Anti Tesco residents in Stokes Croft plan alternative supermarket after riots - BBC Inside Out

In April 2011 rioting returned to the streets of Bristol.

This time, the trouble was focussed on Stokes Croft, one of Britain's most colourful urban communities.

A new chain supermarket store which had been opposed by many local residents found itself at the centre of the disturbance.

In the months since the violence some local campaigners have continued to oppose the presence of this store.

Their belief is that giant corporations will destroy the character of Stokes Croft and force small independent businesses to close down.

This documentary profiles a group of residents who are trying to offer an alternative to the supermarket, selling locally sourced foods.

But can they really compete with the corporate muscle of the supermarket giant?

(Inside Out West - 19 Dec 2011)

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• tescopoly
• Tesco Bristol
• tesco stokes croft
• anti sainsburys
• anti morrisons
• anti cabot circus
• tescopoly shepton mallet
• anti capitalists
• tesco protest
• tesco demonsration
• tesco development
• tesco development protest
• free supermarket
• alternative supermarket
• sustainable food
• sustainable farming
• republic of stokes croft

[cranialbreather]

I think the supermarket project is a great idea, but if it was really about community, it wouldnt just be white, middle classer new agers going on about how great the area is, it would be Caribbean, African, Somali, Pakistani and many nationalities, not to mention the many homeless people living just round the corner?

[bblue077]

Looks like your all doing some great work! Good luck to you all. But hopefully no more riots! Maybe it would would be good to report on the kind of community involvement &inclusion work being done. It is important to show that this is truely a "community initiative", involving people from all backgrounds, cultures & ages. Well done for doing something so worthwhile and positive, there is no time to lose to get initiatives such as these off the ground...really hope it all blossoms & blooms!

[culturewithnocontent]

The People's Supermarket adds further insult to injury to the very shops the protesters claimed were under threat from Tesco by taking even more customers away from those local shops. Who are these people trying to kid? They aren't supporting local shops at all, they just want Stokes Croft to be the playground of the PRSC.

[m4553y]

She sounds like... YEAH try these pills, have a good smoke on this! lol

[pierstheoneandonly]

@culturewithnocontent

Exactly. It elevates the area toward being a place where ordinary people, family groups, commuters, now might just consider stopping to buy something. Instead of a scummy shithole which they drive through -and keep on driving- on their way to somewhere else.

[pierstheoneandonly]

@culturewithnocontent

One inconvenient truth is that most local shopkeepers interviewed were in favour of it.

[culturewithnocontent]

@cranialbreather How is it a good idea? Surely it is in direct competition with the local shops they were arguing needed protection from Tesco?!?!

[culturewithnocontent]

I love this propagandist romantic vision of Stokes Croft which always fails to mention the dire poverty, unemployment, alcoholism, drug abuse and prostitution.