Take heed of upcountry warnings
I agree wholeheartedly with Tony Eaton's letter in the Cornish Times last week with regard to our 'corporate responsibility' for Looe in the face of an assault by Tesco.
I should like to add that those who support a Tesco supermarket (or any other national chain store in our town) jeopardise the jobs of their friends, neighbours and families.
Research carried out by Lady Caroline Cranford, two years ago, in respect of a planning application by Tesco for a superstore on the edge of Saxmundham in Suffolk, concluded that more jobs would be destroyed then created.
A similar conclusion was reached by Suffolk Coastal District Council who, in turn, refused their application. The Council for the Preservation of Rural England has published these findings, causing quite a stir.
Additionally, a report published by the National Retail Planning Forum shows that just one supermarket can lead to the loss of 250 local jobs and that, from 1991 to 1995, the creation of 93 superstores nationwide had resulted in a net loss of 14,500 jobs.
Put the West Looe butcher out of business and we not only have to foot the welfare bill for the family but that of the staff employed there as well.
CHRIS TAMBLIN
Looe