Religious leaders are considering action to prevent a supermarket giant from opening on a Sunday in one of Scotland’s most remote communities.
Islanders on Lewis have objected to Tesco’s plans to open their Stornoway branch seven days a week due to religious beliefs about not working on the traditional day of rest.
The island store has remained shut on a Sunday since it launched in 2008 to reflect local religious feeling.
But the store has been consulting with staff about working on a Sunday – pitting the chain against some locals and church leaders.
Tesco claim the move will smooth trade across the week improving the experience for customers whichever day they choose to shop.
Rev Kenneth Stewart, of the town’s Reformed Presbyterian Church said further action could be taken if the chain goes ahead with the plans.
He said: “There is a Lord’s Rest Day Committee and we are keeping all our options open. There will definitely be something more down the line.
“In terms of improving the overall shopping experience, there are other things you can do.
“The store is small, the aisles are notoriously narrow and the car park is possibly dangerous.
“One of the strengths of our community is if someone needs tea bags or the proverbial milk and bread you just go next door.
“People here are always happy to help each other out.”
Rev Greg MacDonald, of the Free Church of Scotland has also objected to the plans.
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.
“The biggest impact will be, people who don’t want to use the store will stop using it and that will also have an impact on the store’s revenue.
“The consultation is welcome but I hope they really listen to the views of people living here. Does Tesco want to be a store that respects and serves the community or a store that treats all communities the same?”
Closing the store on a Sunday currently means food waste is higher in Stornoway, a situation exacerbated during poor weather or any other disruption that delays deliveries.
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.”
A member of staff at the store said: “There’s already a small number of folk who work on a Sunday to stack the shelves behind closed doors so it’s not too much of a big deal and there’s already pubs and cafes open on a Sunday so maybe the fuss is because Tesco is such a big name.”
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