Deeply saddened by this news.I am still not going into Tesco and am supporting the triangle local shops as much as possible or we will lose all of them! Keep our community!

I can not believe Frutopia has closed down, I am truly upset. I loved the veg box I got each week from them and will really miss it. We must keep the triangle alive and not shop in Tesco.

To put the record straight, I am not taking advantage by trading on Peter's misery, simply attempting to bridge a temporary need.

Fruit and Vegetables

It is my intention to offer some basic Vegetables and Fruits for sale to fill the gap of essential provisions available in our village.

Not being my trade, any advice or guidance will be valued. As will your patience and understanding.

I do hope a professional trader will soon be found to open the Fruit Shop. Rest assured once that happens I will discontinue this service.

Graham Cotton


Fruit and Vegetables

It is a very sad day for all of us in Bitterne Park and further afield who have been able to buy LOCAL ORGANIC produce from Pete and Nancy's shop and before that from Clive, for many years. On average, whenever a Tesco store opens 60% of local independent traders go out of business. We must all rally round and protect the remaining shops on the Triangle or they will disappear. I urge everyone who cares about the future of our community to boycott Tesco. The Council clearly is not concerned about the future viability of communities and the less said about the planning department the better. Tesco has targeted independent retailers now that there is unlikely to be any further expansion in the superstore sector. Cheap food prices are a myth - someone always loses out, whether it is farmers in this country or the third world and eventually, when Tesco has seen off all competition it will put prices up. Let's hope the plans for a new Sainsbury's store on the Bus Depot will not be approved, or many of the retailers on Portswood High Street will close. Is anyone interested in forming a campaign to support local shops?

I'm absolutely horrified to hear this - I've been boycotting Tesco for ages anyway, but loved the fact that we had such excellent local, seasonal provision. I'm letting the Tescopoly organisation know, and am talking to Peter Baillie as well. I am really fearful that the Triangle as a whole is disappearing before our eyes. I would absolutely be up for campaigning to support the shops.

Sometimes, it's only when something has gone, that you realise how much you will miss it.
Also, It makes you think that you may have been guilty yourself, of taking it for granted a little bit.
I believe that the loss of the grocers will hurt many people and perhaps make everyone, ourselves included, think and try a little bit harder - to shop locally.
Not at Tesco though!

Really disappointed that fruitopia has closed. We'll really miss it.

I'm gutted that this has happened and I hope Pete and family will be able to start over somewhere else, although the same must be happening all over. We must all support the Triangle and not let this happen to any other shops. I definitely would support a campaign.

It was only a matter of time before this happened.
I woould be interested in supporting a campaign. While I believe in keeping a campaign based as a broad community campaign I fail to see how local conservative councillors (see ancrenne post above) can assist when there entire philosophy is based on free enterprise.
While Peter and his colleagues might work hard as councillors their participation in some campaigns comes over as oppurtunist.But that is just my opinion.

How do you think a campaign could get off the ground?

Regular pickets of Tesco extra perhaps?
A boycott campaign involving mass leaflet drops and regular newsletters?

I believe it is too late to debate as the Triangle is rapidly dissappearing so action is needed.Peoblem is lone voices dont achieve anything.

It is such a shame that Fruitopia has closed. I passed by there Monday morning to get my fruit and veggies and was shocked to see that it was not open. Being fairly new in the neighborhood it was great to find a place where I could get all my groceries withing walking distance and Fruitopia had it all. Also the staff was always so friendly and helpful. So sorry, I wish them all luck.

I believe that the only way to win a campaign to save "The Triangle" is to be better. Offer more variety, offer a better service and to provide the facilities to enable people to obtain the goods they require without too much inconvenience.

Park At TESCOS

Specialist products that are needed will enable the Triangle to survive.

Each shop at the Triangle offers specialist knowledge of their products, sorry Tesco but do enough of your "staff" really know their "stuff"

Agree with most of the comments. I opposed Tesco opening at the Triangle but will admit that I have sometimes used it since.

But we have to live with the world as it is and the problem is that the Triangle food shops offer very little that you can't get at the supermarkets. And, when it comes to basics, the supermarkets can invariably do it cheaper. What the Triangle needs are more specialist shops offering premium goods unavailable elsewhere so that it becomes a destination for people from other parts of the city. It's so much easier to drive to a supermarket once a week and get everything you need, that places like the Triangle have to offer something different to make it worth the extra hassle of either walking there or fighting for a parking place.

I am really pleased that we still have a bakers producing fresh bread daily but, with all due respect to Graham who must know his business better than I do, it hasn't changed in years. It still offers the same range of products it did when I moved to the area thirteen years ago (and I suspect the same as a long time before that). I remember going in and asking for croissants once and getting a completely puzzled reaction.

And I don't mean to single out the baker's - it's just an example.

There has been a real resurgence of interest in food in this country. Yes, it's largely a middle-class thing but Bitterne Park is largely a middle class area. There's a town in Devon (Tavistock, is it?) which has successfully managed to support a range of top quality food shops. Perhaps our remaining retailers should have a day out there and see if they can find out how they have managed it.

Oh, and a decent pub/wine bar would help draw people in.

I'm talking to Peter as he actually seems to be listening.. I completely agree that it seems at odds with the tory view on free enterprise, but I'm working on the basis that he seems to care about the Triangle. If anyone thinks other should be lobbied, please let me know - I will happily lobby them all! And yes, lone voices achieve little - let's band together and shout loud!

There have been a number of mentions of a campaign, which I am definitely up for - anyone fancy arranging a meeting or something? I've heard that there might be a resurgence of the traders association - perhaps something could be done in conjunction with that?

And just one last comment - while I can see the convenience in nipping into a supermarket once a week (especially if yoou have a lot of shopping to do), I think the Triangle already offers something different and valuable (or did). I could go to the Triangle once a week, get round the shops more quickly than any supermarket, and have a nice chat in each shop, knowing that the money I spent stayed in the local economy and wasn't just gobbled up by some corporate monolith - you don't get that in Tescos... The Tavistock idea sounds interesting, but what about things like getting a box delivery scheme done by ALL the shops so people have one delivery? Changing parkign restrictions? Or closing one afternoon and opening a late night? I hate to think that there are no answers...

I am so sad to see this lovely little shop go, along with so many others. Please sign our online petition 'Protect Local Diversity'

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ProtectDiversity/

Asking that the government empower councils to set aside retail space for non-chainstores.

Jani & Bik

As there are a number of interested people, I have decided to provide a venue for us to get together and decide how we can best form a campaign to support the Triangle. Come and join us for coffee and cake and and contribute your ideas. 7.30 pm on Wednesday 18th July at 17 Whitworth Road. Everyone interested in the future of the Triangle is welcome. My contact details are: Lindsi Bluemel, 17 Whitworth Road, Bitterne Park, SO18 1GE, tel: 023 8033 2926

Just passing through to place an Amazon order.. Very sorry to hear about Fruitopia. Tesco: Schmesco.

Such a joy to discover the number of people making positive comments concerning the failing triangle shopping facilities, wishing to save what we have left. I started my little bakery business in 1972 at that time the Triangle was truly alive. We sported three bakers, three green grocers, two supermarkets, fishmonger, butchers, hardware shop, wallpaper shop, laundry & dry cleaners, sweet shop, wool shop, television and radio repair shop, ladies clothes shop, gents outfitters, cycle shop, second hand furniture shop, tea shop, pet shop, barbers, chemist, Post Office, Bank, one Chinese Take-Away and one fish and chip shop not to mention a couple of ladies hairdressers. Times have changed leaving only the bare essentials of what was a thriving local resource, fortunately the people of Bitterne Park have been loyal where possible, so the decline has not been as rapid as seen in most other similar traditional areas. It has been very hard for me to watch the decline, I may not have got it right at times but have tried my very best to keep it alive. When Dewhurst the Butchers closed and was about to be become a take-away I stepped in to purchase the property with the sole intention to retain a butchers for the triangle, it has not been perfect at times but it looks pretty good to me now.

I was very interested to read the comments by Tony, may I say you have pressed my refresh button, please let me know if I fail to make things a little more interesting. Today we made some continental pastries and croissants, unfortunately although the pastries sold well the croissants although looking excellent ended in the waste bag. I will telephone Lindsi to see if she would like to show off a couple of my new product lines next Wednesday.

As you mention Tony it is important to offer something very special to encourage customers to come to the area. I have been working hard over the last couple of years to develop a couple of new products; so will admit to being rather single minded. Am pleased to say that as from tomorrow I have absolutely no doubts, I can deliver the ultimate health bread. Although all the major supermarkets have been attempting to imitate my wellbeing formula bread. It will never be possible as logistics make it impossible for them not to include mould inhibitors and preservatives, undermining the benefits that will be found with my bread. Also as a result of having my arm twisted by Professor Russell, I have developed and now offer a fruit loaf suitable for diabetics, not to mention hot cross buns at Easter. Please go to a supermarket with a dietary problem and ask them to make something bespoke for your needs, I do my best to say yes.

Graham Cotton

Yes it's great that so many people do care and we need to take action so thanks Lindsi for providing the venue, I will be there.

I also wanted to say that Graham is doing a great job in his bakery and the Wellbeing bread is lovely.

Great stuff Graham

A small tin would go down well!

Very upset that Fruitopia has had to pack their bags. This is obviously down to Tesco selling half price vegetables, which is in my opinion very, cruel bad competition. The council should have supported Fruitopia financially so they could at least stay on their feet whilst the dust settled. If Fruitopia isn't replaced soon, everyone in Bitterne should grow their own fruit and veg and support each other, rather than lining the pockets of disrespectful, money grabbing, community destroying TESCO!!

Reading the interview with the former owner of Fruitopia it is quite clear that the problems forcing its closure were not caused by the Tesco. He even states that Waitrose had the biggest impact on his business. The incessant and quite often uneducated rambling about Tesco on this site is boring. How about blaming the Co-op as they sell veg as well, or lets blame the off license as i have even seen veg in there as well.

The fact of the matter is that sometimes there is no-one to blame for the closure of a shop like this, as generally people do not tend to have a great deal of spare time and therefore they prefer to do the majority of there shopping in one place for convenience i.e a supermarket like Waitrose. That does not mean that Waitrose is to blame! It is only providing a service for people to use in the busy modern society we now live and work in.

Re post from lbluemel about a meeting about supporting traders at the Triangle.
Can you let us know what happeneed at the meeting, were there any positive outcomes/ideas that others that couldn't attend teh meeting can join in with/support?

Alan, I've been waiting until I could log on again to let all you concerned people know what happened. We are producing a leaflet to distribute to local homes encouraging people to use the Triangle shops. Graham is looking into possibility of occasional mini farmers' markets at the Triangle. He also wants to resurrect the Halloween festivities that were an annual event at the Triangle until recently. I am planning to open a non-profit making wholefoods and fair-trade shop that will also sell donated second-hand goods. All money raised will go into a fund for the regeneration of the Triangle - perhaps a street part or subsidising a farmers' market and small expenditures to brighten up the Triangle and make it an attractive place to shop e.g. Christmas lights. Volunteers to help with any of the above projects would be welcome - contact me on 023 8033 2926 - as well as any ideas. Would people like another meeting on a different day of the week for those who couldn't make it last time? If anyone really believes that Tesco is not directly responsible for the demise of independent retailers they should read "Tescopoly". I have read this book and when I criticise Tesco I am doing so from an informed position, although obviously in Frutopia's case it was a combination of factors that forced its closure. I would like to sell fruit and veg as well as wholefoods, but as I don't have a vehicle it would be difficult for me to get to the whoesale markets to collect produce. However, I like the idea of selling excess produce - I certainly have an excess of runner and french beans at the moment and had an excess of loganberries earlier in the year. Maybe local allotment holders would like to donate or sell their surplus produce? It is good to know that so many people are concerned about the future of our community.

Yes I've had the puzzled croissant reaction. So I buy mine at the co-op. Maybe croissants on Saturdays only, or something, so everyone knows where they stand! I'd rather use the independent shop.

The Polish pastries are nice, though, as is the 'Wellbeing' bread.

Also I agree with the thing about plastic bags in the other thread: trying to make the Triangle a 'plastic bag free zone', as they did in that other Devon village, would a) help the environment, and b) give traders the chance to generate some much-needed publicity. Would Tesco rise to the challenge too?

graham would u consider opening 1 of your bakeries on 1 of the busy high streets i know eastleigh or southampton dont have a proper bakery it would be nice to see a cottons bakery in a busy town or city centre think it would do well better then greggs and all the other wanna be bakeries or would the rent be to expensive?

I just read in the Echo of a greengrocer in Townhill Park who's shutting down after 20 years of trading after being recently robbed. He said that because of the loss of community spirit and increasing violence in the area, he no longer wants to be there. Maybe he could be encouraged to come down to the Triangle instead?!

Has anyone started using London Off Licence yet for their supply of fruit and vegetables? I popped along there the other evening as I need a green pepper and they were most accomodating. Local and not a conglomerate! I don't know if that's the right word for Tesco but I'm sure you all appreciate what I mean.

I have used the veg from this shop a good effort with his display and good service.
I do not usually go up Bond Hill but the display caught my eye when passing.