The Citizen's 'Supermarket Sweep' is a mistake

Here is letter below that I sent today - earlier in the week Cllr John Marjoram was quoted in local press expressing dismay at the recent surveys showing that Stroud scored 50.8 in a survey of 55 shops. This puts Stroud in the 'border towns' group, just a few shops away from being registered officially as a 'clone town'.

Photo: Leeks in Farmers Market last weekend

I picked up on that point in the letter and expressed my disappointment that The Citizen was running a weekly article promoting supermarkets - they have been good recently promoting local food so it is worrying to see them change tact. Anyhow here is the letter....

The Citizen continues to lead on promoting local food, however the latest series of weekly articles, "Supermarket Sweep", contradicts that positive move. Why help these environmentally-damaging stores kill-off our local traders? There should be no justification for selling chickens at £1.50 or bottled still mineral water at 37p (21/01/08).

These stores run such 'loss-leaders' to entice the shopper. A recent survey found Tesco Express having a 7.5% higher-priced shopping basket than local shops. Meanwhile the big stores profits go through the roof as they squeeze farmers and producers and encourage ever more pesticide use, to produce those tasteless, blemish-free fruit and veg.

Last week the Citizen ran a story about Greens and traders who fear that Stroud nearly meets the criteria to be registered a 'clone town' (22/01/08). Indeed, in the UK, some 50 specialist shops like butchers and bakers close every week. An increase in chain shops and supermarket shopping risks the unique character of many of our towns and their local economies.

Tesco and the like are surely good enough at advertising their wares without The Citizens help? Indeed they now also have the support from the Government's Competition Commission for still weaker planning rules. This is disgraceful. Those concerned by this threat to our local economies please consider the actions at: <www.tescopoly.org>.

Cllr. Philip Booth, Stroud District Green Party.