Tesco trauma

The Tesco application to build a supermarket in Hadleigh comes before the Planning Committee this week and gives its members another chance to shine.

What really enrages me about this issue is that Tesco's actions are clearly predatory.  As a huge national concern, the company has the power to put up with inadequate returns itself for several years while it drives the small shops in the High Street out of business.

The main problem is that reasonable economic arguments apparently do not count as 'good planning reasons for refusal'. The Prolog application a few weeks ago was granted by the Committee on the basis of economic benefit. It is absurd that economic disbenefit should not be seen as a good reason for refusal in this instance.

I predict that the vote will be very close.  I just hope that enough members of the Committee see sense for once.