I agree, we have for so long beleived that we are somehow different, that Oswestry has something special to offer…..the reality is we have little that would be missed…the strong will survive and flourish….that is as long as its not Tesco!!!!!

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I think that people who where participating in the march, including myself knew what we where doing, without a so called reality check. We have seen and heard the same old arguements given by the planners, about jobs etc. But as the case of r. burbidge, who seam to be making the most noise, why don`t they say where they intend to relocate to in Oswestry, as they once said. Why the secrets!! or is it just a publicity shot to get us to support them, then do a u-turn and ship the work abroad, which then cancels the so-called job creations.

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“What’s wrong with these people?”???? What’s ‘wrong’ with these people is that they don’t want a town that looks the same as every other, with the same predictable shops located outside the ‘town centre’ – that’s if there’s one left after the supermarket has it’s way.

We don’t want Oswestry to be full of empty, boarded up shops. We should be supporting local businesses, and keeping Oswestry unique. Yes, many jobs may be created, but what about the ones that will be lost when smaller shops go out of business?

This is not some ‘cheap publicity shot that benefits the few’. This is people fighting for their livelihoods, for their town and for a future that doesn’t involve a superstore monopoly – ie, benefitting one big company.

Yes people have a right to choice on the high street, but you obviously don’t see that we’ll loose choice with a large supermarket wiping out all other traders.

The council shouldn’t be deciding which development to give planning permission to – they should be deciding how to help smaller businesses flourish and how to help with start-up businesses.

I’m usually in town every Saturday and only wish I could have been there today to protest.

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Many of the small independent shops these people claim to represent actually support the new development. I know staff from several who have refused to display the posters or ask customers to sign petitions because they don’t want to be associated with this campaign but have never been asked for their opinions by either side.

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It seemed to me to be a bunch of pensioners and hippies marching. There was a noticeable absence of older teenagers and young people – i.e the future of our town. Most of them were probably out using the facilities and shopping in Wrexham and Shrewsbury. And 350 (if that) is hardly overwhelming support out of a town and surrounding area population of 30,000

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The march consisted of old people, some new age traveller types with pony tails and 1 or 2 small local business people (the majority of local businesses in my view support more facilities in the town). It’s such a shame that the majority are sitting chunnering to themselves about “these people” who are trying to stop the town moving on – rather than being more vocal.

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Have a look on Facebook at how many people – mainly teenagers and young adults – who are campaigning for more facilities in their town. There were only a few children there on Saturday and those were were too young to have a choice about being there or not.

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Nothing wrong with wanting Oswestry’s shopping choice to broaden, and move with the times, but seriously is another Supermarket the way to go? After all, they pretty much sell the same sort of stuff, and the town already has a good few supermarkets and food retailers. An out of town developmet could lead to a ‘donut’ affect, where the town centre effectively dies as people are drawn away from the town centre rather than towards it – that could affect more than just the smaller independent businesses. I’m not sure why anyone would really want that for the town. True what Andrew Finch says, that times change and online shopping is having a big effect on town centres around the UK, but out of town developments aren’t immune to this either, and purpose build shopping centres tend to have a limited life span anyway as they soon start to look dated and shabby. Why not instead try and preserve and attract new businesses to the existing town centre rather than gambling on a new development which may not only be unsuccessful, but also destroy the town centre in the process?

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Not knowing whether Andrew Finch’s businesses offer retailing or non retailing services you can guarantee that someone from a supermarket opening nearby has sussed him out already to see if they can offer the same services or products at a cheaper rate. This is what happened in the Denbighshire town of Ruthin when a long established business selling equipment to the local Equine fraternity was forced to close because the newly opened Tesco decided to sell the same items at a cheaper price. Was it a coincidence? I think not,just the way supermarkets are.Tesco saw something that had a market and was selling well and the next minute it was on their shelves. So watch out Andrew whatever line you’re in you might see it on a supermarket shelf near you – another indpendant bites the dust!

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