I AM shocked by Arthur Bridges' letter (Times, June 28), declaring that the council should encourage Sainburys, Tesco, and Asda to move into Tavistock! Has he not heard about the damage that supermarkets do to town centres?

I moved to Tavistock because it is one of very few bustling towns, that has not been destroyed by out of town mega-businesses.

There are not many towns that still have two wholefood shops, multiple vegetable shops, bakers, butchers, fishmongers, countless other independent shops, and one of the best markets in Britain!

Tavistock is a really special town, and it is this way because the community support it in their purchases.

Another supermarket on the outskirts of town will take away more business from the centre. It might take more time to do your shopping at independent shops, and you may have to get to know your local shopkeepers, and you may have to give up on microwave meals, but you'll be a much happier person for it.

And as for the old Focus site, why don't they dig up all the concrete and plant an orchard, so that when we can't afford to import our apples from Australia because fuel prices have risen too high, it won't be such an issue. Oh no, that wouldn't be good for the economy? Okay, scrap that.

Rebecca Harris

Westbridge Cottages

Tavistock