The No Mill Road Tesco Campaign has been dealt a cruel blow by a government watchdog.

To the dismay of protesters who have fought long and hard against the proposal for a Tesco on Mill Road, the Competition Commission has approved the supermarket’s expansion plans.

A national inquiry was launched following widespread concerns that supermarkets were threatening local shops, but the Commission concluded that big stores such as Tesco are necessary competition to maintain high levels of service.
“UK grocery retailers are in general delivering a good deal for consumers” said a spokesperson from the Commission, dashing campaigners’ hopes for government intervention to put a stop to the Tesco Mill Road take-over.

The street is loved by local residents and students alike for its unique collection of independent food shops and restaurants. But many fear that Mill Road will be monopolized by the retail giant, some even believe the road will become a “ghost town” once Tesco opens its doors.

Emma Lindsay founder of the No Mill Road Tesco campaign has criticised the Competition Commission for the way it has handled the investigation, describing it as a “toothless watchdog.”

“I think that the Commission should have taken into account the impact of Tesco on small shops like we have on Mill Road. Tesco could destroy the place as we know and love it if it opens there. It already has more than 50 per cent of the grocery market in Cambridge.”

Although protesters have been left disheartened and upset by the government’s go-ahead, the Commission have also proposed measures intended specifically to safeguard smaller shops. A new supermarket ombudsman will be set up to guard against large corporations’ domination and manipulation of the independent food market.  

But the No Mill Road Tesco Campaign have no plans to back down, in fact the campaign seems stronger than ever.  Over 4,000 people have signed their on-street petition and last week BBC Radio 4’s ‘Today’ program featured the Cambridge campaign as its main case study.

Lindsay refuses to accept that the Tesco proposal will become reality and counts on the continued support of campaigners to fight the battle to the end. “It is very disappointing but the fight will go on. I don’t think the people of Cambridge will give up lightly.”

Isabel Shapiro