Up In Arms - The Usually Silent Majority

The attorney general is considering asking the courts to clamp down on high profile, direct action protests says the Guardian. This may come too late to save Booths supermarkets the indignity of opening their new store in Ripon to just this kind of action.
A rapidly growing group of highly articulate, computer literate and well connected residents and friends; some as widely scattered as France, Australia and India, have joined forces to support small businesses in this tiny and usually quiet city.
The building of the new store, in the hands of Maple Grove Developments has already taken 18 months and has had a devastating effect on many businesses as roads were closed and access to the shops severely disrupted. The worst hit - Great Northern Wine - a beautiful, old and independent retailer adjacent to the development site has been brought almost to the point of closure as customers, not wishing to wade through the quagmire that surrounded the building for months, went elsewhere.
Mark Ryan, owner of GNW politely declined to be interviewed by the Pun; his reasons can only be guessed at, but it is hard to imagine they are not a result of outside pressure.
Supermarkets in general have long had a reputation for corporate bullying, particularly towards their suppliers, but one would have thought that a relatively small, family owned business such as Booths would have more sensitivity towards their future neighbours and customers. This particularly so when you consider that In June 2005 the current Chairman, Edwin J Booth, was awarded the BITC (Business in the Community) Prince of Wales Ambassador Award for North West England. This is given to individuals whose leadership and commitment to responsible business practice and the actions they have taken personally have created a positive impact both inside their company and on the wider society!
Of course it may be that as the company operates what it describes as 'the internet's biggest wine warehouse' in addition to its own - in house wine sales, they feel that competion from a well established and highly respected wine retailer on their back doorstep would be more than the market could stand. The support group on the other hand feel that Booths and Maple Grove Developments have a moral obligation to ensure Great Northern Wine stays just where it is. You may well agree.

Support from Coun' (St) Bernard Bateman MBE

Prominently “Disillusioned” County Councillor St. Bernard Bateman has sloughed off the carapace of Liberalism and Democracy he has worn since 2001 and re-joined the Conservative Party. In an interview this week he said ‘It has been impossible to get things done in the Lib Dems; it’s been a very frustrating time’.
This is good news for Mark Ryan of Great Northern Wine as St. Bernard has pledged ‘150% support’ for the campaign to get Mr Ryan compensation for the business he has lost as a direct result of the development to the west of the market place.
St Bernard’s achievements in the fields of politics and business are well documented (In 1988 he received an MBE for services to business) so we look forward to a renewed dynamism and a swift conclusion to the compensation issue.

Seas of mud and wine

As the Developers, councillors etc pat themselves on the back at the early completion of the link road to the west of market place we should bear in mind that it has still taken a year and a half to complete. This has had a hugely detrimental effect on many businesses in the town, none more so than Mark Ryan’s Great Northern Wine whose trade has been decimated as approach roads became an impassable sea of mud for months on end. Small, independent traders such as this are what makes shopping in Ripon an interesting and rewarding experience and we must appreciate and support them as best we can.

Of course many businesses are suffering at the moment due to the economic downturn but this is of a different order and magnitude and has a clearly definable cause – it has been obvious to all of us that the development has had a devastating impact on Mr Ryan’s trade and I cannot believe that the developers or indeed Booths directors would wish to be the cause of the demise of such an asset to Ripon.

As everything returns to normal it is easy for us to forget quite what a mess the area has been for such a long period; not so easy for one who may lose his hard fought for business, livelihood and possibly home, through no fault of his own.

I hope that a compensation package commensurate with Mr Ryan’s substantial losses can be worked out, and worked out soon before we lose one of Ripon’s jewels – a great independent wine retailer and an important social meeting place.