"Huge attendance at public meeting shows opposition to new Stockbridge supermarket" - Kevin Lang

10.30.00pm GMT Thu 26th Mar 2009

Local LibDems Kevin Lang and Cllr Tim McKay discuss local issues on Raeburn Place in Stockbridge

Hundreds of residents from Stockbridge came together tonight at a public meeting to express their concern over the possible opening of a new Sainsburys. Local Lib Dem Kevin Lang attended the meeting and warned that urgent action, both from the community and from the Scottish Parliament was needed to protect small shops, who's future could be put at risk from a new supermarket.

Sainsburys are current in discussions with the owners of the former Woolworths store site on Raeburn Place, with the aim of opening a new supermarket.

An independent community campaign has been organised by the Stockbridge & Inverleith Community Council and Stockbridge Traders Association, who are concerned about the potential impact on small shops that add so much character to the urban village of Stockbridge. Over 5,000 people have now added their names in support of the campaign against the new supermarket.

Two weeks ago, respected Liberal Democrats Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable MP also added his name in support of the campaign.

Tonight, hundreds of residents came together to discuss the issue, including Joanna Blythman, author of "Shopped - the Shocking Power of British Supermarkets."

Speaking during the public meeting, local Liberal Democrat candidate Kevin Lang said,

"The Community Council and Traders' Association in Stockbridge have both done a fantastic job in raising the awareness of the issue over the last few weeks. It has also been great to see different political parties put their differences aside and come together to support the Keep Stockbridge Local campaign. However, we all need to do more to get more local residents concerned and angry about the potential impact of a new Sainsbury's on small traders.

"My family's small shop ran in North Edinburgh for over 100 years. I remember the significant drop in trade that came about when a new Sainsbury's opened up nearby. The current economic conditions means that many small traders in Stockbridge are already finding it tough. A new supermarket could seriously put their businesses at risk. People need to understand the serious implications of Sainsbury's opening on the old Woolworths site.

"There is clearly an anomaly in the current planning law that means a supermarket like Sainsbury's can come into a community like Stockbridge without any consultation, even if such an opening could be to the detriment of that local community. MSPs in the Scottish Parliament need to look at this as a matter of urgency."

There were a number of positive suggestions on how to take the matter forward, including a community trust scheme and greater consultation with local residents on what they would like to see on the site.