Nancy at the Lewes Road Community Garden With John Hales

By contrast I visited the Lewes Road Garden on Sunday and feel it is such a shame that it will close when local people have worked so hard to create a welcoming space for the community, but even more so, if it is to be replaced by yet another Tesco.

I live in fear of a world where the only store in town is Tesco and they must surely be aware, that in setting up right next door to the Co-op, it is unlikely that there will be sufficient business for both stores, especially with a large Sainsbury’s just down the road.

We need to protect the independent shops and businesses that create the distinct identity that is the heart and soul of Brighton. They are not only valued by our community, but also by our visitors to Brighton who will not be attracted by another homogeneous high street!

We should never feel powerless in the face of huge corporate organisations like Tesco. If we can’t stop another Tesco here, then we can use our consumer power to take our business elsewhere and shop instead in local stores and more ethical supermarkets such as the Co-op.

I boycotted Tesco some time ago after they took libel action against a former MP, a journalist and an academic in Thailand just because they criticised 'aggressive' Tesco expansion methods. Tesco did this in the full knowledge their action could result in imprisonment. The European Court of Human Rights has held that imprisonment is a disproportionate response to defamation and Tesco's action was in direct contravention of its own corporate responsibility policy. Thankfully, this year a Thai court dismissed Tesco's claim of libel this year, a Thai court dismissed Tesco’s claim of libel.

The Lewes Road Community Garden has shown the value of people coming together in the local community to campaign against powerful superstores and of course, just like London Road, the campaign doesn’t end here!