I HAVE to agree with the pertinent views of correspondent Geoff Fawcett (Review Letters April 6) re a Tesco store in Coleford.

We should treasure the independent shops. The old chestnut trotted out by some that supermarkets offer more variety is a myth. Even the most obtuse person can surely see by just looking at our neighbouring county, Herefordshire, was once rich with fruit farms and orchards with a myriad variety of apples. The supermarkets have virtually wiped them out with their unreasonable demands and offer just three or four varieties of imported apples.

As for cherries, strawberries and raspberries, 90 per cent are tasteless, dried out and expensive. The only variety supermarkets uniformally offer is of alcohol. Vast amounts of floor space is given to alcohol displays. (Of course that could be a ploy to numb the tastebuds against the plastic processed food they sell).

The other fallacy is that they bring jobs and boost the local economy when research shows 98 per cent of staff are part-time and paid just above minimum wage, whilst the average turnover of the big supermarkets is over £4 million a week, which is not ploughed back into the community but goes to the shareholders.

Local produce, sold by local businesses benefits the local community, as well as the plus of being fresher and healthier with a low carbon footprint.

– J. Price, Coleford.