We walked up the pedestrianised shopping centre in Shepton Mallet, a lovely layout with plenty of potential _ but there was something wrong and it was lacking in atmosphere.
As we walked up the precinct too many shops were closed down.
We wondered why this was until we got to the top of the road and there it was ... Tescos.
Keynsham you have been warned.

By welland at 14:59 on 06/10/10

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IMHO Tesco has done a world of good for Keynsham. There's always someone looking at the communitiy noticeboard, most of the staff there seem to be local, I see people chatting in the foyer every time I go in there, and most of the carpark is full of folk not even shopping at Keynsham but on the High Street. I tried to get a parking space in Tesco carpark a couple of Saturdays ago (to shop in Tesco) and couldn't. Yet, when I went in the store it was virtually empty. Given that they don't do shoe repairs, sell gifts, jewellery or BMX bikes, I don't think there are many stores on the High Street who are suffering as a result of a mini-supermarket opening. I have also noticed 3 empty shops on the High Street have been filled in the last few weeks. It's all too easy to jump on the 'hate Tesco' bandwagon, but I quite like being able to buy fresh fish locally which I couldn't do before they opened. .

By wingskeynsham at 14:08 on 23/08/11
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I agree, all the points you mention are a good reason for having Tesco in town and we're very lucky that Keynsham has escaped the blight of so many other towns ie endless empty shops. We do have our fair share, but a lot fewer than many others.

However several years ago I lived in a town that Tesco bulldozed its way into; plonked a vast shed in the middle of it and now the High Street is a ghost town. There was a cedar tree on the site that was about 120 years old, but it got chopped down because it was in Tesco's way, inspite of protests.

Now, about three or four miles down the road there is a lovely little shopping centre with about 40 or so shops, the vast majority of which are independent. Two months ago, the shopkeepers were told their leases wouldn't be extended past Christmas as the whole site would be razed to the ground to make way for a giant Tesco - even though there is already a large Sainsbury's nearby and the other giant Tesco.

So let's hope the people of Keynsham continue to use Tesco as a place to park at or chat in. The moment that starts making any real money is when the trouble will start.

By KeynshamKim at 17:38 on 24/08/11
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I wouldn't bet on the fish being all that fresh there if I was you. Recently defrosted at best and pushed to within an inch of its shelf life, I expect!

I hope for Keynsham's sake that Tesco continues to serve as extra parking. Too often it moves into a town and destroys it.

By Gambit72 at 19:28 on 28/08/11
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Quite right. Tesco should be an integral part of a healthy high street with a variety of shops in it, not dominating the high street. Thankfully that's what we've got at the moment. Long may it stay that way.

By Greengaia at 11:33 on 31/08/11
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