Punch see the Walnut Tree as a loss so want to recoup from the sale of the land. If they were true to their word and refurbished the pub as promised after the good folk of Lillington and the district council successfully fought off Barrat Homes, the pub may well be more viable.

As for Tesco, what right have they to flex their financial muscle and dictate what should go on in our community? The corporate affairs manager Juliet Bishop seems to think this will be better for local business.

Yes your absolutely right Juliet, this would be great for Tesco and Lillington and surrounding areas. You come and visit us in two years time and apologise to the small businesses you have killed off - oh sorry they wont be there, there will be plywood over the windows.

Lillington is a farely close nit community, but I don't think loyalty will stop anyone from wanting to save a few pennies. It is shortsighted to think this will not affect some businesses in our community.

We have a butchers, bakers, two chemists, two newsagents, a general store, a mini market and a green grocer that will be directly affected. Another newsagent and mini market within a mile and the shops at Cubbington will also be affected.

The increase in volume of traffic will be immense for this busy junction. We do not need a Tesco; there is one in town which is easy to get to by car, bus, foot or bicycle.

We fought and won last time as it was proved the Walnut Tree is a community public house, facilitating many functions within our neighbourhood. This is still the case.

There will be people in favour of this plan, but for the ones who do not want this to happen, we have to fight together, stand up and be heard. They don't care about us. Come on, power to the people. - Gary Timlin (email address supplied).

Community threat
WE do not need yet another Tesco (Courier, last week). There is already one on the Parade and a very large one in Warwick.

This is typical Tesco strategy - where it is impossible to build a megastore, buy up a local, usually unrelated business, like a pub or garage, and get "change of use" so that they can grab yet more market share and drive good local shops out of business.

Lillington has a good range of well established shops in Crown Way, including an excellent fruit and vegetable shop, a pharmacy and a bread shop, all of which will be vulnerable to the bulldozer that Tesco represents, as will the off-licence in Lime Avenue.

It is also likely that the Rugby Road shops will suffer. Traffic congestion around the already tricky offset junction of Cubbington Road-Crown Way-Lime Avenue will be made much worse.

Tesco always claims it "creates jobs". It doesn't - it destroys thriving local businesses and with them the heart of local communities. - Barry West, Church Lane, Lillington.


Would you support or object to a plan for a Tesco store in Lillington?
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