So eventually the great Tesco juggernaut arrives in our area and somewhat predictably local communities feel threatened by the power that this giant of an organisation presents and exercises.
But as many people know, this is no new phenomenon.
Tesco are about to carry out unnecessary expansion in this area irrespective of the feelings of local people, feelings that come second to Tesco's ultimate aim of market dominance.
Anyone di
sputing this should study the track record to see what has happened in areas right across the country in places like Inverness, Bicester, Gerards Cross and Finchley and also in other well-documented cases.
We can have some sympathy with local politicians who have their hands tied by central government on planning issues. It is this centralistic planning policy that has enabled supermarkets to establish their huge power base to the detriment of small shopkeepers and the erosion of choice for the consumer.
This, we must all hope, was what the leader of the opposition was referring to when he promised to hand this power back to local politicians should they come to power.
I do not subscribe to the view of these politicians though that there is little that can be done. Tesco has lost a number of planning appeals, usually as a result of the whole community coming together in a well led, disciplined and organised approach that enables it to present a strong opposing voice within the planning process.
To do that, I believe that if the two groups in Lillington and Warwick, assuming that they have not already done so, should come together and make this a Warwick district single issue to make the case that our area does not need more supermarkets. Some would argue that the area has too many already.
I further recommend that all interested parties should look at this website, www.tescopoly.org and click the success stories button.
I fully accept that there are many contented Tesco customers who may see this as an unfair criticism and a negative attitude to their favourite supplier. It is not. Tesco has its place and long may it remain so in order that competition remains strong and well balanced.
The problem it seems though, is that Tesco doesn't accept its place and seeks to increase it's monopoly to the detriment of others who want and hope to have and keep their place. - Brian Love, past president, Mid-Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, Woodloes Park.
