There appears to have been either a complete lack of knowledge of the Tesco plans by the members of the committee ... or great economy with the truth at last week's planning committee meeting.

It was stated and accepted by members that no recommendations regarding size of store had been made.

But please see below an extract from the Wyre Forest Local Plan 2004:

'13.25 Similarly, in Stourport-on-Severn, the Wyre Forest Retail Study indicates that there is only limited need for new retail development for the sale of convenience goods in the plan period.

Taking into account over-trading in existing stores the study indicates that there is currently capacity to support one discount store (max 974 sq m net) and by 2006 there will be sufficient capacity to support one to two discount stores (max combined 1,597 sq m net) by 2006.

Only if none of the identified capacity is absorbed by discount retailers between 2001 and 2011 will there be sufficient capacity to support one supermarket (max 1067 sq m net) operated by one of the big five grocery retailers (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Safeway and Morrisons). Sufficient land is considered to be available to meet the needs of Stourport'.

The proposed superstore can hardly be classed as a small food store as per the identified need' for Stourport in the study.

The meeting was a complete farce. With the exception of two, the members appeared to suffer from selective deafness, as objection after objection was ignored or dismissed out of hand. They only seemed interested in the money that Tesco will pay.

CHRIS PARKES Severn Road, Stourport