AFTER reading the article headed 'Tesco rap at public inquiry' (Midweek, July 21), I was shocked to read what the council barrister Brian Ash QC said.

I accept he is acting under the instructions of Wycombe District Council, but who is the council representing? It certainly doesn't seem to be the majority of the public.

Let's look at the facts: (a) Busy mothers use the store, especially if they come by bus; (b) The same applies to our elderly people and disabled; (c) Tesco caters for those who have to live day by day on what little money they have; (d) Tesco and the bus station go hand in hand; (e) What store is proposed if the council drives Tesco out of Wycombe? Where do busy mothers, low paid, elderly and disabled people shop? (f) Local people have not been consulted if they want both the bus station and Tesco moved or got rid of, and it is no good stating they have with the original plan; (g) Again if the council wins, what about the jobs lost? (h) The council has spent a huge amount of money on the car park above the bus station and Tesco. Wasted, if it wins; (i) Who has to pay for this inquiry and any subsequent costs? It's the poor old council taxpayers again, of which the majority have a job to pay it already; (j) One only has to look at the Chilterns and Octagon shopping centres to see where the empty shops are; (k) We're told up to 1,000 jobs will be created in the new Western Sector. I have asked this before and I ask it again, where and how?

Since Lib/Labour took over the council, all they have done, in my opinion, is spend, spend, spend. The community will remember or will be reminded at the next council elections of their sheer waste of our money.

I and my family have always been Labour supporters, but no more. After years in the wilderness, Lib/Labour have learnt nothing, except forget the electorate and spend. And when we run out of money, put up rent and council tax.

David Gray, Wellesbourne Gardens

High Wycombe

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.