I do sometimes wonder just what returns we get from our very high level of Council Tax? Certainly not protection from the developers, if this Lidl decision by the planning authorities can be seen as a yardstick.

Compared with other towns of a similar size, Malvern is well furnished with a good variety of supermarkets.

Make no mistake, Lidl is cheap and cheerful and this means Kwik Save customers will have more choice. I cannot, however, see any other advantage to the average Malvern shopper as Lidl specialises in own label products and runs a very limited range of branded items.

Just what is the point of all these outlets, simply that the cake of spending through the tills will be cut into even thinner slices?

Just what is going on with the Malvern Hills District Council's planning committee? Can't it see that with every shift of trade away from Church Street we are heading further into the land of multi- choice charity shops. Perhaps it is losing the plot and has forgotten just why it is there, to protect the integrity and maintain the quality of our beautiful town for us, the Council Tax-payers.

We have seen recently the opening of Boots on the Townsend Way Retail Park, another blow to Malvern town centre. How long before the trade at the Church Street shop diminishes to the level where it is not viable?

We were all relieved when a proposed development of a Tesco in Barnards Green was rejected some years ago. Tesco, no doubt seeing the building open season has arrived, will be looking for some answers as to why Lidl and not us? I would love to hear the council's answer to that one.

Bob Amatt, Hollybed Street, Castlemorton.