Call to give independent shops space at West Way (From thisisoxfordshire)

Let's hope they retain the Co-op too.

hokuspokus wrote:
Let's hope they retain the Co-op too.

Co-op?

I can't see the Co-op surviving next to a supermarket.

Oxfordshire's largest shopping centre has the Co-op as an anchor tenant, yet the family owned independent such as B&M, Wilkinsons & 99p stores along with major chains such as Iceland, Superdrug & Boots all undercut them considerably.

The best reason to go to Elms Parade is because it is independent shops and access to them is great.

I bet you won't be able to park outside the door to load your sacks of pet food in the new development.

Its 5 minutes by bus to the Oxford Cinema, is a cinema in Botley really needed? Botley may be expanding with the local addition of multiple flats springing up on just about everyones spare patch of land, and with this comes more cars and more people. We already have Iceland, The Co-op, Aldi, do we need a huge supermarket? Is there room ,where? The front row of shops I believe are listed and cannot be demolished and therefore should remain independant. Other local independent shops should be encouraged but the rent was never lowered to promote the usage at the back of the Parade where two outlets have been empty for several years. If the local councillor suggests keeping trade independant should the council have done more to help people afford the units and give them a helping start to running a business locally. I suspect car parking fees will be introduced and another giant overtake the space. We tend to update everything, but could we do it carefully and retain the 'localness' of the area. For some locals perhaps a store selling clothes as we have no clothing outlets such as a Peacocks or something. We do seem to be covered for food outlets though.

Andrew:Oxford wrote:

hokuspokus wrote:
Let's hope they retain the Co-op too.

Co-op?

I can't see the Co-op surviving next to a supermarket.

Oxfordshire's largest shopping centre has the Co-op as an anchor tenant, yet the family owned independent such as B&M, Wilkinsons & 99p stores along with major chains such as Iceland, Superdrug & Boots all undercut them considerably.

I'm sorry you seem to have missed the point here and I've not seen local produce or Fairtrade bananas in the shops you mention.

The Co-op should remain the main supermarket at the West Way shopping centre, imho. There's no need for a mega Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's etc or indeed anything else designed to suck in traffic from miles away.

Independent, local and distinctive is preferable. If you need to shop at large chains and multiples it is a short walk or bus ride down the Botley Road or into town, or indeed a short drive to Sainsbury's.