A disabled man who claims he would have nowhere to go if his at-risk local pub closed down was at the heart of a protest to save it over the weekend writes Matthew Reville for the Peterborough Evening Telegraph (14/11/11).
Deaf-blind Alex McNeill (31) was one of 620 people who signed a petition to protect The Ploughman pub in Staniland Way, Werrington, during the protest.
They want Tesco to re-think its plans to bulldoze the pub as part of a £40 million overhaul of the Werrington Centre that would expand the supermarket.
The spirited protesters, which included Peterborough MP Stewart Jackson stood in the pub’s front garden - in direct view of Tesco staff and shoppers - from noon until 5pm on Saturday.
The supermarket’s slogan is ‘Proud to be supporting our local community’, and protesters mocked up signs parodying the Tesco logo that read “Save our community local”.
Mr McNeill, who is totally blind but has some hearing, lives in Rainbow Court, Paston Ridings. He is a popular local in the pub and gets a taxi there at least twice a week to meet with friends.
He said: “If it was to close, how would I see all my friends? Where would I go to meet up with them? I would have nowhere to go.
“This pub has to be saved. Why would anyone want to replace what this pub offers just to get a bigger Tesco.
“The Tesco is already big enough. Nobody has called for Tesco to get bigger, but as people turning out today showed, everyone wants the pub to stay open.”
The Ploughman was recently named 2011 Pub of the Year by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Peterborough and District Branch.
It has also raised just under £5,000 for charities since Andy Simmonds became landlord two years ago.
Mr Simmonds said: “I was really happy with how many people joined in, it was exactly what I wanted. It was a show of local support for the local pub.
“Tesco are showcasing themselves like a peacock. They want us out of sight and out of mind. The pub is in a prominent position, and they don’t want people to see it before seeing the store.
“I would love to work with Tesco as partners in the regeneration of the Werrington Centre. I hope they talk to us about co-existing in the future.”
MP Stewart Jackson joined the protesters for an hour on Saturday after signing the petition, and plans to personally discuss the groundswell of public opinion against the proposal with Tesco bosses.
Mr Jackson said: “I will be meeting with people from Tesco in the next week and talking to them about the concerns I, and all the people here, have got.
“If they are committed to the people of Werrington they must understand it has to have a community pub. We should try to persuade Tesco to give The Ploughman and its supporters a fair hearing.
“Since Andy took over it is really flourishing as both a pub and a community centre.”
Peterborough City Councillor for Werrington North Judy Fox also joined in the protest. She said: “Me and my husband (Cllr John Fox) are regulars in the pub, we would both hate to see it go.”
Pensioner June Firas (75), from Gatenby, Werrington, said: “I come down here to play darts once a week. Where will I go if the pub closes?”
Tony Keen (50), from Canwell, Werrington, said: “How can the Werrington Centre be a community centre if there is no pub here? It’s a contradiction.”
Nobody from Tesco was available to comment.
More than 200 people have signed an online petition: www.savetheploughman.com.
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