concern among traders about the future of Great Malvern as a shopping area and disquiet over a supermarket development are as true today as they were 25 years ago.

Things were very different, however, when the Malvern Gazette reported on proposals for an open market and car park off Back Lane on January 20, 1977.

"Last week Malvern Hills District Council's public health committee decided to pursue the idea, having rejected the overtures of two well-known companies interested in building a supermarket on the two acre site owned by the council," the paper reported.

The idea was to develop a one-day-a-week market and opinions were being sought.

They were not slow in coming. The same edition reported "strong disapproval" from the town's chamber of commerce, which said the plan would be detrimental to the character of Malvern, reduce availability of car parking and not offer shoppers products any cheaper.

At a meeting at the Tudor Hotel, one trader went as far as calling the plan "degrading and disgusting"

The market did come into being and found a long-time home at Back Lane, until Waitrose secured the site for its supermarket.

As a result, the market was forced to move to the Council House.

Only last week the Malvern Gazette printed a letter saying Malvern was declining as a shopping centre and the "virtual closure of a once- thriving market" was a contributing factor - it came from a town centre trader.