I am now reading about a number of members of our community squabbling as to how to spend the “gift” of about one day’s takings from Tesco in return for the permission to expand its non-food business by over 50%.

I am led to believe that this massive expansion will suck at least £400,000 every year well into the future from our town centre! I am sure that I am wrong, but if I were a cynic I might think this £300,000 “gift” could be classed as either Danegeld or bribery.

Instead of giving this one-off paltry sum, in the pretence that it will help the town centre traders, I suggest as Tesco pays very little, if any, rates on its car park they allow part of this huge, soon-to-be-extended, car park to be used for a subsidised park-and-ride service and then buses can continuously run during shopping hours to and from the town centre.

I am sure this is the only way to relieve traffic congestion and parking problems in town. A few trees here and there, soon to be vandalised of course, will not keep the few, and decreasing in number, independent shops that are left in town.

I am informed that several years ago, when Tesco applied for planning permission to open the present store, it made a promise, at a public meeting, not to expand its non-food business. Perhaps someone has knowledge or the minutes of that meeting and may be able to enlighten us.

It is all very well for those who welcome the multiple shops to say that these giants are driving down prices but, mark my words, when they have destroyed all competition, the day of reckoning will come and they will form a cartel and we will then all have to pay the prices and accept the quality and variety of goods and standard of service that they will dictate. I read that this has already happened with milk.

I look upon this £300,000 as bait used by the tiger to trap and then devour all independent shops, post offices, chemists and garages in its territory and that this squabbling over the crumbs from under the table is only contributing to the widening of the smile on the face of that tiger and its huge teeth becoming more visible.

Oh! I can see that the pigeons have gobbled all the peanuts and flown away. I am left with just the mess to clear up on the lawn.

IAN BERRY

Kestrel Bookshop

Friars Street

Sudbury