Friends of the Earth: Campaign Express: Pack 22 - Help stop the supermarket takeover

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Help us protect local shops and real choice

Ever expanding Supermarket chains have a huge impact on our neighbourhoods, local farmers, and small shops. But better regulation could stop them getting so big that they can ride roughshod over the environment and people. And we now have a great opportunity to get such rules. Read on.

What are supermarkets doing?

Supermarkets huge purchasing power allows them to push down the prices they pay to farmers. This makes it harder for farmers to invest in environmental measures.
Particularly on the edge or out of town, supermarkets can choke thriving town or village centres, get more shoppers into cars and close down specialist and local businesses.
They are expanding rapidly – every week two new supermarkets open in the UK.

In a recent report the Competition Commission acknowledged that there are problems associated with supermarket dominance but has perversely recommended that the Government free up planning rules to allow for even more supermarkets to be built on the edge and out of town.

The Government is asking for your views on these recommendations.

We think giving more power to the supermarkets would be wrong

If the Government weakens planning rules you may have to drive 10 minutes to a big supermarket to buy a bar of chocolate or a pint of milk instead of popping to your local shop.

It will be harder for you to find independent local shops - for example shops that source produce from local farmers. Not being able to use local shops and street markets will limit your ability to reduce your carbon footprint too – by walking or jumping on the bus to get your shopping or reducing the amount of packaging in your shopping bag.

What do we need to do?

We need to convince the Government to reject the Competition Commission’s recommendations to loosen planning rules.

Instead we want the Government to strengthen planning rules, introducing new tests to ensure that our high streets and independent stores can thrive and that carbon emissions from retail development would be reduced.

Why now?

The Government consultation will run until April. We need to act now to ensure that our communities are protected.

Friends of the Earth has put forward alternative plans that would protect town centres and curb the big supermarkets’ power. We need the support of MPs to convince the Government to adopt our recommendations, not those of the Competition Commission.

We’ve got more chance of influencing Ministers via MPs –– and as a constituent they have to listen to you.

By working together locally and nationally we can have a big impact. Let’s not miss our chance!

How you can help

Email your MP
Visit your MP. Get them to write to Hazel Blears MP asking her to reject the Competition Commission’s recommendations to weaken planning laws and allow further out-of-town supermarket expansion.
Shop local first - Support your local shops – try to shop at smaller independent stores instead of at big supermarkets.

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