Traders need a level playing field that doesn't favour the supermarket

Following up to Jamie Samson's letter to the Mail titled

Town isn't a tourist money-pot in Lakes

I wrote the following letter to the editor of the Evening Mail, this morning :

There's a lot of good joined-up thinking in Jamie Samson's letter.

Because of our narrow streets the car parks play a very important role in the commerce of the town.

Yet commerce doesn't have a level playing field.

The superstores like Booths and Tesco can provide free parking because they have total control over their land.

It is essential for the future of our small shops and our way of life that we too have total control of the car parks at present owned by SLDC. This control used to be there with parks like the Gill until they were handed over.

What is needed is a way of generating an alternative clear income (charges less running cost) for SLDC that leaves our car parks well-used and free.

This cash could come from the shop keepers, it could come from us in higher rates. Some would welcome higher costs if only their trade was increased.

An additional factor is that our car parks need to be clearly marked and the recent ignoring of our request to the County Council to have better signing to Stockbridge car park does not help.

It is no wonder that the big supermarkets have such a disastrous effect on the life of a town. They have all the trump cards:

Control over car parks

Sharp practice in offering loss leaders and control over their farm and other suppliers.

Lawyers to take advantage of every tax loophole.

Some of the best commercial brains in the country.

The general public and the small business have lost control over their own destiny. Local Government and Big business have taken over.

This trend must stop for the well-being of our people. Inefficiency on the one hand and cost cutting sharp practice on the other must be prevented.

We need to stand up for ourselves in this David and Goliath contest.

Geoff Dellow