Factual point: as far as we understand it (though we stand to be corrected if anyone knows any more) the site which Sainsbury’s, Acocks Green currently stands on is owned by the Holy Souls Roman Catholic Church, next door. Morrison’s leased the site from Holy Souls. They took over the lease from Safeway’s who were had the lease from when the supermarket was built in the early 1980s. Our information is that Morrison’s still hold a lease for the site. The supermarket on the site was operated by Morrison’s for a few months in the mid 2000s. However, Morrison’s, have been sub-letting the site to Sainsbury’s since around 2005. This is any attempt to avoid any confusion, but is not a criticism of Ant’s comments; it is hardly the kind of thing any one could tell by looking at the site!

Acocks Green is one of a few vibrant and living shopping areas, Shirley is another example of one winning in the the current climate, Kings Heath on the other hand is falling away.

Tesco at Yardley, yes will sell everything that’s what the extra format does, but surely that will impact the Asda at Small Heath and the existing Tesco at Sheldon. Impact on The Green could be minimal, depending on where the existing customers come from, Do they come from Olton? Gospel Oak?, the Swan area? or elsewhere, time will tell!

On the upside, I think its quite freshing that developers are considering the local environment in such a way and the two recently refurbushed (and presently unsold) properites at the top of the road add to this. Like the ‘DIY conservation area’ idea.

I’ve also recently made enquires about the traffic on Sherbourne Road, its treated as a rat run and a race track, often at the same time. Personally, I think it would be marvellous if one end of it were closed, as it would restore calm to an otherwise prety road. The council did consider this, as it was taking traffic away from the ighway network, but heard nothing more. don’t know what anyone else thinks…

Thanks for your comments. If you check out the two posts on Morrison’s you will see that, in regard to Acocks Green, I am quoting the Town Centre Manager, who knows a great deal more about Acocks Green than I do – it’s her job! In my previous reply to another commentator I also referred to comments made by the representative of Acocks Green Trader’s association on the Village Partnership. I think we need to avoid seeing this as a test of how much I, personally, know about what goes on in Acocks Green village and to look at the bigger picture, and the other people who are concerned, who I have been talking to.

Moreover, as I have said before, there is a pattern here which is worrying many people around the country. You are, of course, spot on to talk about Tesco’s, which is why you will find that I have also referred to the Tesco’s issue previously as well. This is also a large part of why we are worried – we will be ringed by large supermarkets … after Tesco’s, which is already likely to be a blow, it is the Morrison’s store which really could be the last straw after Tesco’s has made Acocks Green centre vulnerable; this in fact, is a key part of the worry.

Thank you for your comment. The reason why I mentioned Acocks Green Neighbourhood Forum was because you wrote I can possibly see why the forum maybe a little worried about Acocks Green We are not a neighbourhood forum, or, in any sense, a ‘forum’. We are a voluntary campaign group. People sometimes confuse us with Acocks Green Neighbourhood Forum however, and I thought that it is what you were doing, so I apologise if I misunderstood you.

I take your point that Freshy was not open for very long. I was not aware of Cono Pizza, however, as you say, there are other eateries which have been in The Green for a long time, and they are very popular. It is true that most of the comments on here support the Morrison’s supermarket plan, but I have also received a lot of comments from people who are very worried about it – and, and apart from the TCM, and one of our councillors, that goes for Acocks Green Focus Group, Acocks Green Village Partnership and traders in Acocks Green, and a great many petition signatures have already been collected. Several shops have run out of forms, after being given several, and Jeffrey’s asked for more forms after having around six sheets which filled up very quickly – they showed me recently.

You may feel that there is not enough variety in Acocks Green shops, but if we are ringed by big supermarkets (which, with Tesco’s at Yardley, Asda in Shirley and Sainsbury’s in Sheldon already having permission and Yardley Tesco’s already half built and due to open in 2012 is exactly what will happen) then even more shops in Acocks Green – along with Freshey’s and Cono Pizza, and many more which have already gone – are likely to close, and Acocks Green could become a ghost town. The same battle is being fought by several suburban centres in Birmingham alone, right now, and there are more battle going on all around the country at present. Each year there are fewer independent greengrocer’s, butchers, newsagents, etc and more big supermarkets. Our old way of life is going. Maybe that is OK, and maybe what people really like is out-of-town supermarkets which sell a standard range of goods. However, many of us feel that the new way of life will be colder, and less community centred. I am aware that some people are vigorously insisting that they will continue to use some of the Acocks Green shops centre shops, and that everything will be alright, but, in reality, the experience in this kind of situation suggests that most people will not do that.

I also realise that Yarnfield does need more facilities. However, firstly, Morrison’s are not going to be able to provide anything like all the jobs that people need, and, secondly, the real problem seems to be no shops very near by, in Yarnfield. A smaller supermarket than this big one (double the size of Acocks Green Sainsbury’s) could meet the need for a more convenient shopping facility. Some of us feel that other options could still be explored, in order to arrive at a solution that could suit Yarnfield, whilst being less damaging to the rest of Acocks Green.