LIDL'S positive and under-stated presentation clearly succeeded om convincing people that a new supermarket would be an asset to Tavistock. Their retail method and style are different from Sainsbury's, but the overall impact on Tavistock will be exactly the same whether one firm or the other is allowed to build a large, new retail outlet here. And presumably the council cannot reject one supermarket, but accept another? Notwithstanding protestations to the contrary, it is inevitable that big businesses will only prosper at the expense of existing, smaller retailers in the town, and that such shops will close and either lie empty (as so many do, look at the old Sweets) or become charity shops. This seems a poor trade-off for the town, and even the new business rate income from a supermarket may be offset by reduced income from empty premises or charities, and the centre of town will become drab and unattractive. Although in Lidl you can buy a stepladder or a laminator alongside such delicacies as tinned squid in an 'American- style' sauce and 'premium bockwursts' in a jar, it is surely better that the profits of retail activity in Tavistock stay in West Devon whenever possible. The only destination for Lidl's profits are the family coffers of the owners, concealed behind a secretive management complex of (we are told) 'hundreds' of interlocking German companies. Neither Sainsbury nor Lidl will have any natural enthusiasm for Tavistock Carnival. Big local events are locally inspired and led. Let this year's carnival flags remind us that we need to nurture what we have. Commander A D Johnson RN Retd 11 Newtake Road Tavistock