As you will be able to see from the images below, the seats had to be removed and residents were even standing outside in the garden area of the Portfields community centre, the turn out was outstanding, thank you to everyone who took the time to turn up and voice your opinions.

Ian Carmen (Chair of the meeting) took a poll on how many residents were opposed to those in favour. As you can see from the images it was impossible to get an accurate figure however after counting out the remaining leaflets that were handed out by Andrew Maric at the start we estimate around 250 people opposed to only a mere 2 in favour.

We hope Milton Keynes Council officers in the planning department recognise this turn out and poll.

After the meeting Andrew Maric and local campaigner Ryan Pink asked residents to sign up if they were interested in taking further action by using their expertise to help oppose this build. A lot signed up and a further meeting is being held on Tuesday 14th April 2009 to discuss the best possible direction for the group.

This website will be updated with latest developments and information once it is received and also how you can get involved!

Keep out Tesco!

After a brief insight into the 15,000 Sq. Metre Tesco planning application that has been submitted to Milton Keynes Council, local campaigner Andrew Maric vows to defend the High Street of Newport Pagnell!  Tesco first wrote to residents in the immediate area on the 18th March 2009 outlining their proposals.  Tesco then invited those residents and held a ‘information session’ at The Cannon Public House on Tuesday 24th and Wednesday 25th March 2009. Not that the landlord had any idea it would be Tesco using the room, Tesco used their discretion and decided it would be best not to inform him, so signed up under their consultancy companies name.

Many residents took the time to talk with the representatives that Tesco had sent on their behalf as they did not actually work directly for Tesco, which was a disappointment. Either way the representatives tried their best to appease the people who attended using different tactics including some of the following:

• Tesco will create “Jobs for local people” – RUBBISH – It is against the law to give priority to people because they will have a Newport Pagnell postcode!
• Tesco will create 157 full and part time jobs – RUBBISH – Tesco’s will not only wipe out more jobs than they could possibly create but they will destroy business’ and livelihoods!
• Tesco will bring more choice to the local area – RUBBISH – Newport Pagnell High Street has a massive amount of choice from its current retailers compared to its surrounding towns and villages. The Newport Pagnell Partnership has spent thousands of pounds into the regeneration of the High Street to get local business back, we will not role over and let all the money, time and hard work go to waste!
• “Newport Pagnell needs a Tesco,”  quoted one of the consultants to me – RUBBISH – Clearly lacking the local knowledge of our town we already have one! Besides Tesco’s have 10 stores within 5 miles of the build location, that’s 2 Tesco’s for every walkable mile! 2 of those are large enough too house a medium sized colony (Wolverton and Kingston), and the Wolverton one has made a further application to expand after they told local residents a few years ago they would not! We will not let the same happen here!

As a local campaigner for Newport Pagnell, Andrew Maric believes it is in the best interests for all residents to help oppose this build! Granted the convenience of a large Tesco in Newport Pagnell would be great, but the repercussions it will have directly and indirectly on the High Street, local business’, roads, deliveries and more are far too high!

Sorry Tesco but KEEP OUT!