THE pressures of modern living often necessitate both partners in a relationship having to work, so the days are gone when shopping is done on a daily basis. Shopping is usually reduced to once a week, or even once a fortnight. Supermarkets are here to stay.

However, the presence of only one supermarket gives that establishment a monopoly and the ability to almost charge what they like. The introduction of a second supermarket will introduce competition, to the obvious advantage of shoppers. So which one?

Most people today have their own favourite food shop, whether it is Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, or individual local shops. With the cost of travel ever increasing, it is unlikely that someone coming to Tavistock to buy food will drive elsewhere to buy whatever else they need, provided they can buy it in our town centre. Clearly, the greater the number that come to Tavistock for their food, the greater is the potential number that will visit our town centre.

Following this logic, the more supermarkets that come to our town, the larger will be the catchment area. I am prepared to drive several miles to my own favourite supermarket – and many others will do the same. There are currently many shops in our town centre such as jewellers, opticians, chemists, dress shops, but you do not buy china tea services every week, nor do you buy a dress every week, and you can only buy so many Chinese dragons. So the town centre needs a high number of visitors to support these shops.

Tavistock is growing, regardless of the wishes of those who want it to remain unchanged. Just look at the number of new houses built in Tavistock in recent years – and hundreds more are planned. Between 600 and 700 are planned at Abbotsfield on the Callington Road alone.

The newcomers will not only need to eat, and have places to park whilst they shop – they will also need jobs. Extra supermarkets can go part way to providing the much-needed extra employment. Considering the parking problems in Tavistock, perhaps a park and ride scheme could be set up from supermarket car parks to the town centre?

I appreciate that the arrival of more supermarkets will create problems for the food retailers in our town centre. But perhaps they can offer things that a supermarket can't, a personal and tailored service, unusual articles of high quality, things that are too specialised for the likes of Morrisons or Sainsbury. Our Country Cheese shop, Crebers, Todds, and Cultural Charms to name but a few, are fine examples.

In the final analysis, if these supermarkets are not allowed to come to Tavistock they will obviously go elsewhere, taking their customers with them.

Barrie Knapp

Bolt House Close Tavistock

THE Times, (June 4) reported on the Brook Campaign and their representatives in the substantial part these good people played in the six-day hearing of the appeal lodged by Sainsbury's against West Devon Borough Council's refusal of the supermarket chain's plans for the site at Brook.

I attended five out of the six days of the public inquiry, and I feel very strongly that great credit is due to West Devon Borough Council, as a whole. Beginning with the courageous decision taken last October, led by West Devon Borough Council officers and voted on by the councillors.

I say courageous, because it was bound to be a controversial decision decision to turn away a very popular supermarket chain and the prospect of employment opportunities.

Yet, Tavistock traders, their representatives and local councillors have worked hard, ever since the then Safeway development impacted substantially on the vitality and viability of the town centre in the 1990s, (with some 20 shops closed some three months after its opening), to revive the town's fortunes to the level of Best Market Town in recent years.

And ending with the excellent series of presentations and impressive defence put up by the West Devon Borough Council team and their expert witnesses against a top class legal team engaged by Sainsbury's.

I can see why the inquiry inspector opined that his decision was one of fine balance.

So, let's give credit where it is due: to West Devon Borough Council's professionals on this occasion; when it is all-too-easy to be critical of our planning authority, when their actions do not please everyone, including Sainsbury's supporters on this occasion. And to the borough councillors whose decision in October has been vindicated.

John Warne

Tavistock

WE read with interest the headline no go for Sainsbury, in last week's Times.

What  interested us was the core strategy development plan from West Devon Borough Council which was enclosed with the paper.

In this strategy plan, allocation H9, there is land allocated for 750 new homes. Assuming there are only two occupants for each new home, where are the 1,500 new residents going to shop for groceries etc? I would imagine they will go to Tesco, Roborough, or Asda, Estover, as we do.

Perhaps planing inspector Andrew Pykett overlooked this when he made his final judgment, overuling the Sainsbury application.

Harry and K Richards

harryandk@hrichards2.

orangehome.co.uk