Cheap booze outlets could have ramifications for Rammy
One of the things that attracted me and my wife to Ramsbottom when we were considering where to move to in the North West a year ago was the plethora of unique, local suppliers and traders the town has to offer. It’s certainly something that visitors to chez-Walker refer to when we take them down to Rammy town centre, or village as we like to call it. Shops, you see, are an attraction. They set the tone of an area and good ones are to be nurtured and, hopefully, well supported by local people.
I mention all this because I have a bit of a worry about the increase of a certain type of shop in our town and the possible negative effect this might have on the local environment. I’m talking about supermarkets. We already have two right next door to each other in Tesco and Morrisons and come November we’ll have a third with the arrival of the international discount chain, Aldi.
In the current credit-crunched and cash-strapped climate, there may be more reasons to spend a little and live a lot, but my concern about the arrival of a third supermarket to Ramsbottom was sparked further when I read this week’s Manchester Evening News exposé about cut-price alcohol promotions and their role in the region’s binge drinking culture.
Aldi in particular was singled out for selling their Taurus strong cider at just £1.79 for a two-litre bottle. Given that cider is often the drink of choice for youngsters looking to get tanked up on cheap booze, I worry about the potential ramifications in Rammy of Aldi’s arrival.
A few months down the line, I really hope we are not talking about an increase in drink-related problems in the town. Locals would rightly be up in arms if we saw pubs in Rammy selling booze ridiculously cheap. We should also apply the same standards and vigilance to supermarkets who are selling the stuff even cheaper and in greater volumes.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not taking a gratuitous pop for the sake of it at Aldi et al here. Rather, I just want them to behave and trade in a responsible way so that we can preserve the uniquely local atmosphere that Ramsbottom and its shops create.
August 14th, 2009 at 9:30 am
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
‘Binge drinking’ only occurs because there is no one to supervise the consumption of cheap alcohol from take aways.
Alcohol consumed on licensed premises is supervised and controlled, so simply hike up the prices for takeaway and not only do you sort out the binge drinking problem but also kick start life back into the struggling pub trade.
August 14th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Bury council are just like every other town council – there can never be enough supermarkets because all they are interested in is business rates. They claim it’s good for local jobs, but all it does is take money outside the local economy and increase heavy traffic. Ramsbottom now has 3 supermarkets right next door to each other, despite the ridiculous number already in Rawtenstall and to a lesser extent, Bury.
Do your bit and keep using the local shops in preference to the chains when ever possible.
August 16th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
There have been 2 supermarkets in Rammy for years – the Co-op and Somerfield. All that’s happened is the names on them have changed to Tesco and Morrisons. Yes, ALDI is moving in but it will just divert ALDI shoppers from the Bury branch and possibly bring in a few “out of towners”.
I am no raving fan of supermarkets, I like to use local butchers, farm shops and the Farmers’ Market, plus the Saturday market.
Rammy is still a very fine Lancashire town!
P.s Can someone open a fish mongers? or a cheese shop with a good selection of Lancashire cheeses? Please….
August 18th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I agree Chris, a fishmonger is much needed even though the guy on the Saturday market does a good job. A trip once a week to Bury market for my fish isn’t my favourite pastime
They sell some great cheeses at Entwistles & Gusto
August 23rd, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I love this rant. I just hope the author Andy Walker also put his pen to good use and wrote to the council, to ask for the local youth centre to be opened as soon as possible. Or spent a day with the, ‘ youngsters’ that Aldi is about to sell its cheap booze to.
Consequently the supporter for this sites ‘Rammyfest’ should not be Kopparberg cider (a fairly cheap cider, that’s bound to attract these youngsters and their love of the stuff, ‘I worry about the potential ramifications in Rammy’!), A local sponsor may have been better?
So before this turns into my own rant maybe we should accept that all supermarkets have positives and negatives, we don’t need three but we have them now, so lets not dwell on that and make sure we look after Ramsbottom and its youths, so that all future problems are avoided.
Finally, I agree that a fishmonger shop would be lovely, hmmm as would a seafood restaurant and the Côte d’Azur!
August 26th, 2009 at 1:12 am
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I don’t believe the town can tolerate three supermarkets and it shows something fishy is going on when our councillors approve such a move. Aldi is not a Rammy quality outlet so if the councillors wanted 3 supermarkets they should have allowed M&S to move into town.
The upshot is, we as a family will never set foot into Aldi and continue to use the local shops and Morrisons / Tesco when needed.
I worry about the traffic congestion ALDI will cause and the closure of the higher quality independents in town. It is up to us all to preserve the high quality outlets by not using the low quality supermarkets such as ALDI.
As for other shops, yes a fishmonger would be good but also a book shop. I know amazon is cheap, but there is nothing like browsing for books in realife.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I’m think that Aldi will not have such a great impact on the town. I have lived in Ramsbottom all my life and remember when the only supermarket, Kwiksave (now Tesco) was rivalled by the Co-Op being built after the Foam works, where Morrissons now stands, was burned down. The only effect I have seen is that the surrounding areas have been developed, providing more shops and more jobs. I’m actually glad Aldi is opening as the Deli section is great offering great quality European produce that is twice as expensive (and not as good quality) in the other two supermarkets.
September 2nd, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
At least the Aldi looks the part! (so far)
Last year there was a big hoo ha with the Racheal Goddard shop saying that it wasnt in keeping with the area well please have you seen the eyesore across the road ‘Ramsbottom Bargain Store’ that certainly in my opinion is not in keeping with the area. Infact, it’s a real mess and in my opinion lowers the tone of the area, it’s tacky and cheap looking!
September 5th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I for one am very happy about Aldi coming to Ramsbottom, nothing like a bit of good healthy competition for the consummer. True Rammy does have a plethora of shops, but most of them are to attract the ‘tourist’ trade, I mean how often on a regular basis do you want to buy any antiques, expensive clothes, sweets, riding gear, novelties of all description. Then there are the estate agents, charity shops, cafe’s etc. I think there is quite a bit of snobbery hiding away in Ramsbottom, because after all it is not a village, it is a town, with a growing population, even churches are being turned into living accommodation. Also in the case of cheap alchol, if kids want to get hold of some they will, I think that should be policed by their parents, why should the ordinary man in the street be penalised because of lack of correct direction by resposible adults. It makes my blood boil it really does. We will (with Aldi, which sells some wonderful stuff by the way) have three supermarkets, and rightly so, what about people who do not have transport to ferry themselves outside Ramsbottom, there are not enough corner shops anymore to support a town this size, the ones that are here are limited in what they sell, and too be quite honest a bit pricey for my liking. After all this is the 21st centuary let us live accordingly.
September 5th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
can anyone help in the 1960 there was a small supermarket in ramsbottom but what it was called i dont know the kitchen firm is there now
September 6th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I wouldn’t want the character of Ramsbottom to disappear and replaced with a load of cheap discount shops but I do agree that there is a bit of snobbery going on with some of the fancy shops that sell designer goods. I once went in a designer children’s wear shop to ask if they sold bibs as I needed some for my grandson. The shop assistant looked at me as though I had asked if she sold dog poo! Needless to say, this shop was not in business for long as it only sold very expensive designer goods and nothing practical that people want. In this economic climate people want value for money. I will be using Aldi when it opens, along with Tesco and Morrisons and will continue to buy my favourite peppered chicken from the butchers near St Paul’s Church.
September 8th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
As a Ramsbottom Trader myself, owner of Bootiful Shoes on Bridge Street, i feel the need to stress that not all the shops are snobby or over priced! I opened my shop in March as Ramsbottom is not only for tourist but for the local community. As the previos posts state not everyone can and want to travel out of Ramsbottom so my shop is directed and both locals and the tourist. Selling Shoes from as little as £4.00 and no more than £30 for ladies with a selection of childrens shoes no more than £20.00! I also stock handbags jewellery and accessories again at very reasonable prices! If people would open there eyes a bit more when walking through Ramsbottom and take the time to look at window displays and go inside you will see that some of us are in the real world and are here yes to make a living but also as strong belivers that Ramsbottom is a good place to be!
September 16th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
mel my mum told me the supermarket in rammy was called VG’s it then changed its name to spar.
November 7th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I THINK ALDI COMMING TO RAMSBOTTOM IS A GOOD IDEA AND WILL BRING GOOD VALUE FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO AT THE MOMENT HAVE TO PAY FOR OVERPRICE GOODS AT THE TESCO METRO STORE WHICH IS FAR MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE BURY TESCO SUPERMARKET .FOR YEARS THESE GREEDY SUPERMARKETS HAVE BEEN EXPLOITING RAMSBOTTOM RESIDENTS BY OVERCHARGING SO THE WAY I SEE IT IS ALDI WILL KICK THEM IN TO TOUCH .
December 2nd, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I remember a while back there was a fast food / burger van that used to pitch near the Railway station in Ramsbottom, it was told by the council to move on somewhere else as he apparently was lowering the tone of the area. low and behold not long after this i heard there where plans to erect a 3rd…yes a Third Supermarket, like we need another one. 3 supermarkets all a stones throw from each other…why.? i,ve lived in Ramsbottom since 1997 after moving up from Tottington, it was a nice village but over the years it,s turning into a smaller version of Bury. i,ll stick to my local shops thank you, as for Booze outlets, gone are Threshers and Victoria wines leaving Only Bargain Booze as a handy off-licence…One other thing about The newly built Aldi is thats its another handy car-park for all the youths,yobs and rammy’s boy racers to hang out on.
December 5th, 2009 at 12:54 am
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
It’s not so bad having 3 supermarkets, at least we’ve got a choice of where to shop. All shops that come to Ramsbottom though should be made to have a shop front that’s in keeping with the area so it doesn’t go downhill. We don’t need more cheap booze outlets though because they only cater for drunks and binge drinking kids so no more Bargain Booze please as that attracts little gangs of problem children who do my head in!
Bootiful Shoes could do with getting a bit more stock in though as it only takes less than 30 seconds to walk round the shop and leave empty handed and disappointed. We may be a small village but we do like a bit more choice so that we don’t have to go into skanky Bury
January 17th, 2010 at 11:49 am
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The patronising, retailers refrain about Rammy folk ‘supporting’ their local shops in order to maintain the ‘unique diversity’ and ‘character’ of the area rather than going for the big supermarkets makes me want to laugh.
Whenever there is a downturn in the economy people are urged to ‘consume’ so that retailers and other businesses will not go under. We are told that ‘difficult decisions’ will have to be made and ‘belts will have to be tightened’. These are all code and euphemism akin to the ‘collatoral damage’ and ‘friendly fire’ of the US military when they kill the wrong person. Nobody ever seems to suggest that businesses should support the general public in these ‘difficult’ times by dropping their prices since we are all subject to pay freezes and rising costs for fuel and council tax and food and every other damned thing you can mention….and there is no cash and carry prices for us.
Why is it that businesses and bankers and share holders must be protected whatever happens and the rest of us must ‘tighten our belts?’
Frankly you can keep your ‘character’ I’ve seen it come and I’ll see it go. Rammy was far nicer twenty five years ago. Far nicer. I remember when the railway line ran to Rawtenstall as a proper service not bull**** some tourist attraction.
June 1st, 2010 at 6:17 pm
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
A bit late adding to this but here goes anyway.
Bury council produced it’s unitary development plan (UDP) and in it mentioned the unique character of Rammy and how it was a jewel in the crown of Bury. It also mentioned how the locals would be better served by 1 large supermarket not 2 small ones. I think that point was made earlier wrt how expensive tesco metro is. However just months after publishing the UDP, bury council planners approve a third supermarket and not just a third supermarket but one which is far from in keeping with the good image and reputation of Rammy.
Seems to me that Bury want to drag us down to their level. I would love to know how many Ramsbottom people sit on the planning authority which makes decisions for Ramsbottom. It is clearly inapropriate that Bury people continue to take decision on what we need.
A Fish monger and book shop would be great. Along with a beach and 30 degrees. :)