IT'S an issue which has divided the people of St John's and - now that a Government inspector has come to his conclusion - one which will continue to do so for years to come.

But, like it or not, the so-called Village in the City is about to be transformed in a way which many people fear will change the district for ever.

It's not music to our ears, as readers will know. But the decision is made and - just as there came a point where protesters had to begin embracing the form of the city's County Royal Infirmary - the community may have to learn to live with Sainsbury's new Swanpool store.

Indeed, a close look at inspector Emlyn Williams' judgement shows that it could have been much, much worse.

In years to come, if not now, opponents will come to thank him for preventing Sainsbury's from operating a dry cleaners, photo processor, cafe, pharmacy or post office there.

The fact that trading will be prohibited after 10pm, and that deliveries will be restricted to avoid the start and end of the school day, should also be considered significant.

Likewise the separate legal agreement ensuring that the existing sports centre, all-weather pitch and youth centre do not close to the public until the replacements are open.

As for his assertion that, like traffic levels, loss of trade to existing St John's shops will be outweighed by the plan's benefits - we remain to be convinced.

So too his view that it will reduce cross-city car journeys.

And only when the impact on trade at the existing Co-Op store is apparent, and the future of the Tesco store slated for the Christopher Whitehead school site is known, will anyone be able to say that food shopping choice for St Johns residents has been boosted.

A bad day for St John's, then, or the start of a prosperous future? For us, the jury's still out.