Stop Tesco Express Belsize Park

Tesco, Britain's biggest supermarket chain, wants to open a Tesco Express convenience store at the premises of the old HSBC bank on Haverstock Hill in Belsize Park, NW3.

There are already two Tesco Express stores just a short walk from the proposed site of the new branch; one on Englands Lane and the other up in Hampstead on Heath Street, so the area certainly doesn't need another.

Local residents and businesses who are worried about the negative effect another Tesco Express will have on the area, have started a campaign to Stop Tesco Express Coming to Belsize Park so check out the website and sign the petition.

The community managed to convince Sainsbury's to drop their plan to open a Sainsbury's Local in South End Green so together lets try to stop Tesco opening an Express branch in Belsize Park.

A Tesco Express in Belsize Park will cause traffic problems and will threaten local independent business in the local area. Don't think for one moment that you will actually get good value at Tesco Express as the prices are higher than normal Tesco supermarkets and the range of groceries on the selves are extremely limited.

When Tesco Express fist opened in Hampstead, initially prices were fairly reasonable but once Tesco had killed off all the competition, the price increased as shoppers had nowhere else to go locally. Don't be fooled in to thinking a Tesco Express will bring increased choice because it will ultimately do the complete opposite.

Stores using the Tesco Express format carry only a limited number of lines and none of the economy range of groceries that you might find in larger Tesco supermarkets, but you will find premium priced good on the shelves.

There are several small independent convenience stores on Haverstock Hill including Londis, which will be threatened if Tesco Express opens. There's Thornton's Budgens of Belsize Park on Haverstock Hill, which describes itself as a community supermarket and does a fantastic job of satisfying the needs of locals. Thornton's Budgens is an independent supermarket. There's also a Marks & Spencer down in South End Green plus another M&S Simply Food at the Royal Free Hospital.

Lets fight this together to help save Haverstock Hill from going down hill like many of the high streets Tesco has ruined over the years.