The People’s Supermarket ‘optimistic’ as Homerton consultation ends
Photograph: © Ash Sakula Architects
Local residents gathered at Chat’s Palace yesterday evening (Tuesday 25 October 2011) to hear the results of the public consultation on the proposed People’s Supermarket for Homerton.
The group plans to open their second, member-owned, co-operative food store on Sedgwick Street, subject to council approval and funding.
The report drew on data gathered by surveys during the two-month-long, council-funded consultation with the public.
A key theme raised in the report was the community. “People love Homerton,” explained Jessica Green, spokesperson for the group at the meeting, whilst referring to the survey’s results.
With designated space for social enterprises and a café to attract locals to the community space “the shop can be the missing link in the cohesion of the people in the area,” she said.
Yet there are concerns for existing convenience stores in the area, as the shop, in its planned location, would serve over 4000 homes as the closest food store.
However, Green insisted that the People’s Supermarket has consulted local traders, albeit “randomly”. She also said their shop in Holborn has increased trade for other stores in Lamb’s Conduit Street.
At the meeting, concerns were also raised about the financial viability of the proposed store. Included in the report was a summary of a commercial survey undertaken by the member-owned retail group Nisa. The summary highlights the financial vulnerability of the project and the challenges it would face in attracting consumer, stating: “This research shows that in reality, the unit under consideration isn’t a supermarket site, or a good convenience store.”
Nevertheless The People’s Supermarket remains optimistic. Similar challenges were faced and met at the Holborn site and triumph over adversity is something the group believes can be replicated in Homerton.
The project still requires a minimum of £250,000 of funding and around 300 volunteers before they can open their doors. However, Jessica is “hopelessly optimistic”. In response to questions from residents about when the shop and community space would open, she set April 2012 as a “reasonable timescale”.
…[The People’s Supermarket]… should get [its] facts right. The Holborn TPS has affected local stores adversely by competition, and local convenience stores in Homerton have every cause to be alarmed. TPS depends on local authority/charitable handouts for survival, and dupes local authorities such as Camden and Hackney into giving them grants on false pretences.
I am strongly supportive of any co-operative enterprise but very concerned that the only consultation I am aware of was at Chats Rd Sunday market – which in all honesty is far from representative of the area’s diverse demographic – making me wonder which community this might be for, if it is another pet project for the Bobo clique then it shouldnt get a public penny and should stand on its own feet without subsidy…
if it is another pet project for the Bobo clique then it shouldnt get a public penny and should stand on its own feet without subsidy
This is exactly what has happened in Holborn, Simon. Camden gave TPS £20,000 on the basis that some of these grant monies would fund the memberships of the local poor and disadvantaged. This has not happened – the produce on offer is just expensive for the local poor. The membership profile is distinctly one of the chattering classes experimenting with proletarian retail at taxpayers’ expense – although of course The People’s Spin would have the world in its naivete believe otherwise.
Hackney must not fall into the same trap!
The People’s Supermarket is a social enterprise and in Holborn does stand on its own two feet.
Walter Bilas please contact [us] to discuss what informs your opinion of TPS current activities in Holborn.
TPS Holborn is not subsidised by the borough of Camden in any way and has in fact never accepted any grants from any local authority, let alone duped “local authorities such and Camden and Hackney into giving grants on false pretences” this statement is NOT correct.
In the meeting last week when asked about support for local business we referred to the support we created for local businesses in Holborn because, many shops on Lamb’s conduit street did not open on a Sunday until TPS opening hours included Sunday trading.
I would be very keen to find out which businesses experienced a negative impact after TPS opened in the area, we are keen to support and collaborate with all local businesses.
As project co-ordinator and born and bread resident in East London I have experienced the exclusion that has affected parts of east London as a result of the ‘boho’ gentrification movement.
To get a true perspective of what the local community in the Homerton area needs I endeavoured to reach the broadest audience as much as I could, my time and resources were limited but by attending residents association meetings, holding public meetings, events outside the units in question and also day long residency outside Homerton Library as a result I feel I have a reasonable perspective.
We are very aware that another convenience shop/supermarket in Homerton would compete with the local shops in the area. The very reason we did insist on a consultation period to be commissioned by Hackney was to identify a need if any and the kind of shop that would work for everyone,.
Finally we will not depend on public funds nor even entertain the idea of opening without a firm financial 5 year business plan to run independently and support the social activities and values.
There is a brief/draft summary of survey results and cartoon of what the ideas, requests and suggestions would look like in shop form on the survey blog http://hackney.peoplessupermarket.org
The People’s Supermarket is a social enterprise and in Holborn does stand on its own two feet.
Really […]? It is commonly known that Camden Council gave £25,000 to TPS in March 2010. And that Kate Bull’s salary for two years is being funded by the Esme Fairburn Foundation to the tune of £100,000.
Who am I? I am the co-owner of Kennard’s, a fine food deli in Lamb’s Conduit Street and have been paying close attentiion to The People’s Spin as disseminated by TPS to the media because my business is one of those affected by aggressive competition by TPS.
As for all this “social enterprise” miasma, I would like to remind you that Camden Council obtained judgment against TPS for non-payment of business rates where this argument was pathetically raised in TPS’s defence.
Even Kate Bull herself has admitted that TPS needs to compete to survive. And you can’t get it any clearer than that, can you?
Oh, and most shops still don’t open on a Sunday on Lamb’s Conduit Street. So nothing has changed.
Nothing to say, … [The People’s Supermarket]? It always helps to have your facts straight before you go into print […]
Louis – I think you have a good story here…[deleted by moderator]
Just read the article and have to say that the idea of a store with with admirable values and alternative produce would be warmly welcomed… and especially so in Hackney.
While Homerton station is about a mile away i’d happily travel for an alternative to the big players with affordable food.
What Walter Bilas (owner of Kennard’s) misses is that the situation in Homerton is entirely different from Holborn and such an enterprise would hopefully contribute to the development of the area, bringing people in and improving the social fabric and reputation around it.
TPS would most likely only offer a selection of things i’d need so where would i go for other things such as world foods or key cutting when i’m in the area… the other local shops of course.
Ok, so i might buy less from the shops (and big supermarkets) in my area, but if the Tesco’s of this world can get away with decimating local businesses then why not a business with values beyond maximizing profit?
Also, on the subject of tax payer grant’s for new businesses i’m unfussed either way. Sound’s like a drop in the ocean compared to the tax breaks the multinationals get.
While Homerton station is about a mile away i’d happily travel for an alternative to the big players with affordable food.
All one big con Mr Dobbs, but being a member of the chattering classes of course you don’t see it that way…
No response from TPS? And Hackney still wants these bloodsuckers in the hood?
“… we will not depend on public funds nor even entertain the idea of opening without a firm financial 5 year business plan to run independently and support the social activities and values.” Meanwhile back in reality from TP{S website “OUR IMMINENT CLOSURE The People’s Supermarket has struggled to keep up with the payment of business rates to Camden Council. The People’s Supermarket is a Co-operative and Community Benefit Society and operates for the benefit of its members and the community, is is by no means in pursuit of profit.
Although our takings have been increasing we are still having problems paying our business rates. For that reason, we ask that Camden Council continue to support us by allowing for the renegotiation of rate payments. In the absence of such support, The People’s Supermarket will become insolvent by March 1st. This will force us to close the shop”
Duchess of Hackney I think the EDL are to blame