Zombies rise up in Stoke Newington in protest against Sainsbury’s supermarket plans
Grave concerns: the 'dead' rise from Abney Park Cemetery to protest against proposals for a new Sainsbury's in Stoke Newington. Photograph: Tim Sullivan
Hundreds of protestors dressed as zombies took to the streets of Stoke Newington on Saturday 1 October to register their objections to Sainsbury’s plans to introduce another supermarket in the neighbourhood.
Men, women, children and even the odd dog donned ghoulish garb to march against the supermarket giant’s proposed move to Wilmer Place. The campaigners say the new store would harm local businesses as well as the area’s character.
The plans involve a 2,200 square metre shop at Wilmer Place, at the junction of Stoke Newington Church Street and the High Street, as well as 44 new flats and 94 underground parking spaces, to be developed by Newmark Properties.
“[The proposed site] is right next to Abney Park cemetery, and we thought it would be quite funny to imagine the dead rising from the grave and saying: ‘We don’t want a supermarket on top of our peaceful quiet rest,” said Andrew Harrison, a member of Stokey Local, the community campaign group behind the march.
“We wanted to do something that wasn’t just standing there, holding banners, but something that was in character with the neighbourhood that had a sense of humour where both people and children could participate as well.”
A giant speaker blared out Michael Jackson’s Thriller, but many local residents are anything but thrilled by the store’s plans.
Stoke Newington resident Lauren Pett, who took part in the march, described the Sainsbury’s proposal as “a cynical attempt to drive out local business.”
“We love the independent shops and the area’s character, which is the reason we live and spend money here,” said Pett. “A new Sainsbury’s would have devastating effects on the area.”
Campaign group Stokey Local warn that other local shops may be put out of business, and that the area’s economic and employment landscape could change significantly.
Some residents are concerned about increasing levels of congestion in terms of car traffic, heavy goods vehicles, and pollution.
Jacquie Jameson, a local resident and protestor said: “There is too much congestion as it is. Now they are proposing more lorries, more cars and knocked down buildings. We don’t need this.”
Shazad Mahmood, who works at Pak Butchers and Supermarket, an independent shop on Church Street, thinks the outlook is bleak: “Of course we feel threatened and, bit by bit, it will have an effect on all small shops here,” he said. “They want to shut our businesses down.”
However, Harrison maintains that behind the march there is a serious process unfolding. “This is not just about a load of zombies on the high street saying ‘No to Sainsbury’s,” he said. “We are doing all the hard stuff as well.
“The great thing about having a big campaign is that we have got people who are experts in campaigning and getting popular opinion mobilised and excited, but also people who are well informed planning people, who know what they are on about and understand the process. So when you say it’s a broad-based local campaign, it really is.”
Almost 600 people have signed a petition by campaign group Stokey Local registering their objection to the proposed store.
Small businesses and local people had previously branded a consultation exercise about the major new retail development ‘biased and unfair’.
The consultation was run on behalf of Sainsbury’s by PR outfit Four Communications, and concerns have been raised about the very close connections between two serving Hackney councillors and the firm.
Cllr Alan Laing and Cllr Karen Alcock both work for Four Communications. As councillor for Stoke Newington’s Clissold ward, Cllr Alcock is one of the elected representatives whose constituents are most directly affected by the Sainsbury’s development plan.
Rosanne Berry, Chair of Stoke Newington Business Association and owner of Rosa Lingerie, a shop close to the proposed new Sainsbury’s said: “I am concerned that when small businesses are struggling you want your councillors to be fighting on your behalf and not to be influenced by their connections with outside companies.”
Related:
Sainsbury’s PR company in Hackney Council contract row
Leader: Sainsbury’s is wrong to use PR firm that boasts about overcoming residents’ opposition