It was with a sinking heart that I read about the plan to demolish the petrol station and antique shop in Melrose in order to make way for a larger Co-operative store (Southern, January 10).
Among its provisions will be “bakery and more meat and fresh produce”.
We already have an excellent choice of greengrocer, bakers and butchers in the town. What is to become of them? Could our other valuable foodshops be in danger? Is it a good idea that we have to drive further for our petrol?
One needs only to look at a town a few miles to the west where the proliferation of supermarkets has been severely detrimental to the health of its centre.
It is perhaps not enough to merely hope that the “diverse range of [Melrose’s] High Street shops will not be adversely affected” by the new development.
Jessamy Pears
Darnick
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