YOUR article about the appeal against the proposed supermarket development in Shipston quoted Councillor Jeff Kenner as saying there is a “huge amount of local support for the proposal”.

This is a distortion of the facts. There is no evidence that the majority of the local community supports this development. He says that 59 mper cent of individual submissions to the district council were in favour of the development.

In fact, if the total numbers of objectors including those on petitions is taken into account, 62 per cent of people are against.

At the planning committee meeting in January, where all sides of the argument were put to the district councillors, the development was unanimously rejected. At this meeting although Councillor Kenner spoke for the development, the other district councillor and the county councillor who represents Shipston both spoke against the development.

Councillor Kenner repeats claims made by the developers that the supermarket would bring back trade to the town and provide jobs. Once again he ignores the facts. The independent consultant commissioned by Stratford District Council to assess the retail impact of the supermarket predicts that the cumulative impact on the town centre shops would be a reduction of trade of at least 54 per cent and lead to a “spiral of decline”. The supermarket would provide low-paid jobs but far more jobs would be lost when high street shops close and their local suppliers go out of business.

Recently the Sunday Times listed Shipston as one of the 10 best high streets in the country. The article said that with chains like Jessops and HMV going into administration, the smaller high streets with a unique feel and flavour are thriving. An out-of-town supermarket of the size proposed would destroy the most valuable asset that Shipston has.

Councillor Kenner, by repeatedly quoting distorted facts and backing the supermarket development, hopes to get his way. For the sake of Shipston let's hope he does not.

DAVID PASSINGHAM Stretton-on-Fosse