SIR, — Further to the ongoing debate about the proposed new Sainsbury's supermarket I don't doubt the recently expressed concern that this is a cover for sneaking in a major housing development through the back door.
If there is a real need for this new housing and how that need has been assessed, I don't know. What astonishes me is that anyone could accept the notion that Morpeth 'needs' another big supermarket chain. We already have two, Morisson's and Lidl, th
e smaller but much-loved Coop having recently closed.
Permission should not be granted for any such development if there is any concern for the local economy, quality of life and sustainability. On the contrary, we should all be concentrating on supporting our local producers, shops and suppliers rather than these huge, impersonal businesses who play a direct part in the current shocking rise in food prices, offer a stressful and impersonal shopping experience and contribute to environmental damage through long distance transportation, over-packaging, massive energy consumption and wastage.
The willingness of Morpeth people to confront these issues head-on is clearly demonstrated by the consumer choices they make and they should be applauded for the success of the monthly farmers' market, Wednesday market and Food Co-op.
In Morpeth we still have butchers, bakers, grocers and so on, but we must all have noticed the recent closure of our fish and game shop and we risk sending our other local businesses the same way if we do nothing to stop the further unwanted growth of the supermarket chains.
We risk giving up the beautiful, characterful individuality of our historic market town and history teaches us we will get nothing in return. It is my view, therefore, that the housing development should be given due consideration if it is demonstrated that there is a real local need, but the supermarket should be resisted at all costs.
AUSTIN HACKNEY
Via e-mail
The full article contains 326 words and appears in Morpeth Herald newspaper.
