Madam, As in most things, the Tesco supermarket proposal is not a black and white issue. Yes, it would tidy up the brownfield site and yes, it would provide more car parking spaces. It would also employ a number of people. It is however very unlikely to provide 250 jobs: all supermarket proposals promise many and deliver fewer. Of those jobs, around 80% would be part-time. This does not bring prosperity to a community. Supermarkets exploit their staff more efficiently than smaller local shops and, in terms of turnover, employ many fewer staff.

In ALL other small towns like Ross where a Tesco superstore has moved in, the town-centre shops have suffered greatly. The company's bulk buying power and aggressive pricing policies are likely to force some of our shops to close. Others will have to reduce staff's wages and increase hours to be able to compete. Very few will remain unaffected. Local suppliers to these shops will also suffer. Overall, it would be likely that the number of full-time jobs in and around Ross would reduce. Quite a miserable outcome.

Ross does not 'need' another supermarket. People need jobs however. The Council land in question would be much better used in the establishment of businesses which would offer full-time, well-paid careers in industry that can create sufficient wealth to spread through the community. This is what Ross should be working towards.

Peter Quinn

Ross