YOU asked what we thought about a Tesco or a Sainsbury supermarket in St John's. Surely there should be a third option - no supermarket.

It is quite a clever tactic on the part of the supermarkets to behave as if one of them must be chosen.

The residents of St John's have shown on a number of occasions that they do not need or want another supermarket.

I understood from the results of the planning appeal, reported in the Evening News, that the inspector said that the creation of another supermarket in St John's would reduce the amount of traffic crossing the bridge into Worcester City from St John's.

Clearly that is irrelevant when the need is to reduce the traffic into St John's. This demonstrates that there is bias towards powerful commercial interests and against local preferences.

It is worth looking at who would benefit from the creation of another large supermarket. First, there is the supermarket, which hopes to increase its sales and market share.

Secondly, the local authority, which would be able to sell land, increase value and obtain improvements to roads. In the case of the Tesco development, the local authority could obtain an entirely new school paid for by Tesco.

On the other hand, the local residents of St John's would have their environment degraded by increased traffic congestion.

Yes, the supermarket would pay for the new school. But the only way the supermarket can meet this cost must ultimately be from its customers.

HUGH WATSON,

Malvern Road, Worcester.