Downtown residents have expressed their anger as major changes are transforming Nottingham’s shopping scene.
Regulars said they are now struggling with their weekly grocery shopping in the heart of the city after some stores announced big changes.
It comes after the Aldi store on the corner of A60 Huntingdon Street and Union Road was permanently closed on Sunday (August 1st).
And the popular Tesco Metro supermarket in central Victoria has become an express.
A study by Which? led to a price increase. This shows that the same weekly grocery store on an Express costs an average of £ 279 more per year compared to a Tesco supermarket.
A few local residents who live next to the Victoria Center said they could barely afford to shop for groceries.
Bar clerk Kieran Geary, 22, said, “We used to shop at Aldi so it was really bad when it closed.
“Even when it was a metro, Tesco was the more expensive option compared to Aldi.
“Now that it’s been converted into an express, it’s even worse.”
His roommate Ash Ricketts, 22, added, “If you don’t have a car, it’s just impossible to do your weekly shopping at an affordable price.
“The cost has gone up so quickly and it’s just really bad.”
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Buyers are now calling for more supermarkets to be built in the city center.
Retired Josie Ryan of St. Ann’s, 77, said, “It’s all just restaurants and cafes and we have nothing for our daily needs.
“We only have one Waitrose across the street and it’s expensive anyway.
“The prices are just outrageous.
“It seems like the residents are being forgotten and the city is being redesigned for the needs of the students.
“We need at least one large supermarket here – two would be great.”
Malanie Wakefield, 60, added: “We don’t have supermarkets here – we have nothing.
“It’s very expensive everywhere and people can hardly afford to shop here.
“There’s no choice – it’s ridiculous.”
However, other regulars downtown said they would come here to go to restaurants and cafes.
Father of two Michael Oxford (38) with his sons Joel (6) and Noah (4).
(Image: Olimpia Zagnat)
The 38 year old engineer Michael Oxford from Hucknall said: “I don’t live in the city, that might be why I think so, but I don’t see why there should be big supermarkets in the city center.
“I come here for restaurants, pubs, cafes – not to do my grocery shopping.”
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