CPRE Shropshire
Protecting Shropshire
You’ve seen the headline so many times before: New superstore to bring 150 jobs to Clonetown.
What the PR department and local newspaper doesn’t tell you is that these “new” jobs displace jobs in locally owned shops and businesses. It doesn’t tell you that far from supporting the local economy, the supermarket will undercut it. One study suggests that:
- Less than 16% of supermarket turnover goes into local wages, purchases and services
- Every £10 spent with a local food initiative is worth £26 to the local economy
- Just £14 goes into the local economy from every £10 spent in a supermarket chain.
Although the exact economic benefits will vary by locality and supermarket, the impact of supermarkets, especially out of town supermarkets, is obvious to see. The arrival of Tesco in Ellesmere has led to the closure of locally owned businesses, and local shops and businesses in Oswestry are currently threatened by a tidal wave of supermarket applications. We are not against supermarkets, but believe that they should not be built where they will undermine the local economy, and damage town and village life:
When shops move out of towns and villages, something important is lost. The natural interdependence of small retailers, producers and consumers creates a dense social network that provides employment, good quality food and wider social benefits (Jules Pretty, Professor of Environment and Society, University of Essex).
What can be done? The Mapping Local Food Webs Project
CPRE is positively campaigning for local foods. We believe that local food outlets should receive more active support from Shropshire Council and supermarkets. If the rural economy of Shropshire is to prosper, there must be a much greater awareness of the range of benefits localisation of the food market can bring. This greater awareness is the aim of our Mapping Local Food Webs project.
During 2010, we will be bringing this national project to Shrewsbury. Our aim is to reconnect people and land through local food by increasing access to fresh, healthy, local food with clear, traceable origins. A local food web connects people who buy, sell, produce and supply food in an area. The people, businesses, towns, villages and countryside in the web depend on each other, and this interdependence benefits their livelihoods, their quality of life and the quality of places.
What can you do?
We are looking for volunteers to help us map and strengthen local food networks in Shrewsbury.
For further information contact:
Catherine Webster
West Midlands Regional Co-ordinator
Mobile: 07739 332798. Email: catherinew@cpre.org.uk
Meetings
We have arranged three initial meetings for the project:
- 2.30 pm, Weds 6th January at CPRE Offices, Bear Steps, St Alkmonds Square, Shrewsbury: an informal meeting for those interested in finding out more/volunteering.
- 7.30 pm, Tues 19th January at Coach and Horses Pub, Swan Hill, Shrewsbury: informal meeting for those interested in finding out more/volunteering.
- Evening meeting 18th February: project launch, more details soon.
Further Information
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CPRE Shropshire, 11 Chestnut Grove, Ludlow, Shropshire SY8 1TJ
07771 801681. cpre@cpreshropshire.org.uk
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