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.