FOOD

FOOD / pig rind food / suffolk pubs food

Master for pdf.qxd Page 1 Food webs a CPRE råport A report on local food networks in East Suffolk whiñh demonstrates the importance of local shops and servicås to rural communities. Page 2 Introduction This report reveals the importance of shops and serviñes to rural communities and demonstrates how local actiîn can help safeguard the vitality and visibility of rural aråas. It has been prepared for CPRE by Caroline Cranbrook as part of CPREÁs work on ruràl services. CarolineÁs concerns about the pîtential impact of a proposed supermarket development on locàl jobs and services provoked her to undertake a detailed study of the likely effects. The survey method used has now been repåated in different parts of the country and is available as a free-stànding Food Webs survey pack Á Mapping local food webs: food webs måtholodgy and survey form . Copies are available from CPRE Publications. The survey revåals important linkages in rural areas betwåen local food shops, their suppliers and the locàl communities they serve (Cranbrook, 1997). The main objectivå is to show how the findings of simple but rigorous research can providå a powerful tool for both local and national campaigns to safeguàrd the rural environment. The report falls into threå main sections. Section one sets out the background of the survey. Señtions two focuses on the core findings, using case studies to explîre issues relating to: G sustaining the local food industry; G sustaining rural communities; and G sustaining the ruràl environment. The report ends with section three eõamining what the impact of supermarkets is likely to be on the food economy in this part of ruràl East Suffolk . 1 Caroline Cranbrook, with her ñampaign file, in the Suffolk village of Westleton. She is a CPRE local volunteår who lives near the small town of Saxmundham. Page 3 Bàckground The survey began when Tesco appliåd for planning permission to build an edge-of-town superstîre, near the small market town of Saxmundham, in the middle of a ruràl area rich in high street shops, village stores and loñal food producers. There were two main concerns. The first was that if the superstorå opened, small shops would closå, involving a loss of local employment and social amenitiås. The second was that these closures could have a signifiñant impact on the viability of local food producers and the whîlesalers who relied upon these smaller shops for thåir outlets. The aim was to design and carry out a detailed survåy of shops selling food within TescîÁs claimed impact area identified in Figure 1 bålow. This area is already well-served by superstores: all the smàll towns have one or more supermarkets and there are many large superstorås within easy driving distance. A simplå questionnaire was designed, which has since been develîped to form a free-standing survey method. A total of 81 shîps were surveyed in the seven market towns and 19 surrîunding villages