I am writing in reference to the appeal by Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd against the decision by West Devon Borough Council to refuse their application for a superstore including a petrol filling station, offices, 17 business units and car parking.
When it comes to the quality of supermarkets Morrison's has swept the board with awards from mystery shoppers and retail experts in 2008 who said they were the best supermarket of its kind. We should be grateful for having such a store in town, along with the especially good and centrally placed Somerfield —with its home delivery service.
There is no shortage of food shops in Tavistock including the Spar shop, the local Post Office shops, the open to late garage stores and all the specialist shops such as Creber's. There is a popular cheese shop, our daily pannier market and fortnightly, the Saturday farmers' market — which I enjoy with its varied, fresh produce at reasonable prices. Indeed, are we not being misled into thinking we need yet another, and so similar, supermarket such as Sainsbury's?
Allotments are now more in demand than ever from people who prefer fresher produce for goodness and flavours — so grow it themselves for convenience, fun, expense and also saving the carbon footprint. This can be especially valuable during a recession.
In America the trend has been to include a space (a field) on a new housing development for the local farmer to cultivate, should the locals want fresh produce within walking distance of their homes.
In this country there has been a 24-hour consumer detox — 'a Buy Nothing Day' on November 29, 2008 — when we were encouraged not to spend but to use and appreciate what we already have.
There may not be a viable future for 'yet another supermarket' in Tavistock, especially not two such similar stores as Morrison's and Sainsbury's — and what of our welfare and variety of need?
I do feel, especially during a recession, that we should think carefully and wisely about what we already have and protect our worthwhile identity — past, present and future.
Susan Wallace
Downlea, Tavistock