Gran's T-shirt Protest Over Superstore (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Gran's T-shirt Protest Over Superstore

1:30pm Friday 4th December 2009 in Alresford By Ash Bolton

A GREAT grandmother is fighting plans for a new supermarket in Bishop’s Waltham by making her own anti- Sainsbury’s T-shirts.

Elsie Starks has used her own money to make 100 ‘Say No To Sainsbury’s’ shirts opposing the controversial superstore on the Abbey Mill site.

The 83-year-old hopes that residents who are uncomfortable voicing their opposition to the store can wear the shirts to make their feelings clear.

Mrs Starks, who has lived in Bishop’s Waltham for 71 years, said: “A supermarket here would ruin the community. People care about Bishop’s Waltham and the village history.

“A Sainsbury’s is unnecessary as they have so many stores close to us already.

“A lot of people are afraid to voice their opinion but everyone can wear a T-shirt.”

The former Bishop’s Waltham Youth Club leader added that the store would damage a treasured historical area too.

She added: “It would ruin the Bishop’s Palace and the pond which was created hundreds of years ago.

“Also, the roads are not big enough to take the extra traffic.”

Mrs Starks, who does all her shopping locally, is selling the T-shirts for £5 each from Stainers Bakery in the High Street.

All the profits go to the Bishop’s Waltham Action against Sainsbury’s Group (BWAG).

Meanwhile, supermarket bosses are set to hold a second round of consultation with 13,000 residents in and around the market town.

BWAG fears that the 35,000 sq ft store will have a detrimental effect on independent shops, and could put many out of business.

If built, the store would cover an area of land twice as big as an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and employ about 350 people.