Councillor Lynda Hyde, former mayor of Brighton and Hove, will cut the ribbon to greet Costa Coffee’s arrival in High Street, Rottingdean at 10am.
But not everyone is happy with the national multiple opening in a street of independent retailers and cafes, with many venting their frustration on social media.
Oh?
Cllr Hyde said: “When they asked me if I would open it, I had to think whether this would be detrimental to other traders or will it be beneficial to the High Street.
“Because we need to do all we can to get as much footfall as we can in the High Street.
“So I did think about it but my view is Costa is likely to encourage more people into the High Street and therefore benefit the other traders.
“And, they’ve done up an empty building which was empty for over a year, which again is beneficial to the High Street.”
Splendid! What's the problem, then?
Juliet Ryan, who owns the Open Art Cafe in the centre of Rottingdean in Nevill Road, said: “I feel quite strongly about it, a lot of the traders do.
“It’s something we didn’t want.
“Nobody knew they were coming, we didn’t see any signs or anything about the planning application.
“If we’d known, we’d have protested like they did in Totnes in Devon where they stopped a Costa coming.
“We’re a historical village, we don’t need a massive franchise coming in.
“It’s already crippled a lot of small business.”
How? Surely if everyone feels so strongly, they'll refuse to shop there & Costa will pull out. What have you got to be afraid of?
Kate Sandford, of Rottingdean, said: “Had to say something about this as it made me so angry.
“Costa don’t need to be in a small village. They make enough money globally as it is.
“Leave the small town alone and stop crushing small local businesses that work hard to pay the bills.
“I loved working in a cafe as a teenager in Rottingdean and it’s sick to think the individuality of British tea rooms is being pushed over by corporate franchises.”
Perhaps what you're
really worried about is that people will find their coffee or service isn't all that good after all, and Costa is better?
5 comments:
The same people who are protesting against Costa are the same ones who would protest as virulently against crony capitalism which is was they are demanding for themselves here. Any tariffs or protests against free trade is a call to protect producers at the expense of consumers. Misguidedly most believe that protecting producers is good for society as it protects jobs. It does protect a few jobs but conversely harms far many more of us. Those that actually matter the consumers. As best quality and price are denied us, resources are misallocated in keeping lame duck businesses afloat that would be better employed put to more productive uses.
I've never understood this mentality - if 'everyone' doesn't want Costa (or Tesco or Macdonalds, or Starbucks, or Wetherspoons, pick your preferred corporate bogeyman) then they will be empty, and close down in short order.
If on the other hand they have lots of customers then its obviously the case that people like this speak for only a small minority, and the majority prefer the level of pricing and care that a large corporation provides. No one is forced into these establishments at the barrel of a gun.
I'm not entirely comfortable with the big chains, but at least you know what you're getting wherever you are in the world.
"but at least you know what you're getting wherever you are in the world."
EXACTLY! And that is why they are all so boring.
If I go to Japan, I want Japanese style tee, or beer, NOT some Amerikanised plastic shite that is the same wherever you go.
"...the same ones who would protest as virulently against crony capitalism which is was they are demanding for themselves here."
Got it in one! The Left always want protectionism, just a different type to the Right.
"If on the other hand they have lots of customers then its obviously the case that people like this speak for only a small minority..."
And that's what they really fear will become obvious!
"...but at least you know what you're getting wherever you are in the world."
Exactly!
"And that is why they are all so boring."
There's always other choice if you look.
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