We don't need more supermarts (From Gazette & Herald)

We don't need more supermarts

IN Kirkbymoorside we have suffered from a decline in the number of shops in the town and, recently, we have faced the closure of a general goods shop, a television and electrical services shop and a ladies clothes shop.

When I read your pages, I note we seem to have a large number of Government or publicly-funded organisations which purport to assist the economic viability of towns like Kirkbymoorside - I mention Yorkshire Forward, the Market Towns Initiative, the Single Regeneration budgets, Action with Rural Communities in Rural England, the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs and York Rural Communities Council to name but a few.

Today, I read in a national newspaper that our deputy prime minister has relaxed the rules, belatedly introduced by the Conservatives ten years ago, which were intended to protect us from the complete stranglehold of the Tescos, Asdas, B&Qs of this world which are out to reduce our chances to shop locally. Mr Prescott has now advised planning authorities to approve the applications for more out-of-town stores, as long as they offer a bigger range of goods for sale (which they all now do).

I wonder how the above collection of bodies, who are supposed to assist us, are responding to this Government action. I would be surprised if any of them will respond to this letter and so surprise me!

Updated: 11:48 Wednesday, April 07, 2004