Opinion not equally divided

Residents of Lightwater mobilised by the threat of a Tesco Express store in the village were collecting signatures at the spring Fayre in the Square in Lightwater on Saturday. I don’t have the numbers of signatures, but reckon it was close to 100.

I know I’ve said opinion is divided on the planning application for the redevelopment of Lightwater Homecare, but judging by the opinions of shoppers and visitors to the Fayre, the majority were against the possible arrival of a Tesco Express. Most people I spoke to weren’t against competition but saw little or no purpose in the over provision of convenience goods retail outlets in the village.They also viewed the likely resulting parking and traffic congestion with undisguised horror.

Yesterday evening I spoke to someone involved in arguing against Tesco Express elsewhere in our part of Surrey, although not successful in halting its arrival. However, they were successful in ensuring the store was reduced in size, opening hours were restricted to no later than 9.0pm, with further restrictions of days of trading, and limitations on times and days of vehicles re-supplying goods.