Porty]

..... Like many who also love Fine Wine, for me Sainsburys would never be able to compete on choice and service and the local traders should be doing just that - trading on their expertise and providing what the generalist can't.

That is one of the key reasons why Haddows/Victoria Wine went bust. They sold many wines that Tesco etc sell at several pounds a bottle cheaper but did not offer the expertise and service of Fine Wines to give you great value for money. In otherwords they were caught in the no-niche market of selling very expensive ordinary wine without enough knowledge to expertly source non-run of the mill product.

[Pal of Porty]

.....The licensing complaint is a bit of a joke for me too....

As is the way the Anti's allude to Sainsbury's having difficulty in getting their signage correct for the conservation area of Portobello. Woodwares - although a much loved part of the Porty community - has certainly has not earned the respect of locals for it's shop frontage and it's adherance to the principles underpinning conservation area guidelines!

[lg1726]

Well, talk about putting the cat amongst the pigeons! Following on from my email to Maureen Child, see previous post, today I sent a copy of it to the EEN - Dawn thingy. She called me earlier this evening to ask if she could use some quotes from it for a piece in the EEN tomorrow! She asked if I was in favour of Sainsburys plans and I said to her that for me it is more than just being in favour of one new store, but that I was concerned that a hostile anti campaign would sent a message that we are not welcoming to those willing to invest into our High Street. That we have all, traders included been clamouring to see the High Street regenerated and that in my opinion the fact that a big name like Sainsburys wanted to invest could be an excellent springboard for that regeneration and that we should see it as an opportunity. I referred her to the recent surveys and pointed out that those unhappy at this development were in the minority and that I personally did not think that the arrival of Sainsburys would have such a massive impact on the local traders given that we havbe access to a number of supermarkets already offering a wider range of products cheaper than the Sainsburys local would be able to offer. We should all have a choice, those not keen on Sainsburys don't need to shop there! Anyway, just thought I'd let you know that they are looking at the other angle and I do hope that they do not seek to work up a divided community angle!!

[Pal of Porty]

I will be scouring the EEN today as soon as it out!

[Puerto bella]

half expected to see a stall on the HIgh St this am....

[lg1726]

tried to set up a stall this morning, but beaten off by those objecting to it!!!!!!!!

[rathbone]

Was that Porty Residents Against The Stall, or PRATS as they are more commonly known?

[Sceptic]

Rathbone, once again, right on the money! However I preferred the comment online in the EEN, "I tend to support anything that Diane Cairns is against." Is it possible that the PCC will be shanghaied yet again to misrepresent the wishes of Portobello Residents ? Probably.

[lg1726]

Well whether they called themselves PRATS or not, seems likely it could be to me!!!

[regent]

I would hope that the elected city council representatives who attend the community council will ensure that there is no "shanghaie ing" (if there is such a word), of public view by the community council. I think that they have a responsibility to encourage the community council to consult/survey/investigate public opinion. And if there is a divide in said opinion then unless it is truely 50/50 they should not adopt a neutral stance rather adopt a majority position and reflect, ofcourse, that there is a minority opinion for the other view. There is a word for this process..................

[regent]

oh yeah, thats it DEMOCRACY!

[gillian]

Whether we get democracy or not doesn't really matter in this case. Mr and Mrs Woodwares have agreed to lease their shop to Sainsbury's when they retire. The CC could consult/survey/investigate all they like ( or not like) I can't see it making a difference.

[regent]

how the community council reflects public opinion always matters. My point is that the commuity council if it is to state any public opinion it should be in line with the folk it represents over any issue. What individuals on their own do or say is another matter entirely.

[gillian]

Well, the cc certainly needs practice consulting and representing. Maybe this issue could be their first attempt at doing this after seemingly taking on board some of what people have been saying about lack of contact etc with the community they represent. E.g having a fb page.
Imagine how excited we would all be if they consulted, analysed and then represented the community accordingly, in true democratic fashion.
Atcually you are right it doesn't matter if the end result is not affected the process should be the same

[Porty]

Has anyone thought of approaching The Portobello Reporter with a view to starting a campaign to get the Community Council to consult with its people? Might be worth a go.

[Mark Cameron]

Article in the EEN today showing the community favour this development:

http://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-n ... -1-2516677

[bearcub]

Well done lg

http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-eveni ... -1-2516677

Edit - oops, beaten to it. Also, good comments from Mark Dryburn (I assume that's you mcdryburn!) in the article.

[Mark Cameron]

Lol - I'm actaully Mark Cameron (shoddy reporting by Dawn @ EEN imagine not even checking my surname )

[lg1726]

At last, a positive message!!

http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-eveni ... -1-2516677

[lg1726]

Lets hope this angle of regenerating the High Street gets some traction now! Whatever ones views and ethics with regard to Sainsburys, or indeed any other supermarket chain, its hard to argue against the need for investment into our High Street and the positive message that this sends to other potential traders. Whilst many, maybe Maureen Child included, may oppose the concept of supermarkets, there is little doubt that such investment has to be good for the High Street and the local traders wanted to see more investment!!!

[seashell]

I see from the response to the comment about Diana Cairns and her cabal was left by a Bertie Windsor. Any relation to Betty?

[gillian]

Isn't Berty one of the corgi's?

[Porty]

As a local high street trader here in Porty, I entirely concur with you LG.

[lg1726]

Thank you porty. I completely agree about the shoddy journalism - she got my age completely wrong!!! I'm 37 and have been for decades now!