THERE is no compelling reason for a fourth major supermarket in Okehampton. The town is presently well-served with a good spread of varying type of supermarket, and the competition nationally between them is already healthily keen, so there is no need to introduce a further large store, especially out of the town centre.

Tesco moved into Crediton about twelve years ago with a Tesco Express mini-store, then a major out of town supermarket, then after a couple of years, the two last independent town centre supermarkets shut down. Now Crediton has a real problem with sustainable small retail shopping in the town centre. Thanks, councillors!

The proposed development site is not designated for retail use. The planners must at least recognise their own long term development planning policy and refuse on this ground alone?

The proposed development site, if allowed, will restrict or preclude the northern by-pass option for the relief of traffic congestion in Okehampton, and restrict any infrastructure improvement in this regard forever. The only way Tesco should be allowed to built must be on the basis of complete funding of the £23-million northern bypass.

The planners have confirmed in policy statements and reports that the retail area for Okehampton is defined as Fore Street (including The Arcade), Market Street and Red Lion Yard. Other retail development is 'non-preferred'. Any diminution of this principle sets a dangerous precedent and damages local business prospects.

There is only so much disposable income in any retail catchment area. Large supermarkets might feasibly slightly increase the numbers visiting Okehampton rather than, say, Tavistock, Crediton or Barnstaple, but the large percentage of personal disposable income large national retailers extract from the local economy sucks the life blood out of local small retailers and businesses, and it is only at the cost of the local economy.

Retail shopping is changing fast. With the advent and fast development of on-line shopping, anyone who is a vehement enthusiast of large supermarket shopping can already buy their goods and have free delivery to their fridge, from Asda, Morrisons, Waitrose, Tesco or Sainsbury's, so why build an unnecessary additional store here. All your purchases will be brought to you from Launceston, Crediton, Tvistock, Exeter or Barnstaple, at the click of a mouse.

The alleged carrot of increased jobs is not a real one. Many of them will be part-time and unsuitable for breadwinners, many of them will also be occupied by grockels brought in by Tesco, so won't be truly local jobs. The construction will be carried out by many companies from 'away', so are not going to be local either, and the senior management will be brought in for the project.

Okehampton must keep its options open in the hope and expectation that the northern bypass should, and will be built eventually. Better sooner than never!

R M Rush

Mill Road

Okehampton