YOUR leading article referring to the Lidl go ahead is interesting for what it reveals about the individual attitudes of the councillors involved in the process.
We must expect soon a new application from Sainsbury which will be subject to the same process as the Lidl application.
It was clear from planning officer Edward Persse's remarks that he sees he has a social engineering responsibility, that takes precedence over the need for employment opportunities.
The applications he approves must meet a salary structure to fit into some pattern among Tavistock residents.
As Cllr Clish Green comments, a job is a job, and Sainsbury will in fact bring a significant number of them. With the Woolworths predicament, they will be welcome.
The Brook Campaign and Chamber of Trade are strongly pushing the idea that superstores will damage trade in the market and town centre shops.
Morrison's is a popular and busy store and its full impact will already have been felt by the town.
The addition of Sainsbury will introduce competition with Morrison's, not with the town centre.
As Cllrs Govier and Bater point out, Tavistock's shops and its market are special places providing a different shopping experience to the superstores. The probability is that more people will visit the town as a result of a wider appeal from the two superstores.
It would be of more use if the Brook Campaign concentrated its energy on to the real problem affecting the town centre, namely the lack of proper parking facilities.
Unofficial car parks such as the bottom of Down Road and Watts Road are now single lane systems, but without the benefit of traffic control lights. Is this legal, and where should claims be lodged in the event of collision?
P Boyce
Roland Bailey Gardens
Tavistock