I WAS pleased to see (Times, January 15) that Lidl were to make a bid to come to Tavistock. At present there are no competitive choice for families on a budget with the current shopping arrangements in Tavistock. Given the current inflation rate, increased mortgage costs, utility bills, food bills, and the ever rising cost in petrol/diesel then the Lidl would give people on a low income budget or with soaring household costs the opportunity to shop more cheaply, Tavistock has grown considerably with the introduction of many new housing sites which clearly cater for families. At present, most people who wish to benefit from cheaper food bills have to travel out of town, which is not really acceptable in these times when the environment is a strong issue for us to be greener and more cost-effective. But more and more people need to cut some household costs and even given the price of fuel to get to a Lidl in Launceston etc you can still save a lot of money on food bills. I believe that Lidl is more preferable than Sainsbury's in that it would not occupy a large space, would exist on a site that is already used for retail purposes and would be more competitive with Morrison's and Somerfield. With regards to the issue of this being out of town shopping, is it really? Given the fact that the latest new-build family homes are just a little bit further up from the site Lidl require, the town in fact has expanded and needs choice. I do not feel that there would be any large impact on local shops in Tavistock as a result of Lidl acquiring this site because you will still get people choosing where they prefer to shop. For general shopping people will still pop into town to purchase everyday goods. What needs to also be noted is that most of Tavistock's shops are aimed at the tourist market (gifts etc). Lidl does not sell fancy goods so there is no competition there. At present then people are forced out of town to get cheaper shopping. Would it not be preferable to encourage these people to shop in Tavistock by introducing such stores as Lidl? Less travelling would be good for the environment and more choice would only encourage more people to visit Tavistock and its many other available shops. Mrs S Baker Treetops Tavistock
I WRITE to warn the people of Tavistock that the town will lose its identity if the big supermarkets are allowed to build new premises on the outskirts. I know because I've seen it happen to many a once thriving market town in East Anglia (Maldon, Braintree, Dunmow and Witham to name just a few). Approach any one of these towns today and the first thing you will meet is a Sainsbury's supermarket and 200 or so box-like, anonymous houses clustered around an anonymous roundabout. Drive along the ring-road to the next junction and you will find Morrison's or Asda dominating the next artificial satellite village. The next roundabout belongs to Tesco, Lidl or Aldi. And so on until you eventually arrive in what used to be the High Street, now dead and litter strewn, but lined with charity shops and run-down Chinese takeaways. The towns' residents now rarely walk to the shops (in fact pedestrian access to the big supermarkets is often virtually impossible). The centre of the town belongs to drunken, abusive youths on most nights of the week. Big shiny cars dominate the outer roads during the day and can be seen forming slow winding queues around the ring roads and outside the schools for periods of two or three hours every morning and evening. A glimpse of the 'Brave New World' perhaps? Well it could be coming to a town near you, Tavistock in Devon, unless we do something about it! Steve Hipsey 21 Redmoor Close Tavistock