Woodwares closing / Sainsburys coming to Portobello

[seanie]

And fund those tasteless leaflets they handed out at Towerbank.

[minnie1957]

Apologies for wrong information regarding the owners of the ocean terminal. I was told this by several people so beleived it. I shall research before I post the next time just in case someone reports me for blatant lies

I love Portobello High Street and I love the way it still has a village feel to it. Its a shame that small traders have great difficulty in surviving. I still think the Council could do more to help Portobello but its been that way for a long time and I dont expect that to change in the near future. I personaly do not think that small business should feel threatened by Sainsburys, in fact I feel that it will bring more people into Portobello who will then notice the small independant shops. I hope so anyway. I would shop anywhere rather than Scotmid for many reasons.

[wangi]

[magbagpuss]

All good me thinks.

[wangi]

[geofflynn]

Ok, here's a link to a quick survey for Portobello traders, business owners and staff re Woodwares and Sainsbury's Local. So if you fall into one of those categories, please have your say. I'll publish an anonymised summary of responses online in due course. Please share. The more the merrier...

[Bob Jefferson]

[Bob Jefferson]

[Pal of Porty]

[wangi]

[magbagpuss]

Well said Wangi ! I do hate all the negativity that seems to exist. I feel what ever new idea/ concept was suggested a Portobello Against will spring up . There is nothing anyone can do as they have consent.there is a lot of positive in the situation , try and see it . Bet we find the gum bangers popping in for a packet of Parma ham and a grand rustic !

Yes some retailers may be worried but if they continue to offer the expert service they do there should be no or very little conflict of interest. A supermarket will find it hard to attain the level of knowledge all our specialist shops have.

Portobello is rapidly becoming the Nimby centre of the city . Thank goodness the trams were never considered this side of town . That would have been a rare stramash !!! What I want to know is when PAE is getting started , Portobello against everything . when it does I'm out of here . Let's just bring a bit of reality back to these proceedings

Finally I do not need some education thank you very much but know who does !

[magbagpuss]

Accept what we do well ,embrace it n smile it does not hurt !

[Franck]

I think it's funny that a group decided to have a meeting to protest about something they can have zero influence over.The deal is done, unless the woodwares chappie decides to reverse his decision, which would probably cost him money.

Some people need to get a life.

[Pal of Porty]

I will miss Woodwares as a shop because I loved the service and having worked next door for so long I got to know some of the staff quite well. I would however not dare to question any aspects of the commercial deal they have entered into as part of a retirement plan - totally, utterly a matter for Woodwares.

[bearcub]

[Pal of Porty]

[Jamesie]

Reading the piece in today's Evening News makes me glad I moved out of Porty. NIMBYism at its very worst. I do despair.

[lg1726]

[seashell]

well said!

DC is the self-appointed 'rent-a-gob' for Portobello. I do wish the media would stop using her soundbites as being representative of the community.

[gillian]

Well said!! Ig1726

[magbagpuss]

Yup , well said Ig1726

[Puerto bella]

Well said indeed LG.

[Bob Jefferson]

I don't think we should take the campaign against Sainsbury's too seriously. In reality, what can the objectors do? Object to the alcohol licence? Very unlikely to succeed I would have thought. Object to Sainsbury's Local standard signage? I'm happy to argue for a more subdued approach to shop branding but I think it may well be in vain. Big companies usually get their own way with regard to this and Planning Enforcement seems to be fairly toothless, even when objections are upheld.

If Sainsbury's are smart, they will note all that is going on and start investing in the Portobello community. For a start, they could support Sarah Woodford in promoting Portobello as a shopping and tourist destination. They could employ local people. They could open a direct dialogue with us, their potential customers. Portobello is a different proposition to anywhere they have opened before. We are a special case and they will do well do heed that. It's not just about the price of a loaf of Hovis, though that's certainly part of the equation.

[lg1726]

I'm not taking their campaign too seriously and I won't lose sleep over it, it's a done deal, but I do think that it's important to point out that this is an opportunity for the traders and for Sainburys via PPS or who ever to understand that this action is not the widely view of the majority and the DC is not the Porty spokesperson, although I saw on the EN posts that you Bob would appear to mayor of Porty. Like I said previously, perhaps we need to start a campaign to stop the campaign!! First round on magbagpuss!

[magbagpuss]

Bob, in what way is Portobello different to anywhere Sainsburys have opened before? Not sure what you mean . Please could you clarify . Have they not had objections before now ? Just want to be clear . By "us" do you mean Porty online or a general consensus of all Porty residents , cheers for that !

[Bob Jefferson]

I have no objection to being the mayor of Portobello, but if that is the case I would like to know when I am going to be paid. I'm sure Boris doesn't do it for nothing.

[wangi]

[Bob Jefferson]

I think that about sums it up and it's nice to see a note of realism from a local Lib Dem.

[gillian]

I really believe that EEN are having a laugh when they print the Porty Against stories. Not sure who the laugh is on but I'm certain they are at it. Maybe someone at The Scotsman is bored and they know they will get a giggle out of the comments page if they print yet another Portobello saga

[Bob Jefferson]

[Bob Jefferson]

[magbagpuss]

Thanks Bob, that's all I wanted to know . Agree with you on the whole but there are always those who take it too far . Not seen so much interest for a long time .

[regent]

Local councillor Maureen Child was among those attending the meeting last night and said people in the area were determined to fight the plans.

quote attributed to maureen childs by the een
Maureen knew about Geoffs petition but still chose to give the quote above. What is that about?

[Bob Jefferson]

Who knows? Perhaps, as Sean has suggested elsewhere, she was expressing the view of the meeting. Perhaps she was caught up in the heat of the moment. But I agree that if she wants to express the views of the community, then it has to be a balanced statement. There are arguments for and against. There is no clear consensus.

[regent]

"If Sainsbury's are smart, they will note all that is going on and start investing in the Portobello community. For a start, they could support Sarah Woodford in promoting Portobello as a shopping and tourist destination. They could employ local people. They could open a direct dialogue with us, their potential customers. Portobello is a different proposition to anywhere they have opened before. We are a special case and they will do well do heed that. It's not just about the price of a loaf of Hovis, though that's certainly part of the equation."

Now this is a well expressed view is it not? Staight to the heart of the matter! Liking this bob, straigth to the point!If she had said something like this I may even have considered thinking about whether to give her my second vote.