Saturday, 10 January 2009

Welcome to 2009

Hi All





Firstly an apology for the delay in updating this blog. I could say that it has been down to pressure of work, hectic social life etc but alas that would be a lie - just pure laziness on the side of the author.



First on the list is a belated welcome to Hope Vets, We have needed a vet for a long time in the village and they are a welcome addition and I wish them all much success.



Secondly - the old Chiltern Jag site at the top of the village. Does anyone have any news on it. It is becoming an eyesore and soon, no doubt, the metal shutters will attract the spray paint artists. We are still none the wiser as to if Tescos are going to develop the site. Update - see below



Number 3 - The saturday market. As you may guess, I am very anti the market. This is not just because of the general 'crap'that seems to be on sale there but also cos of the traffic it brings into the village on a Saturday. Trying to drive down Bov High Street on a saturday morning is like trying to complete an obstacle course. It would be interesting to know from the shop keepers in the village, if the market has a positive effect or a negative on their trade. So please let us know. I did hear a whisper that there are plans afoot to look at turning the airfield site into housing. Well I guess that has to be better than the market, but how would the village cope with an influx of new residents, if it happens.

Number 4 - A huge thank you to all the local shop owners who generously donated prizes to the Bovingdon History Group's Raffle. My one regret is that neither myself nor my good lady wife managed to purchase a winning ticket. The mini hamper donated by Stanleys looked choc-a-bloc full of goodies.

TESCO UPDATE

I received a leaflet thru my door from Tesco telling of their plans for their new mini store on the old Chiltern Jag Site. Does this sound the death knell for other shops in the village. It seems to me that it most certainly will have a big affect on the Co-Op and maybe on CostCutters. I do wish that the Co-Op devoted a little less of their space to the sale of beers and wine and added a few additional lines and products

I personally am not totally against the store being there. I hope that if it does open, there will still be room for shops like Stanleys. My personal concern is what will this do to traffic in the village. Anyone who tries to turn right out of Old Dean in the mornings is confronted with having to make the turn blind cos of the delivery lorries for the Co-Op.

Anyway this blog is meant for personal comment so please feel free to add your opinions.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

I have to ask the question, what will having a Tesco add to the village?

Personally I don’t think very much. You can buy most/all day to day necessities from the village, yes it can mean having to go to more than one shop but is that such a hardship.

Yes, I think Tesco would be successful but it will be at the cost of the already established businesses in the village. Having a company with the buying power of Tesco in the village who can undercut our local shops must negatively impact them despite their claim that it will attract more people to the village.

Consideration must be given to the traffic impact on the village. Saturdays and school pick up times are chaos on the High Street already. This is further exacerbated when Co-Op and others are having deliveries – add in regular Tesco lorries and the High Street will flow with the efficiency of the M25!

I can understand why Tesco want to come to Bovingdon but personally I don’t think Bovingdon needs a Tesco.

Anonymous said...

tescos good . crappy run down garage selling tacky rubish out of clappped out vans bad .