It's cause and effect

If planners do not know and understand a town's needs, they are going to make mistakes. When Waitrose was built it was obvious to many of us what the effect would be, and now it is starting to happen.

When Kwik Save is, allegedly, replaced by a pet supermarket, it will affect a couple of pet stores. One of the shop owners supported the Waitrose development. I welcome the new store because it will bring in new customers to our town as Wilkinsons did. Will they stop to shop in the High Street?

Will Waitrose survive, will the lido be cost effective without a retractable cover, will people come to Droitwich when the High Street is revamped? People come and leave quite quickly because there is nothing to hold their attention in our town other than their primary need to visit.

People will come to the lido when open, but what will keep them here to spend money in the small town shops? There are hardly any shops for browsers and no primary caf like Bullocks. Remember, because of subsidence you only got half a cup of tea. But the place had character.

The only time you can park anywhere on the roadside in town is on a Sunday and Bank Holidays. No one is open, so all the potential will be lost.

We must take control of our town planning. Building regulations and major developments that cross boundaries should stay at district or county level, together with the clerical duties of town planning. But town planning should remain in parish hands, where councillors can be held to account. Currently what Wychavon wants Wychavon does - unless we threaten it with a parish poll.

The need to visit Droitwich to shop has been lost, because we did not build a major supermarket with free parking so the shoppers went elsewhere and it will take a great deal of time and money to pull them back.

Will the people who shout stand at the next election - let us wait and see.

Jim Brant

Clifford Road,

Droitwich Spa