I?SHARE with many readers and Tavistock residents concern regarding the space provided in your paper to Mr Nigel Eadie, who has singularly campaigned for the refusal of planning consent to be granted for the building of a store at Bishopsmead.

The facts are that various university studies have taken place to study the impact on a major store operating within close proximity to a market town and it has been shown that more general business is brought to the town resulting from their close proximity, and not less.

It would follow, for example, that the view taken by Mr Eadie would prefer a closure of Morrisons in order to assist local traders, but anyone with commercial knowledge would argue that the opposite would result and in fact turnover has increased for traders since Morrisons arrived, not reduced. Of course we recall how Morrisons were opposed by many when they applied for consent to open a store close to Tavistock, but now their presence is seen as a benefit.

Furthermore, and importantly, studies have also shown how the local home owners have seen their house and flat values increase, resulting from the extra trading facilities. You suggest that Mr Eadie would be 'incensed', I doubt that this would apply to home owners! More job opportunities would also be a benefit.

It is also a fact that the people of Tavistock would in particular prefer to have the competition of an additional quality store and so in fact everyone would benefit by the consent. Local residents some of whom are families and pensioners, would then not need to travel further for items with petrol prices on the increase, such as an aid to Tavistock would be a preference, therefore, to most residents.

I would hasten to add that if the annual trading turnover of shop owners could be compared as at today and again after such a new store had opened, then it would be generally seen how most traders would have benefited.

F Phillips

Magpie Bridge

I SEE from last week's letters that some people do not believe that Tavistock needs another supermarket and that Morrisons is excellent. Well, not according to my wife who used to shop there. She now shops online with Waitrose as do so many other people in Tavistock, judging from the number of times one sees their delivery vans around the town as well as those from Tesco and Asda.

And what about the people who go out of the town to shop, to Callington, Launceston and Roborough? It's almost impossible to go round Tesco at Roborough without bumping into many peopeole from Tavistock!

Morrisons is overshopped and the town is desparately in need of another quality supermarket. Many of us mourn the fact that Sainsbury was turned down. When the appeal was going on, too many of us kept our heads down, scared of being accused of wanting to destroy the town, but now it's time to come out of the closet and support the new scheme.

Competition is good for everyone and we do not want to destroy the town centre but believe that it will only benefit from another store as it will attract people from the surrounding villages who at the moment don't choose to shop in Tavistock.

With the implementation of a shuttle bus to the town centre for the specialist shops such as Crebers and Country Cheeses and the Pannier Market, then everybody will benefit.

Tavistock is not an ancient monument that has to be protected from change, let it develop and everybody will benefit even the town centre traders, provided, of course, that they do not continue to clutter up the town centre with their own parked cars!

Tim Dawson

THE vast majority of the people I talk to in Tavistock are opposed to the possibility of another supermarket in Tavistock and also worried about the large housing development on the Callington side of town.

We regularly read of 'sound bites' from various councillors – most of which are relatively unspecific and leave a large amount of future wriggle room. Furthermore, when it actually comes to the vote in council, who is voting for these developments and how affected are they by the final outcome?

We have local council elections coming up in May and I believe it is time for the existing councillors to make their true position known on these items — that will give us all something to think about when we stand in the ballot box.

I would like to ask each local councillor, town, West Devon and county, and the MP. the following questions:

In principle, with the information they currently have to hand, are they for or against the possibility of building a large new development of housing on the Callington side of Tavistock? Yes or No?

In principle, are they for or against the possibility of a further supermarket development on the Plymouth side of Tavistock? Yes or No?

The answers have to be Yes or No since too often we are told that until the final plans are available they cannot make a decision. Well, I think they can — in principle.

I have only lived in Tavistock for eight years — we moved here because it was a wonderful town; shame it is in danger of becoming a clone of many other towns.

Chris Duncan

Plymouth Road

Tavistock