View Full Version : Do you support an ASDA store in Caithness?
Well ? What does everyone think of ASDA coming to Caithness?
Most certainly yes. Variety is the Spice of Life! (At least it was until my wife caught me :grin: )
Yep, bring them on...
The Loafer
motopitcrew
27-Jan-06, 09:19
Definatly if only to sort out the petrol barrons if nothing else
Has always been a pleasure to shop in Thurso with the individual shops but if this plan goes ahead on the designated site you can say goodbye to alot of your town centre businesses within two years.
Don't be lured by the promise of cheap prices these come ay the expense of choice and quality. No supermarket chain is not going to stock those items that it cannot turn over in large quantities and at speed.
Sorry to be a kill joy but I speak from experience, where I have the misfortune to live over the last few years small businesses have decreased by 40% , I can no longer buy alot of items ,the city centre has as many empty shops as occupied and community shopping parades have been decimated. This in direct relationship to the ring of supermarkets that now surround the city like a garrison wall .
Lizz I see where you are coming from. Its different for us up here. Take myself for instance I dont drive, have a husband who hates going to Inverness and dont have the time to travel by bus or train as it takes so long. I dont have the choices you have living near or in a city. I want to be able to make the choice of where I shop and the more options available the better. We have always missed out being stuck in the far north and I think that now its the year 2006 we deserve to be able to shop the same way others have been doing for donkeys years. This might seem a daft excuse to you but you are used to having everything at hand when you need it. Up here there is nothing. With the likes of Tescoo, Asda, Homebase. Argos Superdrug and New Look coming to the area we will be able to have cheaper options than we have at present. I feel sorry for the shopkeepers who will feel the pressure when these businesses open but with the prices some of them charge they cant be surprised that people will shop elsewhere. Its a sign of the times and all I can say is it cant come soon enough.
well i def do support it.. it is good for teh economy on a whole
and as for not being able to get what the supermarket has thats what specialty stores are all about!
what about all the things that you can get out of a larger store that you can not get out of a smaller one?
maybe in this country little shops close and go under at the first hint of comp. but where im from there are huge conglomerates and small buisness working side by side.
the town center tends to stay small and full of traditonal shops.. and the outskirts where the larger shops are built so as not to take away from teh charm and personality of the town itself.
there are shops back home that has been there for a hundred years and didnt go out of buisness because of bigger stores coming in..
yes there will be shops going under
but if you check statistics .. the majority of all small buisnesses go under in the first few years.. just the way things work.
however the ones that are established tend to thrive with the comp.
bigger shops bring in more cust. and more cust will wonder to other shops.. and buy the more novel traditional items at a higher price from the local merchants..
sounds good to me!
crashbandicoot1979
27-Jan-06, 11:07
I'm against it, but I'm definitely in the minority....
I am in wick i am for asda coming to thurso.
Yep don`t live there but all for it.
We have a great asda here the petrol is cheap, the optician is excellent and cheap, clothes good and cheap (wedding dresses £60!), the ready meals are excellent quality the only down side with ours is the lack of people on tills.
Another wicker here looking forward to Asda's arrival
yes i would support asda going to thurso, but what about tesco comming to wick, i havent heard another whesht about it...?
Are they trying to outnumber the wind turbines with supermarkets now?
Rubha_an_Tuir
27-Jan-06, 16:44
I think it will be OK. Thurso is in a farming community so people appreciate quality meat and fish and local produce, so I can't see the local Butchers and Fishmongers etc being affected. I do agree that some smaller shops have the potential to suffer, but there is already the Co-op, Somerfield and Lidel up there and from what I hear, Somerfield is pretty poor anyway.
Can an Asda that far north provide the quality of service? And will Asda price it's petrol in line with other Asda's, or will they just price it in line with local petrol stations?
If the small shops look on this as a challenge they should be able to benefit from more people being attracted to Thurso and Wick. They may have to stop closing for lunch, stay open after 5.0 (5.30 would be good!) and brighten up some of the older window displays. There are at least two fairly new shops in Thurso with fantastic attractive shop fronts and windows - it can be done. I used to live near Stroud in Glos. which is surrounded by huge out-of-town supermarkets. Every time a new one was proposed there were dire warnings about the death of the small shops. In fact the only reason some shops closed was a huge hike in business rates by a greedy council. The area generally took up the challenge and the town has the best Farmer's Market in the country. Saturdays were fantastic with stalls full of local produce (mainly organic) and other locally produced goods, street musicians and all sorts. If they could do that, so can we :Razz
Phoebus_Apollo
27-Jan-06, 16:57
I think it will be a massive boon if Thurso can get an ASDA store, not only will it create jobs, it will allow freedom of choice. It will also save a 120 mile drive down to Inverness.:D
~~Tides~~
27-Jan-06, 17:58
Its different for us up here.
Take myself for instance I dont drive.
Just walk down Dingwall high street. And if you lived over in say pultneytown and didnt have a car, its unlikely that you are going to walk all the way across the town (and out of it) and back carrying your tesco bargins.
I'm also definatly in the minority I see.
They'll have to add more buses which will also be good for everyone (I know they're thinking about it).
The sooner the better I say. I don't care if it's Tesco or Asda, either one will be a huge improvement and what we already have.
Didn't we have this discussion already about Tescos coming to Wick? It's up to the little shops to become specialised if they want to survive.
I think it will be brilliant. Personally I would like to see it in a different location, but if Asda doesnt go into those fields then something else probably will.
This venture can only be a good thing for the majority of the town. I dont think 270 people will loose their jobs because of it, so with Asda creating this many jobs hopefully there will be more jobs to go round.
I for one would certainly welcome it with open arms and it wont stop me from still shopping locally. No matter how good Asda are you cant beat Caithness butcher meat, or local fish.
Remember alot of people thought Lidls would effect local buisness's and it didnt seem to, although please correct me if I am wrong.
Caithness has to move with the times.
Alice in Blunderland
27-Jan-06, 19:34
It wont mean doom and gloom to some of the local retailers if they pull up their socks others it has to be said will close eventualy whether Tesco or Asda come to this area or not.People are willing to travel for their shopping and there is also the comfort of on-line shopping.I am all for Asda and competition as the consumer wins and lets face it the good points outweigh the bad.
brill idea! we need more shops!!! :p
yes i would support asda going to thurso, but what about tesco comming to wick, i havent heard another whesht about it...?
I recieved another email from them and again, they said that there are currently plans for a new store in Wick but they do not have the exact information as yet. I will check with them again in a months time.
wickerinca
27-Jan-06, 21:02
Think that it is great that the Caithness economy is strong enough to attract the likes of these shops!!
I am in total dissagree ment with our completely unlocal Green MSP.
The Asda may well cause a few job losses as some of the local reatailers drive to become more efficient but how many jobs will be created by the Asda? Far more than are lost I reckon.
Also the run down and eventual closure of Dounreay means that we must encourage any new business to Caithness. On its own a retailer will not keep the economy going but an Asda, Tesco, Homebase and Argos will make the area far more appealing to new investors in the area. It shows that the place is not on the decline and that others see a future in it.
Roll on Asda.
Anyone know if Sainsbury's are looking at a location in Castletown?
landmarker
27-Jan-06, 21:20
The Supermarkets are becoming the fifth estate.
All that turnover, money and profit going into so few hands.
All those old established family businesses falling by the wayside.
I can't knock them too much though. Within three miles of my house I have two Asda's - both 24 hours. Three Morrison's, all with Petrol (it's not good stuff by the way) A Sainsbury's and two Tescos's, one of them absolutely Huge - a Tesco Extra! I use them all from time to time. They have revolutionised shopping but when you just stop and think for a minute the power they hold over us all is incredible. They make millions upon millions too, but the rates of pay for workers are not very good at all.
They maintain their profit margins by putting suppliers under enormous pressure. They insist on 'just in time' deliveries and penalise suppliers who are late. Everything has to conform to certain pre set specifications. Even the packaging! & Woe betide farmers or suppliers who screw up, even occasionally. Food is trunked
hundreds of miles around the country quite often needlessly.
Still, as I said I can't really knock them. I enjoy c.d's at five to nine quid.Plus the food which is undoubtedly cheaper due to competition. Small shops in the High Street just can't compete.
I like one stop shopping. I suppose in today fast moving world supermarkets are a neccesary evil. Maybe not so evil at that. Enjoy your ASDA.I expect the employment it will bring will also be welcome. Though the money isn't great the staff all look fairly happy and I hear they are flexible employers.
Has always been a pleasure to shop in Thurso with the individual shops but if this plan goes ahead on the designated site you can say goodbye to alot of your town centre businesses within two years.
Don't be lured by the promise of cheap prices these come ay the expense of choice and quality. No supermarket chain is not going to stock those items that it cannot turn over in large quantities and at speed.
Sorry to be a kill joy but I speak from experience, where I have the misfortune to live over the last few years small businesses have decreased by 40% , I can no longer buy alot of items ,the city centre has as many empty shops as occupied and community shopping parades have been decimated. This in direct relationship to the ring of supermarkets that now surround the city like a garrison wall .
Lizz
Pleasure to shop in Thurso??
Could you please let me know where? I can name 4: - The Kiln Store, Bews Butchers, Mackays grocers & Woodbees. They willna be affected by Asda. As for the rest, goodbye and good riddance!!
The Loafer
Lizz
Pleasure to shop in Thurso??
Could you please let me know where? I can name 4: - The Kiln Store, Bews Butchers, Mackays grocers & Woodbees. They willna be affected by Asda. As for the rest, goodbye and good riddance!!
The Loafer
OMG!!!! is Jessie Allans not there anymore?:~(
If local shops are to compete with the likes of ASDA and Tesco then they will have to buck up the quality of their products. Not a bad thing is it? ATM there is no incentive to do so with a captive clientelle on the doorstep.
OMG!!!! is Jessie Allans not there anymore?:~(
nope it is gone......
I totally agree Rheghead. Does anyone else find it inexcusable that you can go into stores and week after week you find that certain brands of staple foods are sold out whilst other brands have hardly been touched.
The attitude seems to be that when items people prefer run out then they'll just put up with the rest.
It never seems to enter their heads to cut down on the brands which are slow selling and increase the brands people prefer.
I find that sort of 'Take it or leave it' attitude appalling. Personally I take the 'leave it' option every time, I can always go elsewhere, even if it means a trip to Inverness. If stores can't be bothered to provide what people want then I'm not prepared to provide them with my custom.
Stores also seem to use the most incompetent Wholesalers that can be found. If something isn't in stock and has to be ordered the Wholesaler invariably seems to, 1. have it on back order, 2. have sent it to the wrong place, 3. has sent the wrong item, 4. has not included it in the order, 5. Any other excuse that comes immediately into the mind which sounds feasible.
Sorry, all I normally do is give up and next time I want something from the same place I just use the web instead. That way I usually get the item delivered to my door within a few days instead of having to waste time running back and forth to hear the same round of lame excuses for week after week.
The sooner there is more choice of outlets the better it will be for the shoppers of Caithness.
I like one stop shopping. I suppose in today fast moving world supermarkets are a neccesary evil. Maybe not so evil at that. Enjoy your ASDA.I expect the employment it will bring will also be welcome. Though the money isn't great the staff all look fairly happy and I hear they are flexible employers.
Can't wait, come on Asda! As for the wages they pay, they can't be worse than what almost everyone pays up here, minimum wage of £5.05 an hour!
Asda will definately attract people from Sutherland and Orkney, just like Tesco's in Oban attracts people from Mull and the Western Isles.
They also provided local free bus services to help us spend our money.
I appreciate your point of view Venture but I most certainly do not have choice as I would like it. In the last 5 years most of the shops that I had been using for 20yrs have closed. I can no longer buy shoes that fit, materials for my craft business, have only one proper book shop,the egg store has gone, cannot buy a pure wool jumper appart from in a designer shop at £200 plus etc. All this in a city with 25,700 inhabitants.
I have not used a supermarket for over 15yrs as it was quite evident even then what the growth of these shops would eventualy do to local commerce.
Recently we had a case in point of a large Tesco being sighted just a few yards from a traditional shopping street with an excellent range of small shops providing personal service. Within a year some ten of these small speciality shops have gone and does the supermarket stock what they did? The answer to that is a definite no.
The planned site for the Tesco is on the outskirts of the town, on a green field where at present a flock of sheep are usually grazing.
Now in all honesty can you say that having driven out there loaded up with your groceries and sundries you are going to go back into town, park and walk to Trail Street to purchase a newspaper,book, picture, pair of shoes? I think not.
Stargazer
28-Jan-06, 00:40
So were talking about Asda on this thread now. Well like is said on the other pages:
If a man can write a better book, preach a better sermon, or make a better mousetrap than his neighbour, though he builds his house in the woods the world will make a beaten path to his door.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)
Dose'nt bother me iam getting tesco lol
For over 50 years I've heard the same predictions time after time. I am still waiting anxiously for the first Town Centre to disappear.
I can't get sugar poured into the nice blue bags. I can't put a jug on my windowsill and have it filled from the churn by the milkman. I can't get the nice creamery butter taken from the huge block of butter and patted into shape with the wooden butter pats. I really miss going into the butchers and seeing the sides of beef and whole sheep hanging from rails, I miss the black and white tiled floor in the Co-op and the sawdust on it. I miss getting coffee freshly ground whilst I waited. I miss the Tripe Shop and the Poultry Shop where the fowl arrived in crates still alive and squawking and then appeared soon after plucked and ready on the counter. I almost forgot the shop where you could go and get fresh horse meat, the dogs loved it.
Oh yes, and I miss only having one TV Channel which didn't start until tea time at 4pm. (It was for the posh folks who took tea at four) Oh, sorry, there was Watch With Mother for the little dears who weren't at school which was from two o'clock until about quarter past and then went off. The Interlude just before six so that people would remember to make an evening meal for the children and the 11 o'clock shut down so you were sure to go to bed early like naughty children.
And only women of doubtful morals went into bars without a man accompanying them. (Remember that you scandalous young ladies, if you go out alone you're up to no good!)
There's lots of things I miss, but then again there are a lot more things I appreciate that I never had back then.
But, dear, dear, all those wonderful things lost because of those dreadful Supermarkets that provide what people want, it's terrible. What’s the modern world coming to?
Oh yes, I forgot, and that was in small town with 120,000 people.
Ah for the good old days when it was sunny all summer and never rained and the snow in winter was picturesque and problem free, and the trains were never late and the bus was on time and every five minutes.
And what a wonderful dream world it was.
Jaws, you made me smile with your descriptions of yesteryear. I remember them too, e.g. trying to buy a new dress in Wick for special occasions but not having a very big choice, hence the popularity of "the clubbie". Most households had one, be it J.D. Williams, Oxendales or one of the more trendy like Kays, Universal, Traffords, Freemans etc.
Our money has always gone out of the county in one way or another and I don't think any of us are innocent, so I think we just have to go with the flow and appreciate the jobs and choice of goods that come our way via all the businesses that have the confidence to invest here.
Let's face it, we all spend money on things that are not totally necessary to survive but who wants to just survive? Shopping has become a leisure business and all these incomers are providing what the majority are looking for. Saves us going to Inverness doesn't it?
Those who wish to stick with our friendly, helpful local businesses can still do so. There are local butchers, fish merchants, chemists, fishing tackle shops, electrical goods, gardening supplies, coal merchants, bakeries, florists, iron-mongers etc. What more does a person need? Look at the money that can be saved if we only bought the things needed to hold body and soul together.
Any spare time and recreational needs can be fulfilled by going on long walks, cycle runs, joining the various clubs that exist for squash, tennis, bowling, swimming, canine clubs, horse-riding, chess, bridge, whist, martial arts, enjoying our glorious beaches etc., or helping out in the volunteer sector if we want to share our good fortune in being in good health and content. There is a lot of fun out there if we really wish to look for it.
Let's face it, if Asda do come here it is because they know can make money. And who's money is it? Yours and mine.
concerned resident
28-Jan-06, 11:58
We had the same old predictions that all the small shops would close when Lidl’s were looking to come to Thurso, and I mentioned to a person on the traders Association then, about if they were all so poor, why did they not stay open at lunch time, and never got a proper answer. I never noticed any difference after Lidl‘s opened, I did know some people who looking for shop premises at one time in Thurso, and there was nothing available. I think the Majority of people will be for it, like myself. My only fear is our Councillors will make it so awkward, while going through our outdated planning procedures, and their views of Caithness, of the future, they will skip Thurso, and probably go to Orkney. Tesco’s were interested in Thurso long before Wick, I unfortunately have little faith in Caithness Councillors and the planning Officer.
I am keeping every thing crossed, and hoping I do not have a future of driving to Wick for my shopping and petrol, even though Wick is a great place.
mickey101
28-Jan-06, 13:47
Hi
I agree totally as my last post on the other Asda discussion thread pretty clearly states.
The only people who will be hurt by Asda opening up are those who have been taking this county for a ride for years ( sorry boys, you know who you are. Those who live by the sword die by the sword). Those who provide a good service have nothign to fear and alot to gain. As for money going out of the county this I suspect has been steadily increasing with the advent of good shopping in Inverness and the internet. Blocking Asda or stalling them until they just give up ( standard tactic) will not stop this happening. Letting Asda in will help keep money in the county. The creation of 270 jobs is a big cash injection into the local economy. Money that otherwise would have been spent paying the salary of someone in Inverness.
Asda are playing a clever game by already offering to sort out a known traffic bad spot, improving local facilities and all for free.
I hope they do come because we dont half need them, it will be good all round.
As to the local council perhaps they should remember who elected them and why. We all know our local councillor make the most of their regular trips to Inverness so why not let the rest of us in on the benefits.
If Asda and indeed Tesco are blocked then I think it is time for a change.
M
mickey101
28-Jan-06, 14:21
hi mickey,your back again. surprised your allowed after last night.
Hi Partygirl
I stand by what I said last night. Some of the decisions our local government have made are questionable at best. ( ie blocking the original Tescos bid. Putting a Telephone base mast in the middle of a playing field beside a heavily used football pitch in the face of overwhelming local opposition and uncertain scientific evidence etc etc) Therefore I have to question exactly who they are representing and what is influencing them. Yes I agree with alot they do, I disagreee with just as much.
Blocking me will only lend weight to my arguements. This country has was built on free speech it is the pricipal means in which we can keep our Government Local or Central, honest and accountable.
M
The planned site for the Tesco is on the outskirts of the town, on a green field where at present a flock of sheep are usually grazing.
Now in all honesty can you say that having driven out there loaded up with your groceries and sundries you are going to go back into town, park and walk to Trail Street to purchase a newspaper,book, picture, pair of shoes? I think not.LIZZ, some of us don't actually venture into Asda or Tesco -- we usually do our weekly shop in the position you are likely sitting in as you read this post. A few clicks of the mouse is all it takes, and you decide when it's delivered. In fact, I cut short my post on the prostitution thread when I saw the mannie from Asda running down the the path with this week's goodies. I hope the Caithness Tesco & Asda will offer internet delivery services.
Do retail outlets in Thurso really still shut up shop at 5pm? Do they really close for lunch? Have they not heard of staggered lunch breaks? Do they still have a half-day on, er, Wednesdays, and close for the afternoon on the first Monday of the month?
I'm just about to go out shopping right now, I won't go anywhere near Asda or Tesco, and I won't get there until about 5pm.
I must admit that I wouldn't consider living in Thurso or Wick if Somerfield, the Co-op and Lidl were the only supermarkets on offer. I've never been in a half-decent supermarket of any of that ilk, and none have even come close to a typical Asda, Tesco or Sainsburys. BTW I shopped in a big brand-spanking-new Morrisons a week ago, and it too had a truly abysmal choice of foods, so I won't be going back there in a hurry. [disgust]
Wonder where you live DrSzin? I used to live where you could shop online at Tesco and get it delivered, although you don't always get what you ask for (ordered some biscuits online the other day 'cos I couldn't get them locally and they sent me 10 tubes of anchovy paste :confused: ). Somerfields in Wick have started delivering over a wide area but - you have to go into the shop to do your shopping first. And yes, I'm afraid lots of shops do still close for lunch, close early, have half days etc. Customer is always wrong.
have to admit i was shocked when i first came across...
i was always use to 10 pm openings for retail and 24/7 for grocieries
felt like i had went back in time when i moved here!
nothing is open on a sunday
half day wed.
shut for lunch..
everything closes at 5 or 5:30 latest..
couldnt belive it!
i kept asking well what about people who work first shift how are they suppose to shop?
and i was greeted with a shrug and told weekends and days off..
all i can say is thank God for online shopping!
what you can get delivered up here with out having to pay extortionate delivery fees because we are in the highlands..
and cant tell you the times ive been told that im not on the mainland! *laughs*
While I think it is important that we hear the views of distant people it should be clear that we are not just another rural area ripe for the takeover by Tesco and Asda!
To all those who do not live in Caithness nor realise the particular circumstances we exist in then please read below:
We are 100 miles from the nearest city, 100 miles from the nearest Tesco, 148 miles from the nearest Asda, 90 miles from the nearest Morrisons and even further from our nearest Sainsbury’s. To Inverness is not a nice easy 100 miles of Motorway or Dual Carriageway, it is a long 100 miles of windy A roads with only a short section of Dual Carriageway and takes over 2 hours if driving within the legal limits add into that the effects of extreme seasonal weather. The train from Thurso to Inverness takes nearly 4 hours, and more to Wick.
None of the shops offer online shopping; you must still visit the shop for them to deliver.
The current local supermarkets are, Somerfield and Coop, they are expensive, have restricted products and if you pick the wrong day then very limited stock. There is a Lidl which is very good but the selection can also be restricted by the time of the week.
We are effectively being held to ransom by the local supermarkets, petrol stations and suppliers. I realise that there is a cost to importing items into this part of the country but feel that some people are taking advantage of the situation.
We are not just the next rural area to be taken over by the supermarkets. We truly have a restricted choice of places to shop in and unless you are willing to travel long distances then you are stuck with it. Add to this the inevitable closure of the biggest local employer. We need these companies to invest in us otherwise there will be no choice or future for the people of Caithness.
Everyone believes that things are cheaper up here, but when you remove the housing and general insurance costs I think that we live a far more expensive life than down South. Who in the South would put up with our petrol prices or even the North as Orkney is even cheaper than us!
So to all those people who live out with Caithness, please have a real think about our circumstances before commenting, even if you have lived in the area before. Your views may be affected by the distant feelings you have.
Nice summary, biker. :)
In my (limited) experience, Inverness is now pretty much like most smallish UK cities in the retail services it offers, and I could live there no problem. I would miss Sainsburys, Costco and IKEA, but I don't think I'd bother driving to Elgin just to go to Asda.:D
I agree wholeheartedly biker. I have no wish to see either Wick or Thurso turned into a miniature version of Anyplace City but neither do I wish to see them retain ideas that are now fifty years out of date.
Running from shop to shop in the pouring rain in the vain hope that one of them somewhere might just have bothered to think of ordering the everyday article before the stocks sold out went out with one channel TV and the BBC refusing to have DJs and only having Pop programmes a couple of times a week for the Top Ten! "If we play Pop music the poor dears will miss being educated by our more cultured programmes." And I'm not joking, the newsreaders on the radio had to wear dinner jackets and bow-ties to "keep up standards!"
How many of the modern housing in Wick and Thurso were built on Greenfield Sites, perhaps they should all be torn down so sheep may safely graze.
I think it will be rather a long time before the whole of Caithness becomes a Concrete Jungle.
Of course the Supermarkets want to come to take our money, but so do the Retail Outlets already here, only more of it and for less service.
Most of the activities Ann mentions are either not physically practical for me or would bore me to death and none of them will suffer by Caithness having a couple of Supermarkets.
If all I wanted from life was to keep body and soul together I could have demanded that I be allowed to stay living in the house I was brought up in.
After all, a two up and two down (total number of rooms, kids) terraced house with no garden just a small paved yard, no heating in the bedrooms, no bath, no hot water system, (tin bath in front of the fire and boil pans and kettles for boiling water, one bath a week for everybody) and a toilet outside at the bottom of the yard. (Try that during the night in the middle of winter). No fridge, washing machine, TV, telephone, (that's house phone, not mobile), no record player, (there were wind-up gramophones). What more could you want?
And that is just over forty years ago, well within living memory, and in the middle of a large town, not halfway up a remote Glen somewhere.
My parents and grandparents had enough to keep body and soul together and I survived it and so did they.
Anybody else think that's all they need from life? Take it from me, you can have it because I certainly don't want it any more, and I won't take any of your money to let you have it!
Bring on the twenty-first century, I want to catch up with the world! (Well, anywhere in the last twenty years will do).
Yeah asda(and tesco) coming to caithness may have advantages, but it wont sustain all the supermarkets, so what we will have is empty supermarkets in town and town centers looking terrible.Thats my main problem with it.
What is annoying to me is that the John O'Groat Journal ran a story about people objecting to the ASDA proposal when there is clear support for it in the county.:confused: That smacks of tabloid press attitudes rather than local press information service.
mickey101
29-Jan-06, 15:20
Hi
So AR your arguement is that we should put up with crap service and high prices just so that the buildings dont become empty. Sorry we are looking at evolution here. The only reason they get our service right now is that we have no choice. Asda will bring in much needed choice and make them shake up there act. Asda will keep Tesco ( if they are ever allowed to build) honest.
All you have to do is stroll around Somerfields in Inverness to see a huge difference in pricing and choice. So why should we put up with an expensive second rate service just because that particular retailer sees us as a captive customer base rather than custom to be fought for.
We have a right to the kind of service, pricing and choice that the rest of the country enjoys.
Before people start getting all supportive of our local retailers here is a little bit of back of the envelope arithmetic.
When petrol was sold in gallons there was on average a 5 to 10 pence difference in price between here and Inverness. Now it is sold in litres, and we still have the same price difference of 5 to 10 pence per litre. There are 4.5 litres in a Gallon. that makes a price difference of between 25 and 50 pence per gallon. Now factor in a nice big petrol tanker which keeps some of the bigger local garages going for 2 to 3 weeks. How much does one of these hold and how much extra does it take to bring one of these tankers 110 miles? Do the arithmetic and ask yourself who is extracting the urine here. And it aint by the litre.
M
Well said i agree with u there mickey 101 may be the little shop that we have at the moment will start to apprecaite our custom and if not off to the big store we will go. There over priced and under stocked iam all for the big stores coming to caithness then we will have a better choice and better value and there dont shut at lunch neither .
When petrol was sold in gallons there was on average a 5 to 10 pence difference in price between here and Inverness. Now it is sold in litres, and we still have the same price difference of 5 to 10 pence per litre. There are 4.5 litres in a Gallon. that makes a price difference of between 25 and 50 pence per gallon. Now factor in a nice big petrol tanker which keeps some of the bigger local garages going for 2 to 3 weeks. How much does one of these hold and how much extra does it take to bring one of these tankers 110 miles? Do the arithmetic and ask yourself who is extracting the urine here. And it aint by the litre.
An artic tanker used to have five 2,000 gallon compartments or a total of 45,000 litres. Take the price difference between the cost per litre here and that in Inverness and multiply be that number of litres. The figure you get is the cost of that tanker doing a return trip from Inverness. I think you will find the cost rather interesting.
Then divide that amount be the average number of passengers who do a round trip on the bus and see how much the bus fare would be at that rate!
I estimate the bus fare, assuming a half full bus for the round trip, and allowing for the fact that the bus may have better fuel consumption, to be well in excess of £50 a passenger.
You can easily check the figures yourself on a calculator using simple arithmetic, there are no fancy equations (them's algebberish for them as don't know) involved or I would have to take my socks off (not a pretty sight) to count on my toes as well.
Either the current bus fares mean the bus firms are hopelessly undercharging or others are making a more than tidy profit at our expense.
Either the current bus fares mean the bus firms are hopelessly undercharging or others are making a more than tidy profit at our expense.
or that the bus driver fills the tank in Inverness whilst s/he is there...
mickey101
29-Jan-06, 23:18
Hi
I never knew the bus company was a charitable organisation.
M
I go down to Dingwall or Inverness about once a month to do my shopping so i will be very glad if they both get the go ahead it will save the miles on my car and the money on petrol.
Whitewater
30-Jan-06, 11:41
Asda & Tescos will be great for the county, they are both long overdue. The main store to suffer will be Somerfields, they may as well pack up and go home if they do not pull up their socks. The Co-op will probably be OK as many if its customers will remain faithful for the dividend. Local butchers I think will be OK, as the Hotels and Resturants in the county like to choose their meat and the way it is cut, they also are able to call upon the local butcher at odd hours and have meat delivered if they are running low on particular cuts, I don't think that sort of service will be provided by the big stores, but I think the people who just buy from day to day will probably favour the supermarket, although unlike the local butchers they will not have the notices up telling you which local farm has provided the meat that is currently on sale.
There have been monopolies going on for far too long in the county, many of the the local shops do not really want to please the public, only to line their own pockets. They do not privide a competitive service, they do not appreciate the customer needs, when people are working they want to shop during their lunch break or immediately after work, but the shops are closed for lunch, and at 5pm for the day, They also have half days, close the first monday of the month in summer. Clothing stores provide little or no choice, and charge extortionate prices for the goods they do have in stock.
As for the petrol barons, do we have to say any more?? they deserve all that happens to them, they have held us all to ransom for far too long.
We are too isolated to shop competitivly, roll on Tesco and Asda they provide a good service at a fair price and will in many ways be good for the county i.e. local stores willl need to wake up if they are to stay in business, they will probably never be as cheep, they do not have the buying power of the big stores but choice and service could improve.
There have been monopolies going on for far too long in the county Of all the arguments I have ever heard in favour of Tesco and Wal-mart (Sorry, Asda) this has to be the one that made me chuckle the most. Thanks - you've fair brightened up my day :lol:
While I think it is important that we hear the views of distant people it should be clear that we are not just another rural area ripe for the takeover by Tesco and Asda!
To all those who do not live in Caithness nor realise the particular circumstances we exist in then please read below:
We are 100 miles from the nearest city, 100 miles from the nearest Tesco, 148 miles from the nearest Asda, 90 miles from the nearest Morrisons and even further from our nearest Sainsbury’s. To Inverness is not a nice easy 100 miles of Motorway or Dual Carriageway, it is a long 100 miles of windy A roads with only a short section of Dual Carriageway and takes over 2 hours if driving within the legal limits add into that the effects of extreme seasonal weather. The train from Thurso to Inverness takes nearly 4 hours, and more to Wick.
None of the shops offer online shopping; you must still visit the shop for them to deliver.
The current local supermarkets are, Somerfield and Coop, they are expensive, have restricted products and if you pick the wrong day then very limited stock. There is a Lidl which is very good but the selection can also be restricted by the time of the week.
We are effectively being held to ransom by the local supermarkets, petrol stations and suppliers. I realise that there is a cost to importing items into this part of the country but feel that some people are taking advantage of the situation.
We are not just the next rural area to be taken over by the supermarkets. We truly have a restricted choice of places to shop in and unless you are willing to travel long distances then you are stuck with it. Add to this the inevitable closure of the biggest local employer. We need these companies to invest in us otherwise there will be no choice or future for the people of Caithness.
Everyone believes that things are cheaper up here, but when you remove the housing and general insurance costs I think that we live a far more expensive life than down South. Who in the South would put up with our petrol prices or even the North as Orkney is even cheaper than us!
So to all those people who live out with Caithness, please have a real think about our circumstances before commenting, even if you have lived in the area before. Your views may be affected by the distant feelings you have.
The majority of posts from local people make a great deal of sense, whichever side you take - but Whitewater's post makes all the rest seem unecessary. Well done mat I totally agree with you.
JimH,
Did you a particular reason for quoting my post then singularly failing to say why?
Whitewater makes very good sense. Although I agree that the Coop in Thurso will fair better than the Somerfield, I think the Coop in Wick may well suffer as the Somerfield has the far better location for central shopping.
melted_wellie
30-Jan-06, 20:44
[quote=Biker]JimH,
Did you a particular reason for quoting my post then singularly failing to say why?
Whitewater makes very good sense. Although I agree that the Coop in Thurso will fair better than the Somerfield, I think the Coop in Wick may well suffer as the Somerfield has the far better location for central shopping. quote]How much shopping can ye fit on yer bike?
Every time I log in to the forums it says there is a new post in this thread but there isn't! Anyone else getting that? There's a new post now of course! :)
RandomHero
31-Jan-06, 13:56
ASDA will cripple Thurso, just as Tesco will cripple Wick. Why do we need it? Cheaper food? The supermarkets up here arn't the most expensive. Tesco won't stay for long in Wick, just look back to the War of the Orange and see the similarities.
Every time I log in to the forums it says there is a new post in this thread but there isn't! Anyone else getting that? There's a new post now of course! :)
I noticed this too and have come to the conclusion that when someone votes on the poll, even if they don't post, it brings the thread to the top again and marks it as if there had been a new post.
concerned resident
31-Jan-06, 16:57
The delight of shopping in Thurso (Somerfields baskets are either full of bits of papers or sticky from fruit or something leaking, and the ten items or less till is either closed or taking people with great big trolley loads.
Coop Thurso has to many elderly staff on tills, who love to spend time having a gossip with friends, and when it is finally my turn, push everything past, and just sit there making no attempt to assist you pack your bags, the young lasses will, they are a credit to the store.
Lidl’s only problem is, they wait till there are cues at till’s, then open till and take people from end of cue’s with big trolleys, and people with only a few items, left waiting, and does not elevate cue’s.
It is time the shops in Thurso got there act together. If people do not go into there stores, it will not only be the prices, but the service you get. More Competition from the likes of ASDA can only be an improvement
lazyglade2
31-Jan-06, 17:19
REF: The message left by LIZZ 4 days ago.
You speak with lots of sense - most of the 82% so far in favour obviously dont worry about the end game! But they will in the very near future when they finally see what is happening to their towns and surrounding small villages.
Why would they even think of locating this superstore in the middle of a residential area in one of the few green fields left in the town. We should spare a thought for the poor people who are living right beside the site - lorries rolling in at 4 in the morning. Most of the people living here are retired and just want a quiet life.
There are two industrial estates and a business park in and around Thurso - surely it would be more like sense to site the store in one of these?
crashbandicoot1979
31-Jan-06, 22:45
Although I can relate to some of the positive points about the prospect of Asda coming to Thurso, I still fail to see how anyone can seriously believe that it will be economically viable. Yes, it may mean that less people go to Inverness for shopping, but apart from that…
It will create jobs but jobs will also be lost due to the closure of smaller businesses. This WILL happen, because that’s what supermarkets do. It’s a cut-throat industry and their aim is to kill of any rivals. And taking this into account, how will Asda provide freedom of choice? When its killed off the weaker local businesses, and possibly one or more of the other 3 supermarkets in the town, then they are hardly providing choice because we won’t have any other choice but to shop there. Plus there is the social costs to consider – small businesses bring communities together and foster trust about the products supplied. This will be lost. Supermarkets are not competitive. They are ANTI-competitive, and seek to build localized monopolies, which is much easier in a small town than in a large city.
A perfect example of this is Coatbridge; at one stage it was impossible to buy a newspaper in Coatbridge town centre. Personally, I find that disturbing.
Thurso needs an alternative to retail if it wants to survive economically – development of the tourist trade would be a good start. And I know that the problem is with out less-than-useless council, but unless they get their act together the county will be brought to its knees, with or without Asda.
I am aware that the majority of people are for this development, and I am not attempting to change anyone’s opinions. I am just pointing out the long term picture.
The same old fifty year old scares. Open a Supermarket and the World will come to an end! The Town Centre will disappear and nobody will be able to buy anything.
We have an MSP screaming about Out of Town Shopping and a complaint that the last bit of green land within fifty miles of Thurso is going to be concreted over.
I really am going to have to look more closely as I travel around Caithness, I never realised there was a whole Concrete Jungle here.
If somebody can give me directions to it because I'd love to have a look at Caithness’s best kept secret.
Apart from the Out of Town last piece of green in the Town all the other arguments were used about Lidl and Wetherspoons.
I'm still looking for all the Bars with the predicted 'Gone Out of Business' and the 'Business for Sale' signs on every Bar in Wick.
Oh yes, and Wetherspoons would immediately go out of business because there wasn't enough trade for them to survive and when they did there would be no Bars because they would all have closed.
Well, they hadn't the last time I looked in Wick!
All those nasty lorries disturbing all the poor old retired folk's sleep. Perhaps we should demand that Scrabster be shut down or don't lorries ever go to the Harbour there?
Stop the World, I'm retired and want a quiet life? Well I can assure everybody that there is one retired person here who wants to avoid things being as quiet as the grave for a very long time.
It would seem to me that elderly people would find it rather convenient having somewhere to do their shopping near to their homes.
In view of the fact that the stores will have to comply with all the latest rules regarding Disabled Access I would also thing that people in Wheelchairs would also find them convenient and would certainly benefit from not having to struggle with kerb and traffic or with shops with steps or narrow doorways.
The way things are being described I can't decide whether we are talking about a couple of supermarkets coming to Caithness or a wholesale invasion from the fleshpots of Soho.
mickey101
01-Feb-06, 01:15
Hi
JAWS very well put indeed. Although everyone is entitled to there opinion and I would be the first to defend that right ( yes even that daft out of touch supposedly tree hugging MSP). I do think people need to get the facts straight and have a review of local history. Doom has been predicted on many occasions and it hasnt happened once, and it wont happen this time. What will happen is that several well cherished monopolies will be broken and Caithness will finally stop being treated like a forgotten back water of the world.
I assume all these shops opening up in the Wick retail park will also hasten the end. Well sorry to break the news it wont.
M
ps when you find that last bit of green land that hasnt been concreted over please let the rest of us know. I would like to admire it before Doctor Scott and the rest of her cronies stick a ruddy wind turbine on it.
Did someone mention Tourist industry. Oh yes a walking tour of all the wind farms in Caithness should go down a bomb.
Asda will run the store just as Lidl's do - keep the staff stacking when they're not serving - that's how prices are so cheap - low labour costs. You pays yer money and makes yer choice! For me, Lidl's takes some beating for quality and I never have to wait long (I usually go in about 1 PM). You should try their 1994 Grand Reserve Rioja by the way - v.good value at £6.99 as I recall! oops - digressing again!
What will happen to us when all these new shops are up and running? Life will never be the same again. Whole days will have to be set aside for trips to Wick and Thurso (when did you ever pop in and out of Tesco, Asda or Homebase in ten minutes!) Conversations will centre round prices and bargains. Mealtimes will be a delight as we try all the new options. Christmas shopping will take on a more relaxed hue - more like therapy - rather than the early morning rush to get into the car park at Eastgate. Big items at Argos or internet.
Can't wait, BLISS.......
Was it this poll that was mentioned on the front page of the paper today?
dragonfly
03-Feb-06, 22:19
Was it this poll that was mentioned on the front page of the paper today?
Yes it was this one Savey and must say that I applaud Alistair Angus for trying to get the Traders Association to meet the arrival of Asda head on unlike Steven Buttress who is bemoaning the fact.
Caithness traders have had it comfy for far too long as has been discussed on manys a thread here before. Its time they woke up and were proactive instead of reactive.
No doubt we will soon see the reemergence of the "ONE QUEUE LEADS TO ANOTHER" adverts :roll:
Ah Buttresses who put the lights out and lock the doors dead on five when customers are still in the shop.
I wish business owners wouldn't try to give me a guilt trip for choosing to give my trade elsewhere.
riggerboy
04-Feb-06, 15:46
yes as long as it comes with all the bolt on extras that they seem to produce south, do we as a county really care if it hurts the small shops that are over priced and never have what you want, nothing can be more annoying than walking down the town to get something that should be an off the shelf item to be told that " we have to order that in ", how many of us now buy online, i know i do as its quicker and cheaper than the local shops.
Was it this poll that was mentioned on the front page of the paper today?
I was so angered by their one sided coverage of Eleanor Scott MSP's opinion that I emailed the Groat with a link to this poll.:evil
Unfortunately it didn't seem to have changed their anti asda bias though, I tried though.
I think the prospect of an Asda in Thurso is great and the sooner the better. I think it’s about time shops in this town had some ‘doorstep’ competition, they have had it easy for far to long and the majority of people are getting sick of it.
Very few towns in the UK have some shops that shut at 1pm and don’t re open until 2pm. It’s crazy and blooming annoying. How fair is it of the traders to dictate when we can do our shopping? It’ll be good to think we’ll if Souters is closed at lunchtime I’ll go to Homebase at night as there bound to stay open to 8pm. It’s about time these shops get the wake up call they deserve.
Don’t get me wrong I am all for shopping in the local area, and I think Asda and Tesco’s are going to do more good for the community than some people are willing to admit. For a start people in the Orkneys are going to benefit, they can come over here and do shopping if they want to.
And it’ll be nice to be able to go to Asda for example and buy a book for £2.99 or be able to by DVD’s from somewhere other than woolworths etc, it’s not just about the food it’s about being given a choice. Think of all the growing kids in Caithness, I suspect a lot of parents are sick of buying expensive cloths in the town and school stationary etc and with Tesco cloths and George at Asda we won’t be restricted to Mackays etc.
I could go on for ever about the benefits. However I do think there is a thin line that hopefully won’t be crossed, it’s nice to have some big shops coming to the area but let’s hope it doesn’t get out of control. Asda, Tesco, Argos, Homebase and whatever else goes in to the Wick retail park but after that I don’t think we should allow anything else.
One last point, I can’t recall the name of the green party representative but when is she going to realise that it’ll be better for the environment if these shops do come here as it’ll stop all the pollution caused by people driving back and forth to Inverness, who have left at the crack of dawn to do there shopping.
Rant over :grin:
how many of us now buy online, i know i do as its quicker and cheaper than the local shops.
I buy online from Asda, Tesco, Amazon and play.com fairly often.
mickey101
04-Feb-06, 17:58
Hi
I am all for both Supermarkets coming into the county. I also read with a great deal of amusement the attitude of the bulk of our local traders. They appear to believe it is there unquestionable right to give us poor service and us to be thankful for it. Sorry we are not.
However unfortunately just to burst this ballon I for one will be very surprised if either supermarket actually gets the go ahead. As county history as proven there are many ways for the "powers that be" in the county to block a development without actually coming out and saying NO.
It has been noted by them that the vast majority of the county want this so I suspect both Tesco and Asda will encounter some good old fashioned Filly- bustering. The smallest detail will be drawn out in there application. As they clear one hurdle another will amazingly materialise. They will keep doing this until Tesco and Asda just throw in the towel. We are already seing this with Tescos application. I beleive the current excuse is traffic congestion at the proposed site of the new Tesco. ( Yeah Right ).
Asda are boxing slightly more clever by beating them to that hurdle by already offering to get rid of a known traffic blackspot. But there is many other ways to hold this up.
So folks I am sorry to say dont hold your breath as we have a 1 in 5 chance of either development go ahead. You would be better to pray for further improvements to the A9. As we will be traveling that road for a good deal of time yet before the Far North is dragged into the 21st century.
M
It has been noted by them that the vast majority of the county want this so I suspect both Tesco and Asda will encounter some good old fashioned Filly- bustering. The smallest detail will be drawn out in there application. As they clear one hurdle another will amazingly materialise. They will keep doing this until Tesco and Asda just throw in the towel.
From what I've seen elsewhere Tesco and Asda don't throw in the towel. When they decide to move in somewhere they inevitably do. Here's hoping anyway.
weezer 316
04-Feb-06, 18:46
Hearing the local shops bemoan the fact that ASDA a coming pathetic. I have always said that in a competitive economy, some of the locals wouldnt last 5 minutes. It is about time they realised that the market that allows them to open a shop and trade also dictates that someone else can do the same, and if it puts the squeeze on them then that is just tough.
As for moaning about that "personal touch" that local shops can give, I would like to say that me and most of my generation couldnt care less if we have been on many a night out or live next door to the person serving us. All we care about is quality goods a cheap prices, and if that means going to a shop that isnt from around here then fine.
As well as this, reading the article in fridays groat about the devastating impact asda could have, I couldnt help but laugh when a picture of town centres being empty and small businesses being non-existent was painted by the local shop owners after a superstore opened. I asked myself, do they think we are stupid? Go to glasgow, inverness or smaller places where supermarkets are open now, small businesses outnumber them 10-1. I agree some may have had to shut up shop, but that was probably because they were shockingly inefficent and didnt welcome the challenge that the superstores brought them. The local traders have had the benefit of the most cleichy(?) market in the UK, and now that we are getting a choice, they throw the dummy out the pram.
On top of that, the opening hours are far better, with people not having to ruin lunch break's running from shop to shop to catch them open because they are closed when they finish work.
And was this not the retoric when lidl was opening as well?
In short, if you dont like the supermarkets coming, the up sticks and go stroma. I hear there aint much competition there.
The narrow-minded self-interest groups quoted in the Groat are obviously only bothered about what might happen to them. They are trying to put hte frighteners on everybody by predicting the end of Civilisation as we know it.
What rubbish they talk. The objection that Asda will frighten off tourists is identical to that used about Lidl in Wick. I have yet to see any tourists fleeing from Caithness having been terrorised by the horrific view of a Lidl's Store. If the idea were not so serious to the future of Caithness the idea would be even more laughable than it already is.
Contrary to the belief of the self-interest group, large sections of people in Caithness have actually seen the world outside and appreciate the way people are treated there. If those people think that over 80% of people in Caithness are too stupid to see the future then it says a lot about their opinion of Caithnessians. Their arrogance in believing that they are the only ones who have any notion of what is best for Caithness is beyond belief.
No wonder they treat shoppers with contempt, they think we are so stupid we will believe anything they say. Sorry, just because I do not open my mouth when I hear a pathetic excuse does not mean I have been taken in and I suspect a lot of people are the same.
My attitude is that if they think I am believing their lame excuses for poor service then I feel pity for them. I refuse to make a fuss over their sad affliction after all, they really know no better.
The sooner their is a shake up in that attitude to sooner Caithness will start to prosper from the benefits of the modern world.
We have seen large Supermarkets elsewhere and like what we see. They bring a breath of fresh air into a stagnant foul smelling complacency.
And how wonderfully healthy it is!
What rubbish they talk. The objection that Asda will frighten off tourists is identical to that used about Lidl in Wick. I have yet to see any tourists fleeing from Caithness having been terrorised by the horrific view of a Lidl's Store. If the idea were not so serious to the future of Caithness the idea would be even more laughable than it already is.
How could anyone think Asda would damage tourism. Its not like they are building it at John o' Groats or in the middle of the flows.
We have always gone on holidays to places of natural beauty, The Cairngorms, The Great Glen etc, and all of them have a Tesco in the local towns. I dont see them losing any tourism from it, and I find it refreshing and convinient on holiday to be able to shop here.
These people are clutching at straws for anything they can think of to add wieght to their argument, because they know the NO camp are in the minority.
Did you also see this poll be rubbished by a letter in the paper today.
Did you also see this poll be rubbished by a letter in the paper today.
I did and I felt like replying to it with a similiar arguement. The Groat and its armchair expert journalists seem to be very against ASDA and Tesco. So using the same logic in the letter, then their bias is totally meaningless as well because they have not interviewed every trader and journalist in caithness.
So a few unanimous big NOs from the self appointed representees of an unknown number is just meaningless as well.[lol]
kwbrown111
11-Feb-06, 00:55
it definetely won't affect tourism if anything it should improve with the lower fuel costs. many times i've heard tourists complaining about the scandoulous price of fuel. Any new development should be welcomed(think more job losses with battery factory etc etc)we need new jobs.
What did the letter in the Groat say? It's pretty difficult to argue with the qualitative result of this poll. Yes, the sample isn't unbiased (in the statistical sense), and it's open to abuse (multiple votes from one person), but the sheer lack of people who voted "no" is evidence in itself.
I can't read the letter online. The Groat and Courier websites are truly abysmal. Neither have been updated for two whole months. It would only take one person half an hour twice a week to produce half-decent websites. This might even encourage tourism. :)
tenabowla
11-Feb-06, 14:22
It can only be good for the town having Asda, people will visit to shop as well as the locals.
What did the letter in the Groat say? It's pretty difficult to argue with the qualitative result of this poll. Yes, the sample isn't unbiased (in the statistical sense), and it's open to abuse (multiple votes from one person), but the sheer lack of people who voted "no" is evidence in itself.
I can't read the letter online. The Groat and Courier websites are truly abysmal. Neither have been updated for two whole months. It would only take one person half an hour twice a week to produce half-decent websites. This might even encourage tourism. :)
As I understood the letter, the jist was if 1000 people took part in the poll and 80% voted in favour of Asda, that's still only 800 people. The org poll should be ignored because there is no way of saying that those who took part are representative of the 9,000 - 10,000 residents of Thurso.
Sounded to me like the author of the letter wasn't terribly familiar with how or in what way polls are supposed to work.
Sounded to me like the author of the letter wasn't terribly familiar with how or in what way polls are supposed to work.Indeed. Probability and Statistics is a hard(ish) subject, and most people don't really understand how it all works. This is a pity because it's one of the most useful mathematical skills to have. As I suggested in a previous post, the lack of "no" votes in the poll indicates that a very small percentage of Caithness residents opposes Asda. Indeed, given the data, I would argue in favour of that hypothesis even if the sample is very biased (within limits of course).
Anyway, thanks to the person who sent me the full text of the letter -- I'm not sure if you'd appreciate being named on here so I won't. The argument in the Groat letter is risible -- at best.
What could the "anti-poll" camp say next? They could claim that would-be "no" voters won't vote on here for fear of being intimidated by hordes of baying pro-Asda heavies, or that most "no" voters don't have internet access. They could even concoct a conspiracy theory and claim that "no" votes are not being counted. :lol:
Seriously, the poll clearly indicates that far more people are in favour of Asda than are against it. One can easily calculate the probability that this result is a statistical fluctuation, but that probability is small. I am very familiar with the analysis of statistical data, both biased and unbiased, and the trend shown in this poll surely won't go away by increasing the sample size or removing the bias.
Has always been a pleasure to shop in Thurso with the individual shops but if this plan goes ahead on the designated site you can say goodbye to alot of your town centre businesses within two years.
Don't be lured by the promise of cheap prices these come ay the expense of choice and quality. No supermarket chain is not going to stock those items that it cannot turn over in large quantities and at speed.
Sorry to be a kill joy but I speak from experience, where I have the misfortune to live over the last few years small businesses have decreased by 40% , I can no longer buy alot of items ,the city centre has as many empty shops as occupied and community shopping parades have been decimated. This in direct relationship to the ring of supermarkets that now surround the city like a garrison wall .
YOU "can no longer buy a lot of items" !!! We haven't exactly got a wide variety to choose from as it is! the local shops are very limited to what they offer and most of what they do offer is overpriced! that is why so much of our expendable income goes to Inverness and is not staying in the county to help our local econemy, the councillors who voted against this should be made to explain themselves in a public meeting!
Having cheaper fuel in Caithness is in itself reason enough to have an Asda, so the local fuel bandits get a bit of a wake up call. I run a small business and cheaper fuel would be a great benefit to all small businesses up here, and like all parents up here having a better and more affordable variety of kids clothes would be a great benefit to us all I'm sure.
Unemployement is fast becoming a problem in caithness and will be becoming worse with the closure of Dounreay but asda would be creating employement but still the councillors are blind to this, surely if our councillors had their fingers on the pulse they would know that the majority of us were looking forward to the arrival of Asda, the only thing they seem to be interested in is hassling auld wifies for their council tax , after all why would they want an Asda up here when they are spinning up and down to Inverness for their MEETINGS which we taxpayers pay for, and they can get their shopping while they are there!
I am just going down the town and I hope to god I bump into one of the councillors because I am going to direct their attention to this forum and ask them to explain themselves on it!
plenty of times i have been shopping in town (thurso) and i have had to go to all the shops to try and find 1 or 2 things on my list. not that its anything really weird or unheard of,and NOT ONE shop had it, when you ask the shop assistants they say ohh we have diverent couriers we dont know when or if it will be in, or i dont know and ignore you.
they all gurn about asda and tesco's coming to Caithness, but they dont do themselves any favours, by being so arrogant and unhelpful to their customers.
i say its the best for everyone, and i bet those who went against the decision will be in asdas shopping!!!
I am still curious why the Asda store cannot be built on the Wick road south-east of Thurso. Can someone enlighten me? Has this area already been developed?
Mr P Cannop
27-Jun-06, 13:57
i give asda my support
footie chick
27-Jun-06, 14:56
As I understood the letter, the jist was if 1000 people took part in the poll and 80% voted in favour of Asda, that's still only 800 people. The org poll should be ignored because there is no way of saying that those who took part are representative of the 9,000 - 10,000 residents of Thurso.
Why should it only be residents of Thurso that vote?
It affects everyone what about the residents of Watten? everyone passing through on their way to Tesco if Asda don't get the go ahead! Bearing in mind the school is directly on the main road.
landmarker
27-Jun-06, 16:37
Blimey! there are votes and there are votes, this one seems extremely emphatic. I was going to comment further but I daren't. I only hope the prevailing mood gets its way.
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.