Fury as locals in UK’s ‘happiest place to live’ take on Tesco over Sunday opening plans

People living in a harbour town in Scotland are taking on one of the UK’s leading supermarket firms – over plans for the store to open on Sundays.

The in Stornoway, on the Isle of Lewis, is consulting with staff over plans to open on the traditional day of rest,

However many people on the island in the Outer Hebrides, a region that has previously been named as one of the happiest places in the country to live, are not happy – and claim the store should remain closed on Sundays.

A petition, started by Alasdair Mcleod, has been signed by 425 people has called for Tesco to remain shut.

This is equivalent to around six per cent of Stornoway’s population of 7,000 – although the 425 includes people from other areas of the UK who have also signed.

One person who signed the petition wrote: “When stores and businesses open their doors on Sunday, it may seem like a convenience at first, but the resulting ripple effect leaves workers with less time to rest, less time for family, less time for and invariably, a lower quality of life.”

The petition states: “Many of us hold cherished memories of island Sundays as a guaranteed day of rest, relaxation and no work – a precious day of family time and worship. However, this simple yet profound day is at risk due to the concept of seven-day trading creeping into our culture. 

“Often we don’t realise the value of what we have until it’s gone. We are the envy of many people living in mainland Scotland with our peaceful, work-free Sundays so why swap them for their hectic, stressful, work-filled, busy Sundays?

“Every year the Outer Hebrides is voted right at the top of a poll of the happiest places to live in the UK. Is it a coincidence that our islands as a whole, are one of the only places that still has a guaranteed traditional Sunday of rest and no work? 

It added: “Tesco is and has been a highly valued and respected, local employer and retailer, repeatedly giving generously to local charities and causes and always respecting our local Sunday tradition of rest.

“We hope this mutual respect of community and retailer will long continue. If Tesco Stornoway, one of the largest shops in the Western Isles, opens on a Sunday then other businesses and organisations will be more likely to open on a Sunday too. They will sadly feel pressured too.”

A number of signatories expressed support for the petition, Kevin McPhail wrote: “As a Christian, I really want to see the Lord’s day respected. From a local point of view I love the fact that Lewis still largely respects the Sabbath day, may we not simply become a clone of the mainland.”

Another petitioner, William Futcher, added: “We are losing our spiritual connections in favour of consumerism.”

The Scottish Daily Express reports that staff at the store would not be forced to work on Sundays, and that there is already a Sunday shift to allow shelf replenishment to take place.

Christian Davies, Store Director for Tesco in the Highlands and Islands, said: “We will be listening carefully to customers and colleagues about our proposals to open our Stornoway store on a Sunday. We are confident we can carefully balance the demand for a seven-day opening while remaining respectful to local traditions and culture.

“While shopping on a Sunday is not for everyone, a store that is open seven days a week would significantly improve the shopping experience for all customers, by offering choice to those who do want to shop on a Sunday and reducing congestion during other days of the week, especially on a Saturday.”