Angry Scots islanders boycott Tesco over Sunday opening after town hall fury

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Angry shoppers are allegedly boycotting a Tesco store in the Outer Hebrides in the run up to it opening its doors on a Sunday.

Nearly 200 people on the religious Isle of Lewis protested the move by the retail giant at a public meeting on Friday over plans to open on the Sabbath and further plans to introduce home delivery on a Sunday.

And now councillors and religious figures said that the move has led to 'dozens' of locals boycotting the store in the island's capital Stornoway ahead of the new proposal which will commence from Sunday 17 November.

Western Isle Councillor Gordon Murray said: "There are dozens of people who have already quit the store because they are angry - even though going to the Co-op is more expensive. They are going to take a hit but they are voting with their feet and their conscience."

And former councillor, Charlie Nicolson, agreed and added: "There is a large number that have already switched and more will be joining them. The Co-op is very busy and has welcomed people it has not seen in a long time. People are also angry that Tesco never engaged with them and home delivery on Sundays is also planned in March. That will also change the character and peace of the island."

Reverend Greg MacDonald, of the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) said he too had heard of a shopper boycott. He said: "It's not possible to balance opening the store on a Sunday and the views on the Sabbath.

"They have underestimated, if proposing to proceed, the effect this will have on islanders. Tesco is the cheapest store on the island but some members of the community will stop using it which will come at a financial cost to them."

Mr Murray added that a "silent protest" would also send a message to Tesco. At the public meeting in Stornoway on Friday night, the supermarket giant was not only condemned for disrupting the Isle of Lewis's traditional Sabbatarian culture but also for not attending the meeting.

An empty chair was set aside at Stornoway Town Hall for a Tesco representative at the meeting arranged by the Lord's Day Observance Society. The Rev Kenneth Stewart, of the town's Reformed Presbyterian Church, said Tesco had shown no concern or sensitivity to islanders and cast doubt over the depth of its consultation.

He pointed out that the island was more in step with large parts of continental Europe in not having large shops open on a Sunday. And he said the day of rest in a working week "is essential to community welfare and community health." He added: "24/7 is not all it's cracked up to be."

Stornoway North Councillor Mr Murray said "many atheists" had contacted him urging that Tesco should remain closed on Sundays and he wanted the Western Isles Council to hold a special meeting to express a view over the store's move.

But he said he had not received sufficient support from fellow members. He said that far from the island being in the "Dark Ages" the island was "ahead of the curve" in not having major shops open on a Sunday. Mr Murray said: "Tesco please respect us and keep closed on a Sunday. This is basically about greed - and corporate greed."

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Stornoway Community Council has urged the chain to reverse its decision. But it admitted that "short of a local referendum being held, it would be difficult to determine exactly where the balance of public opinion lies."

A sign protesting against Tesco's plans to open its store on Sundays has also been unfurled. The banner slamming the supermarket giant for putting "profit before community values" and urging people to "keep our culture and traditions" was placed on the frontage of a house close to the Stornoway store.

The store on the Isle of Lewis had been the only one in the retail giant's UK empire not open on the traditional Sabbath. The Co-op - the other large supermarket in Stornoway - has no plans to open on Sundays.

Tesco staff were informed of the decision last month and a statement by the company said that Sunday opening would lead to the "creation of at least 30 new jobs" as well as offering shoppers greater flexibility, improved access to fresh food and reduced food waste.

But an online petition asking Tesco not to go ahead has attracted over 1900 signatures since being launched three weeks ago. As a concession to these sentiments, the Stornoway store will not open until noon on Sundays and will close at 8 p.m.

Tesco described this as "a unique approach" across their Scottish stores. Christian Davies, Tesco store director in the Highlands and Islands, said: "We are confident that the decision to open our Stornoway Superstore on Sundays will allow us to balance the demand for seven-day opening while remaining respectful to local traditions and culture.

"Over recent weeks we have received a significant amount of positive feedback to our Sunday opening proposals, particularly from colleagues.

"Of course, we understand that not everyone supports opening the store seven days a week and we will adopt a unique approach to Stornoway with shorter opening times on a Sunday than other locations in Scotland.

"We will continue to listen to, and work with colleagues, in the coming weeks as we prepare for the first Sunday opening and no one will be obliged to work on a Sunday if they choose not to".

The island, which has a population of about 20,000, has a long tradition of observing the Sabbath day, meaning that some shops - including both supermarkets - currently keep their doors closed on a Sunday. Restrictions have relaxed over recent decades, with the first Sunday commercial flight landing at Stornoway airport in 2002 and Sunday ferry sailings have operated since 2009.

Council run-facilities such as swimming pools, soft-play areas and the island's two-lane bowling alley are also shut, even though the local authority allows similar facilities to open on other islands.

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