A new store in Town South Shields

I began the piece by saying that there were two events which summoned up Britain on Monday. The new 24 hour Azda supermarket opened and the majority of South Shields popped in to see what it was like. When I returned on Tuesday afternoon it was still busy. The supermarket can be reached by car from only two roads. The minor route involves taking sides streets from the roadway into South Shields from Sunderland and it was interesting to note on Tuesday that there were significant fewer cars from this direction than previously reached the old store via a route passed the Town Hall and crossing over the junction between the pedestrian area of Ocean Road and the open road down to the sea front. I joined into this traffic from the Law Top Hill. The other old route meant that those from the Whiteleas and adjacent former Council estates and the older properties before the town centre, those out on thee Newcastle Road and in the Laygate and Fredericke Street areas had to come passed the location of the new store, passed the Ferry landing and on to Law Top. For some Tesco on the Newcastle Road was closer and for others there was Lidl on the way from Whiteleas and from Laygate. In terms of walking distance the new store is about the same from the buses, depending on in which bus stop you need but further away from the Metro Station. The main Taxi services were around the corner from the old store and the entrance is to the new will require a detour travelling in the opposite direction in order to reach the riverside side road.

I mention the roadways because whereas the public could reach the old store from the pedestrian area of the Town centre using escalators to the shopping level they now have to cross the road used by the majority of cars going to the car parking area. There are two crossing points one controlled by traffic lights.

There are 500 spaces in the car park with about one hundred under cover forming the ground floor of the store which is regarded as the basement level. There is a nominal charge of £1 for 90 minutes of free stay, returnable if £5 or more is spent at the store. You can stay another 90 minutes for an additional £1 which is not refundable. There are no barriers and I presume and I assume traffic wardens will manage with a fine of £60 prescribed for those not showing the appropriate ticket. There are few ticket purchase points, This system only operates from 9am to 6pm weekdays. If the same level of fresh produce vegetables, bakery and fish supplies for example si kept up then there will be need to go early morning and afternoon as with the old store

You reach the first level called ground floor by moving pavements or two lifts and it was evident that here is an increase in mothers and disabled people using the store without having car access. The store seemed to me as big as that at Bolden and Morrison’s at Jarrow, possible larger than Morrison’s at Sunderland and larger that Tesco’s on the Newcastle Road. Four major supermarkets, two operating 24 hours weekdays with two in town centres and one next to the cinema multiplex and food four restaurants. The new store had the clothing area George on the same level as household and then food and drink. It is over twice the size of the former store with the addition of a pharmacy, delicatessen and fishmongers and an enlarged bakery. The range and quantities available appeared to be significantly better than any of the other stores or any I have seen elsewhere. I was impressed in this respect. There were twice as many checkouts and more than twice the number of staff employed overall. I found some who I recognise and one who recognise me and said hullo which would not have happened in the old store and an indication that even the staff found the place overwhelming. There was a little moment of oh no when I realised I had left my card wallet at home but fortunately I had sufficient cash, was seven pounds in credit. The things left and for which I went back for this afternoon came to six pounds, but I am not good at keeping running totals in my head especially when trying work out what was where.

As it started to rain I parked under cover and found this area almost deserted and was able to park close to the entrance and lifts. I also took the opportunity to view the small first floor area which includes restaurant toilets. Tea and coffee is 98p more than Morrison’s and a sausage or bacon bap is a further £1.34 so the Ship and Royal is still the best deal in town.. My conclusion on two visits over the first two days at different times is that more people were shopping and spending more which will be good for the store but must have considerable impact on stores at the Market end of town. As a PS The frozen food area was also impressive.

South Shields Take away and Perspective on Parliamentary Expense

There were signs that some commentators and contributors to news programmes appreciate that the manner of the expenses stories published this week will have major impact on the democratic process in the UK and has dangerous possibilities with a move to withdraw form Europe one outcome and the risk of anti democratic parties being elected, with a right wing take over more likely than one the left.

I know I tend to see conspiracies more than most because of the existence of secret databases and organisations and interests concerned at keep things one way or preventing them moving in another. With the development of information becoming concentrated on computers and transferable through emails, disks and other storage devices it is easy for clandestine organisations to gain information either by illegal means, bribery or having supporters in organisations willing to pass on information.

If there is doubt about this then look first at Parliament where individuals employed in the civil service pass on information to Politicians and to journalists on a regular basis as is the position in local government. Politicians are also known for passing on information to journalists. There have been suggestions and some evidence of politicians also links to other governments and various intelligence services. The intelligence services themselves rely of informants and there would be no point in governments meetings the costs of their overseas intelligence organisations unless they demonstrate the provision of hard information and this will involve willing informants more than illegal or clandestine operations.

Similarly much of police work relies on a range of intelligence information. Rather than mount their own surveillance operations the police frequently rely on information recorded by local authority and private closed circuit television cameras. The extent to which local authorities have access to the range of databases now available through government including the police and the national health service has become comprehensive.

However less public and rarely commented on in the media is the information gathering by international corporations and trade bodies and private organisation with political, religious and criminal interests. The most recent disclosure was the circulation of information about individuals blacklisted in the building industry. There are databases on credit, databases on insurance claimants and now one master base covering road vehicles, insurances and MOT. The biggest change has come about under the umbrella of the war against international terrorism. This has led the government to wanting access to all e mails and internet site communications throughout the world.

It is however not surprising that the very people who promote and legislate for their interventions on individual behaviour, freedoms and rights themselves restrict the information on their activities as much as they can. They resisted information about their expenses because they knew the system would raise issues and reveal wrongdoing as well a genuine mistakes and using the available allowances to the maximum.

Yesterday I accused the Daily Telegraph of bias and selectivity and a failure to provide a framework for making judgements, something which the media in general were avoiding and concentrating on individuals. The BBBC has attempted to remedy this on its website by providing the basic information on each Member of Parliament as revealed in the Telegraph


on expenses published in the Telegraph which covers 34 Labour 27 Conservative 7 Liberal Democrats and half a dozen others including Sinn Fein and where the research appears to have been restricted to those claiming second home allowances. This is significant because the second home allowance is a minor part of the expense claim of Members of Parliament amounting to £23000 maximum whereas two thirds of the 600 plus members claim a total of more than £150000 expenses a year, ranging to £200000. Over half the amount claimed concerns staffing. The Commons has taken the decision to remove the employment and administration of the office staff under its control. There has been one major case of a n MP using facility members to claim part of this allowance and one wonders what has been the situation in general and why has the Daily Telegraph not looked at this aspect? Sir Stuart Bell claimed £21000 travelling from Middlesbrough while Sir Alan Beith only £14000 from Berwick, David Cairns also Labour £10000 from Inverclyde yet Sharwar Mohamed claimed £25000 from Glasgow. There are also similar disparities in office equipment and communication claims. Interestingly Denis Skinner claimed the lowest at £66000 with only three under £100000 including Nicholas Winterton. Are these individuals performing less well for their constituents and in parliament than those claiming between 50 and 100% more
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The second Test Match against the West Indies opened at Chester Le Street yesterday before an embarrassingly small number of spectators, said to total 3000 sparsely distributed around the ground with a capacity of over 12000 although the visual evidence was that more like an eighth of the stadium was filled. Durham has held four test matches all in May and against weaker test sides. Glamorgan is to hold its first test match in August against the Australians. Prejudice what prejudice? The wicket was as placid as placid could be and the West Indians in the field and the spectators who attended did their best in the freezing conditions to provide some entrainment for those who had paid from £35 to £70 for the day.

England won the toss and were 302 for 2 as the first day ended with Bopara achieving a record third century in succession and with only Herbert Sutcliffe, Denis Compton, Geoff Boycott and Graham Gooch among British Players to have achieved the same feat. Bopara’s distinction is that he was dropped by West Indian Fielders in each of his three innings. 24 year old Alistair Cooked also scored 100 and was 126 not out at close of play, this his ninth Test century at the age of 24 years. It rained all day Friday and Durham desperate to improved the situation begged disappointed ticket holder to accept a ticket for the three remaining days although a full refund is also available less £1.40 admin charge which is a disgrace, the charge I mean. I significantly better turn out is promised for tomorrow but the weather is still in doubt.

I watched American Idol where the competition has reached the last three, two of whom have the support of evangelical America and all three are good enough to win. On Friday night there were two surprises. The flamboyant Adam came through as did the quiet Chris which left Mr Gokey out in the cold. It will be a surprise if Adam does not now win although the combined evangelical and young vote should see him successful

Taggart was another basic crime story with a psychic playing an pivotal role

Earlier this year I commented that some twenty five take away outlets in South Shields had circulated information about their services. The number has increased to forty


01 AK’s Tripple Diner Nevinson avenue 420 0266
02 Abrakebabra Mile End Road 498 7806
03 Aloy Aloy Pier Parade 456 4134
37 Bombay Tandori Fredericke Street 456 8100
04 The Beacon Green Place 456 6485
05 China Cook Canterbury Street 455 2255
40 Chinchilla Ocean Road 4270172
36 Crown of India Ocean Road 4557783
28 Delli Frederick Street 454 7575
06 Donatellos Fowler Street 454 4322
33 Eastern Eye Chichester Rd 4552829d
07 Express of India Ocean Road 454 8882
08 The God Father Whiteleas Way 420 2727
09 Herbs n Spice Lake avenue 427 5118
27 Indian Essence 496 7777
10 Log Fire Pizza Dean Road 423 1960
31 M & M’s Fredericke 454 6699
38 Mama Mia’s Ocean Road 4275757
11 Manneks Caterers Fredericke Street 427 9477
12 Marine Osborne Avenue 456 82382
13 Mini House Laygate 454 4253
35 Moonlight Indian Woodbine St 4558002
32 Mushy’s Fowler St 4548585
39 Naz’s Spice Portberry Street 456 5538
14 New Delhi Fredericke Street 454 7575
34 Number 1 Indian Fredericke St 4547575
15 Orange Grass Mount terrace 455 8555
16 Papa John Prince Edward Rd 427 9201
17 Pizza Corner Stanhope Road 455 4567
18 Planet Pizza Bolden labe 455 5057
26 Pizza Porter Laygate 456 6600
19 Quarry Lane Tandori 456 6959
30 Rahmania Fredericke St 4544544