Sainsbury's store will help us all save petrol. Really?

David & Anne Carey have written a cheery letter in response to Larry Sayer in this week's Solihull Observer (10.3.11). They back Sainbsury's plans - and DROVS agree with much of what they have to say.

We are not conducting a negative campaign. We too want to see a "modern, clean, attractive centre". We welcome Sainsbury's involvement. We support the redevelopment of the surgery. We'd love a Post Office.

But we raise two points in response to the letter. First, we question the use of the phrase "independent shops". Sainsbury's will be the landlord for any shops included in their plan. The future prosperity of these stores will largely be in Sainsbury's hands.

Secondly, as far as the Carey's point about saving petrol is concerned - a store of the current proposed size won't do that. 

True: Dorridge people won't need to drive to Monkspath, but we anticipate substantial traffic (including large delivery trucks) rumbling into the village to use and service a store of this size. 

That's why DROVS favours a village-sized supermarket for a village location.