THERE is very little engineering or general manufacturing in Worcester.

Apart from obligatory local functions, not a single central government department is now represented in Worcester. Similarly the city does not contain the central administration of a single large private company.

As a tourist town we are really just a stopping-off point between York and Bath. So what has this city got? The fact is, if we are not a retail centre, we have no "raison d'tre."

Therefore, all four of the supermarket chains, which have applied to develop on the Westside, should be given permission to proceed.

D E MARGRETT, Worcester.