I HAVE just read the article in today’s (May 31) Echo regarding the supermarket applications in Christchurch.

I think the Chamber of Trade and the council need to wake up to reality.

I don’t think any of these applications can make the town any worse than it already is.

I’ve lived in Christchurch all my life and the majority of shops in the town now consist of coffee shops, banks, building societies, charity shops and takeaways.

We used to have butchers, grocers, bakeries, a record shop and fishmongers but all were pushed out by the rising costs to stay in the town.

They need to ask the question: why is half of Saxon Square still empty?

I don’t think this is due to supermarkets; it’s more likely businesses just can’t afford to go in.

For the average person it is impossible to do a full week’s shopping in Christchurch.

Marks is very nice but relatively expensive and Waitrose and the Co-op do not have the prices or the selections of the big supermarkets.

Locals just go further out of town to do their shopping, where as if the supermarkets were closer to the town centre then people might just venture in as well, if there was something to go in for.

Perhaps the Quantum deal should not be thrown out so quickly and an injection of money might be just what is needed to kick start the town’s regeneration.

Also the other amenities on the Bailey site might just bring people into the locality.

D HOPKINS, Christchurch