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The town that took on Tesco... and won! Residents keep supermarket giant at bay for 25 YEARS
Hardy residents in Hadleigh, Suffolk, have kept Tesco out of their town three times - and they're determined not to roll over as the supermarket makes a fourth attempt to build a new store
With stores of all sizes in every British town and city, it appears the march of Tesco is unstoppable.
But the hardy residents of one small Suffolk town have stood firm in the face of the supermarket giant.
District councillors in Hadleigh, Suffolk, have witheld planning permission for a superstore - dealing the supermarket a major blow in a planning battle which has rumbled on for 25 years.
Campaigners say a new Tesco store in Hadleigh would create a 'negative economic impact' on the town's independent shops.
Incredibly, the latest attempt by Tesco is the fourth time Britain's biggest retailer has attempted to build a store in the traditional market town.
Over the last quarter of a century, residents in Hadleigh have kept Tesco at bay by marching in protest, writing letters and putting up posters.
Earlier applications by Tesco were dismissed by the council in 1999 and 2011 and there was a Secretary of State inquiry in 2001.
When Tesco announced a fourth attempt to build a store in the town, where 92 per cent of buildings are listed, Hadleigh locals decided they would have to up the ante.
They raised an impressive £80,000 - mostly donations from shopkeepers and local businessmen - to pay for expert legal help from top London QCs.
And having produced conclusive proof that a Tesco store would threaten at least 14 local shops with closure, residents protesting as 'the Hadleigh Society' claimed an admirable victory against the supermarket.
Local planning officers recommended Babergh District Council should pass the planning application - but they rejected it with a 7-6 vote.
Campaigner Jan Byrne of the Hadleigh Society and Hands off Hadleigh group said: 'With a bit of luck, Tesco will pull out and the land can be used for a different purpose.
'But we will continue to fight if we need to.'
Jane Haylock, who owns the Idler bookshop in High Street, said: 'Fighting this takes up so much time and energy.
'There have been lots of sleepless nights and now we all need to promote the town for visitors and boost tourists.'
Speaking after Tesco had their planning permission denied last month, Matthew Magee, corporate affairs manager for the supermarket, said: 'It's disappointing because we think we've got a great application to bring investment, new jobs and new shopping into Hadleigh.
'We'll have a review and make a decision on what to do now.'
