The report said that the plan does away with the idea that there is no town centre site (despite the fact that Tesco and Sainsbury have turned it down) and that it will 'upgrade the wildlife corridor' along the Wansbeck (utter nonsense).

It includes the usual developers' enticements like the promise of a new Health Centre.

If I was a cynic I might be tempted to think that this latest 'plan' is just a developer using the Chamber of Trade to fight competition at Stobhill — but that couldn't be the case could it?

So what would be the cost of such a development?

The loss of a quiet stretch of the river that the Greater Morpeth Development Trust has worked so hard to improve; two years of upheaval and increased noise for the local residents; increased traffic congestion along Dark Lane and Damside; and moving existing businesses unnecessarily. Where would they go — the edge of town?

It would also increase the town's carbon footprint, something that is constantly ignored in Morpeth. All of this to get a supermarket that isn't in the town centre, to make money for the developer and prevent development at Stobhill. Remember, this is the developer who took over a greenfield site on the entrance to the town and produced the wonderful Morrison's petrol station and car park, while opposing greenfield development at Stobhill.

Isn't it time that strategic planning of the town was back in the hands of our elected representatives and their professional support staff rather than developers?

ALAN DAVISON
Morpeth
Address withheld by consent