BOROUGH Director Katherine Kerswell is reported as saying that the council is very disappointed Tesco is not prepared to subsidise a town centre store. And council leader Albert Wharrad says: "At least Redditch Council knows it did all it could to keep the store open."

Tesco is a business, not a charity and is answerable to shareholders.

Although Mr Wharrad maintains the council has no influence over the fixing of business rates, the council does collect and spend the money.

I suggest he and his colleagues bring the same pressure to bear on whoever does fix the rate, as they have brought on Tesco, and get it reduced. Perhaps then the empty shops would be filled and local shops would stand a better chance of staying open.

Mrs M Morley

Tennyson Road

Headless Cross