I AM a specialist shopkeeper in Tenbury Wells, one of the many apparently whose opinions were not canvassed about the Tesco application and its impact on local retail business.

I have not publicly expressed my opinion previously as I had naively hoped that good planning would overcome self-interest and had no wish to upset anyone.

However, I perceive that there is a danger that Tenbury may well be about to make a grave mistake and so wish to add my voice to the conversation.

Firstly, let me say that my livelihood and business is not at risk of destruction from Tesco. Had it been, I too would fight tooth and nail to keep them out. I fully sympathise with those retailers who are at such risk, but cannot agree that such self-interest is the primary deciding factor. In fact I am one of those regionally niche retailers who actually bring people and business into Tenbury which otherwise would go further afield. They then visit other shops whilst they are here.

Consequently, I would welcome a Tesco development to encourage even more people to come into the town and just maybe use my shop during their visit.

One thing is for sure – if those people go elsewhere to shop at Tesco, they definitely will not use it. The nightmare scenario for me as a Tenbury shopkeeper is that Tesco decide not to build on our side of the river, but do so outside the town and not far away, maybe on the Burford side of the bridge? That way, they will get the Tenbury area consumer business anyway (and the doomed shops are damaged) but the other shops will not get any additional business as Tenbury becomes either a route to Tesco car park, or an ignored "bridge too far".

So, as a consumer – there is no question I would welcome Tesco.

As a shopkeeper, I think I would also.

GARY MUMFORD,

Teme Street, Tenbury.