Planning can stop march of metros
SUPERMARKETS have clearly realised that the out-of-town bubble has burst and that to continue to reap massive profits they must dominate every street corner (It’s a small world, Business, January 27).
The creeping presence of corporate interests that restrict choice by squeezing independent traders out of business must surely have reached saturation point. The planning system needs to give greater consideration to the impact “metro”-style stores have on local retailers, whose profits will circulate locally rather than leaking away.
When I raised the issue with Scotland’s Planning Minister Derek Mackay, he advised that the Scottish Government has no plans to review the current arrangement which allows a supermarket giant to gobble up any vacant shop it fancies without consulting those who live and trade nearby.
It is telling that the Scottish Government’s food and drink policy states: “In order to deliver a successful policy we have developed closer relationships with our supermarkets.” Alison Johnstone MSP Scottish Green Party, Edinburgh “I don’t recall any shrieks of ‘bias’ from public school headmasters when 70% of Oxbridge places were being bagged by youngsters from the mere 7% of pupils who are educated privately.” Allison Pearson, Daily Telegraph “The gap between state and private education is one of the most pernicious dividing issues in our country.” Alan Johnson, Labour MP “When it comes to calls on my emotional solidarity, such pleading from private schools is right up there with Sir Alex Ferguson’s complaints about the unfairness of referees … If you think equality of opportunity is a moral question, then private schools are, by and large, immoral.”