Sir,

I write in response to the letter from Mr. Peter Jenkins suggesting that 'Tesco would breathe new life into Tenby', including his extraordinary claims that the development of a supermarket at New Hedges would lead to an increase of people shopping in Tenby town centre, increase shoppers' choice, and that there was a particular prejudice against Tesco's.

Let me first of all assure Mr. Jenkins on the latter point, that those of us opposed to a supermarket at New Hedges do so irrespective of the name of the would-be operator.

It is, of course, a feature of our planning system that planning permissions run with the land, not with the applicant. Even in the unlikely event of Tesco's obtaining a planning permission at New Hedges, the landowner could then sell the land to another operator.

And supermarkets do change hands from time to time, as we are now seeing in Tenby.

The opposition to a supermarket at New Hedges starts with the impact it would have on Tenby town centre (and Saundersfoot village centre). It is now a well-established fact that out-of-town supermarkets take trade away from town centres.

You only have to look at Pembroke Dock to see that effect, and it has sadly been repeated at too many towns throughout the country.

That threatened loss of trade from town centres has led successive governments since the early 1990s (starting with the best ever Secretary of State for the Environment, John Gummer) to make it a matter of national planning policy to protect town centres and resist out-of-town supermarkets.

The possible development at New Hedges would fail to meet that policy.

That national planning policy is about protecting the vitality and viability of town centres, reducing the need to travel by car, and maintaining consumer choice.

The claim last week by Mr. Jenkins that a supermarket at New Hedges would increase choice is particularly ludicrous - if built, it would lead to the widespread closure of independent convenience retailers, and soon make sure that the only choice we residents would have would be to shop at the new supermarket.

Again, you only have to look at other towns with a large supermarket on the outskirts and notice that such towns are nearly always lacking independent butchers, independent bakers and independent fruit and vegetable retailers. Consumer choice is reduced.

The opposition to a supermarket at New Hedges is also about protecting our rural environment.

When the New Hedges proposal was debated at a public inquiry in 2004, the independent inspector concluded that the scheme would have a 'serious adverse impact on the character and appearance of this area'. He also found 'nothing to justify' the employment development.

The inspector went on to say that he thought that local shopping needs in this part of Pembrokeshire would be better met at Kilgetty, and in that respect it is encouraging to note that the Co-op are applying again for a major new store at Kilgetty. That would be similar to a proposal they made in 2003 that was mistakenly refused by the county council.

Tenby Town Council has recently resolved to remind the county council of the inspector's conclusions at the 2004 public inquiry, and of the firm opposition of the community at that time.

I am confident that should this misguided proposal rear its head again, there will be further sustained opposition from New Hedges residents,  the Tenby Chamber of Trade, and others.

Hopefully that won't be necessary if the county council do a proper assessment of need, impact and alternatives, which they singularly failed to do back in 2004.

Tenby town centre is already suffering from the economic recession, and the blighting effect of the Royal Gatehouse fire.

Let's hope for the sake of the businesses there, and those residents like me who enjoy shopping there, that we don't have the threat of an unwanted out-of-town supermarket to contend with as well.

Mike Thorne,

Tenby.