All Tomorrow's Particks

On 17 June, the proposed site of Tesco's new inner-city superstore/ student village colossus came under fire from the seed bombs of protest group All Tomorrow's Particks. As compacted balls of wild flower seeds and soil flew through the air, the possible alternative of something lushly beautiful rather than cheaply commercial had the chance to become an organic reality.

As an action, it is endemic of the cheekiness of a group that oppose capitalism with catapults and counter the mass market with mass massages (April saw the site play host to what was officially declared the World's Largest Massage). These are witty, lo-fi stunts that are having a major impact on the debate.

Spokesman for ATP, Ryan Galbraith, firmly believes that creative, all-embracing action is the way to engage people with the perceived threat to their community. "There is already a group called Stop Tesco which is campaigning against the proposed Tesco," he explains. "We wanted to use our skills in a complementary way to them, to use our creativity in a practical way to approach and actively involve the community in the area." Predominantly made up of twenty-something artists and graduates, ATP is conscious that they could be seen as ignoring the needs of the families and 9 to 5ers who would patronise the store. As Galbraith says, "although most of us are relatively young we understand that our community is something worth fighting for and Tescotown threatens that".

So exactly how do ATP feel Tesco will destroy their neighbourhood? "First and foremost there has not been a proper period of consultation," says Galbraith. "A lot of people with whom I've spoken over the last few months didn't know that there was a proposal to build a Tesco. If there had been proper consultation it would have been apparent from the outset that the majority of the community are against the development."

The sheer volume of the store certainly seems unimaginably colossal. At 9950 square metres, it will dwarf the St Rollox Tesco megastore and stock everything from bikes to value yoghurt. Can one of the most eclectic Glaswegian boroughs, housing everything from Japanese canteens to denture shops; Polish delis to bingo halls, survive the aggressive blandness of this ultimate temple to cheapness?

Tesco has issued a statement to counter protests, stating: "A new Partick store, which keeps trade within Partick, will assist local businesses, reduce car journeys and help improve the general environment of the area around this former scrap yard." But, as Galbraith points out, 'Tesco's definition of local is within a 30 minute drive, which in reality would mean that most of Glasgow was local to Tescotown Partick. Which would explain why they have in excess of 500 parking spaces drawn into their proposal. These sections of road are amongst the most polluted in Glasgow for car exhaust fumes as it stands." And how about their claim that a Tesco will fit in as part of the community, regenerating and bringing income into the area? "In reality it will create a monopoly, result in the closure of local businesses, increase car journeys and pollution. The idea that trade is kept in Partick is misleading, with something like 89p of every pound spent in the proposed store immediately leaving the local area - the trade would be here but the profits go to shareholders."

Tesco spouts the usual buzz words of consumer choice and value and even has its own Talking Tesco website - an exercise in pseudo corporate-consumer dialogue that mirrors McDonald's similar makeupyourownmind.co.uk. Here, unsurprisingly, all comments are positive, with the shopper as a passive yes man saying 'I love your store!' If you can find a Partick resident who speaks like that, you deserve your own bodyweight in Tesco Finest. Has Galbraith found anybody pro-Tesco in the community whilst canvassing?

"There are some people who would like a Tesco," he admits, "but they are in the minority. We have visited every shop in Partick and on Byres Road and spoken to hundreds of people at the farmer's market and the West End Festival. As a group we would say that 95 per cent of Partick folk are against the Tesco - everyone wants to put a poster up, ask questions and have a good blether."

Success for their campaign certainly seems plausible. Towns as disparate as Torrington (in North Devon) and Inverness have run successful grassroots campaigns that saw the local triumph over the global and, in Partick, Tesco has already submitted a plan-b design, for the store minus the student accommodation.

Ultimately, ATP's real success is not solely based on Tesco. "We think that our successful community events are an end in themselves. In these times when communities seem increasingly atomised it's important for us to stand up for ourselves and our community. It's in our blood - Partick is renowned for its camaraderie and sense of humour."

As well as raising awareness and smiles, All Tomorrow's Particks events have acted as an open forum for alternative uses for the site - perhaps the greatest weapon against a Tesco campaign that seems to imply they are doing the community a favour by developing barren wasteland. By asking them to acknowledge the potential of free space in the heart of their neighbourhood, the area can be reclaimed as a space for pleasure not trudging consumption. "Some of the suggestions we have had for the site include a green space, a theatre, an outside swimming pool, low cost social housing, a herb/vegetable garden, a city beach, recycling awareness centre, allotments, a zen garden," Galbraith reels off. "Funnily enough none have said a supermarket. Most have suggested things that have no commercial incentive.

"People love letting go and really imagining what'd be their preferred use of that space. It's about great potential and a rich imagination - two things Partick has in abundance."