Look at what happened in Liskeard

This expansion of supermarket facilities will detract from the viability and vitality of Wadebridge town centre.  I believe that one very firm piece of evidence for this is what has happened elsewhere when supermarkets have been granted permission. I base my understanding of these issues on what I know about similar developments and their impact elsewhere in Cornwall.  For many years I lived in Liskeard, and traded in a small independent shop in the pedestrianised shopping street in that town.  Liskeard is a larger town than Wadebridge (more than double the population), and there is only one out of town supermarket there - Safeway now Morrisons, rather than the two that Wadebridge will have if the Planning Team's recommendations are accepted. 

The impact on Liskeard has been large – just have a look around it and you will see boarded up shops.  A greengrocer in the town confirmed that his turnover had halved since Morrisons opened. The proprietor of a small newsagents reported that her takings had plummeted since they opened, and felt that it was sheer greed on the part of the supermarkets.   I would guess that hers is a view commonly held by the people of Cornwall,  who think that there is more to life than profit .  

Supermarkets offer facilities that town centre shops cannot.  They offer free car parking on a flat and level site.  They appear to offer convenience and ease of shopping.  It is no contest, and the danger is that once the supermarkets are established,  the key shops start to disappear in a town.  Once this starts to happen there is less and less incentive for people to shop in the town because they cannot find the goods they need.  The effect is cumulative and is a downward spiral.  

We have a thriving and vibrant town here in Wadebridge, which is increasingly well known.  Cornwall is at last getting a reputation for the place to be, to live.  It is starting to be seen as a forward looking place. The reputation of Cornwall Council is on the line here, and they should consider how they would like to be judged in 20 years time.  Would they like to be remembered as the enlightened planning committee who did all they could to preserve the uniqueness of Wadebridge by refusing the supermarket applications?   Or would they like to be remembered for pushing Wadebridge toward a tipping point from which it could not recover? (Tony Faragher).