THE last thing Earlestown needs is another Super Food store. We already have a Somerfields and a Co-Op, so why on earth does the council think we need another one.

Yes, the land bounded by Wellington Street, Gable Street, Legh Street and Earle Street is an eyesore and is in need of some sort of development, but something that brings prosperity to Earlestown, not another food store.

If the land was used to put up a large retail store such as Marks and Spencer or T J Hughes that would bring people to Earlestown. Even a well laid-out car park would be more welcome with a minimum payment scheme to generate some income for the council. But no, the council wants the rates from a big building on the site, which is a very short-sighted view of the situation.

A superstore retailing a vast array of products would surely affect nearly all the small businesses in Earlestown, including my own. Then what happens? The small businesses start closing down,the council then loses the rates from them and Earlestown dies leaving empty properties to decay.

The council is at present so we hear, pumping some £15 million into Earlestown and Newton-le-Willows to regenerate the area. Will this not be a waste of a valuable opportunity to improve the area if the refurbished premises are left empty?

A large car park would bring people to Earlestown. Market days depend on shoppers being able to park, so do the small businesses that are here day in and day out trying to make a living. It would be a shame for such an historic market town to lose its market just because the council wants the rates from a big building in Earlestown.

Ken Jarvis. managing director, Tip of the Iceberg, Earle Street, Earlestown.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.